Doofus of the week – April 7, 2018

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, April 8th, 2018 - 17 comments
Categories: disaster, doofus of the week, Gerry Brownlee, humour, megan woods, national, national/act government, same old national, the praiseworthy and the pitiful - Tags:

Another clear winner this week. It is Gerry Brownlee for his completely inept handling of his Ministerial obligations relating to the Christchurch rebuild and his completely inept handling of news that the cost of re-repairs is over four times what he said it would be.

Back in 2016 Brownlee was asked how much the re-repair work, that is repairing shonky repair jobs, was going to cost. He said $60-70 million.

So what happened this week? News emerged that the actual cost was more like $270 million, including cash payouts for botched re-repair jobs.

Radio New Zealand wanted to ask him why. His response was to hang up on John Campbell.

After that he deigned to give an interview to Guyon Espiner. His rationale for speaking to Espiner and not Campbell was recorded in this Russell Brown tweet:

I too an struggling to reconcile Brownlee’s refusal to be interviewed with his claim that he was always ready to be interviewed.

And to top it off Brownlee said that Megan Woods’s criticism of his performance was hurtful. Diddims to him. He should tell that to the thousands of Canterbury families struggling with botched re-repair jobs on their houses.

One other aspect of this claim that needs some more analysis is National’s claim that the Government should sue the contractor. Current spokesperson Stuart Smith said the EQC should be seeking reimbursement if a contractor hasn’t lived up to its obligations. But the problem is that the contract that Brownlee negotiated gave Fletchers a get out of jail free card. A term of the contract provides that the contractor (Fletchers) was not responsible for the design or construction of any work, nor the work of any contractors or consultants. The legal term for Smith’s claims is blowing hot air.

By Smith’s logic I think there is a stunning case to seek reimbursement of Brownlee’s Ministerial salary because in my humble opinion he certainly has not lived up to his obligations.

But for now Brownlee clearly is this week’s doofus of the week.

17 comments on “Doofus of the week – April 7, 2018 ”

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  1. Treetop 1
    8 April 2018 at 8:55 am

    The last National government did not listen enough and still do not want to hear the truth.

    • Treetop 1.1
      8 April 2018 at 9:02 am

      And

      Another example of a shitty housing situation by National when in government.

  2. dukeofurl 2
    8 April 2018 at 9:07 am

    From the links
    “Fletcher did not carry out repairs. It liaised with homeowners and contractors to ensure the work approved by EQC was carried out, she said.”

    Fletcher was a ‘project manager’ not a contractor. Thats how it does its major projects too, with its own employees doing a core of the construction

    • Treetop 2.1
      8 April 2018 at 9:11 am

      So the project manager has no liability or accountability.

      • Draco T Bastard 2.1.1
        8 April 2018 at 9:59 am

        But, if they had to take responsibility for their work then they wouldn’t be able to make a profit for their bludgers shareholders and over pay their upper management.

  3. Obtrectator 3
    8 April 2018 at 9:53 am

    Not for the first time, the award goes to someone who’s apparently been a lot worse than a mere doofus. More an arrogant, incompetent jerk who should never have been allowed near public office.

  4. Keepcalmcarryon 4
    8 April 2018 at 9:56 am

    When the shit hits the fan he disappears out an enormous side door, skirting security.

  5. Muttonbird 5
    8 April 2018 at 10:01 am

    Disappointed. Looking at the photo I was hoping for Duplicity-Allen.

  6. Incognito 6
    8 April 2018 at 10:13 am

    To “hang up” on someone is an anachronism from when we had dial phones with hooks & wires, etc. Today, you push a button or swipe a tiny screen with your finger. Therefore, the correct description for Brownlee and also Coleman’s coward behaviour is to “give the finger”. It’s one up from the 9 years of selective amnesia from National.

  7. Tricledrown 7
    8 April 2018 at 10:56 am

    Bully Brownlee a liability for National.
    English, Joyce, Brownlee…….. Smith.

  8. NZJester 8
    8 April 2018 at 3:22 pm

    Quite frankly I think it is becoming insulting to Doofuses to keep giving these guys who do not seem have what it takes to be half as smart as a common every day Doofus the Doofus of the week award.

  9. Kevin 9
    8 April 2018 at 11:03 pm

    Disaster Capitalism the Kiwi way.

  10. Tamati Tautuhi 10
    9 April 2018 at 7:00 pm

    The Head Contractor is still ultimately responsible for shoddy workmanship.

    If the finished job/product does not meet the required specifications the Head Contractor is responsible for the remedial work.