English still digging

Written By: - Date published: 8:03 am, June 24th, 2017 - 44 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, accountability, bill english, national, same old national, you couldn't make this shit up - Tags: , , , , , , ,

Bill English seems determined to bury the last shred of his credibility in a deep hole forever:

Nobody realised Todd Barclay recording of secretary might be a crime: Bill English

Barclay, who had publicly denied taping her and refused to co-operate with the police, won’t seek re-election as Clutha-Southland MP in the September election.

Speaking to media in Auckland, English said during the dispute his advice to Barclay had been that “that wasn’t good behaviour”.

When a police investigation started it raised issues about possible offences and “I don’t think [it] had occurred to anybody that there may be some potential offence”, English said.

In 2008 Bill English and others were secretly recorded at a National Party conference. In various incidents English criticised Obama and talked about dismantling Working for Families, selling Kiwibank, and so on. National ran the “Illegal!!” line hard:

Why is it that no members in the Labour Party can bring themselves to say that it is wrong to sneak around party conferences under false pretences, illegally taping private conversations? I say that is wrong; it shows a decline of political standards in New Zealand.

and

More seriously, Joyce leapt to the conclusion that the taping was “illegal”, a serious criminal allegation that has yet to be tested in court.

and

National leader John Key said he may lay a complaint with the police if legal advice suggested privacy, telecommunications or trespass laws had been broken.

and

National has requested security footage of its conference in a bid to hunt down the infiltrator, and is thinking about calling in the police if it establishes that laws have been broken.

In 2011 Bradley Ambrose accidentally left a device running and recorded Key and Banks. Once again the Nats ran with “Illegal!!”. Key:

Mr Key has laid a police complaint over the recording, saying it was illegally made, and police said today they would execute search warrants at four media outlets for any material they might have related to it.

Joyce:

National’s campaign manager Steven Joyce said the Herald on Sunday has “many questions to answer” on how the illegal taping came about.

Even Mike Hosking had a go:

The rule is very clear and the law is very clear. Unless you have an understanding that you’re being recorded then it’s illegal to record you – that’s all part of the Crimes Act

It’s not to say that the Nats were right in those cases, but “illegal” was the line they ran. You’d have to say that the issue of secret taping has had a pretty good outing in NZ. But Bill English wants you to believe that the events of 2008 and 2011 never happened, and that when the police became involved “I don’t think [it] had occurred to anybody that there may be some potential offence”. Only the most “devoted” of followers will believe him.

https://twitter.com/DavidSlack/status/877989073721335808

44 comments on “English still digging ”

  1. Rob 1

    As well as telling outright porkies one would think Bill would know it is a crime to do this type of recording.

  2. Incognito 2

    It is legal to ‘tape’ in the interest of National national security, just ask Tim Groser. [sarc]

  3. Wow he really is thick. Billshitter is lying again imo he is not going to make it to the election.

  4. Penny Bright 4

    ‪Is PM Bill English now a lapsed Catholic?

    ‪Or has his memory lapsed regarding the Ten Commandments?‬

    ‪”Thou shall not bear false witness”?‬

    In my view – decent Kiwis don’t like, or trust BILLSHIT.

    Penny Bright

    2017 Independent candidate for Tamaki.

    Exposing the $1.6 billion Tamaki ‘Regeneration’ – GENTRIFICATION $CAM.

    • Psych nurse 4.1

      Three Hail Mary’s and all is forgiven.

      • Once Was Tim 4.1.1

        He was on the phone to Connor @Psych nurse as you typed, to see if he could borrow one or two brain cells and a few “Hail Mary’s”.
        Conner said “Bill! You really really owe me this time”.

    • Frankie and Benjy 4.2

      Love the term Billshit.
      Bullshit that is just too dumb to believe!

    • Draco T Bastard 4.3

      Is PM Bill English now a lapsed Catholic?

      Was he ever a catholic or is it just camouflage for the sociopath beneath?

      I’m picking it’s the latter.

    • Cinny 4.4

      Penny you crack me up 😀 Nicely said. Loving “Billshit” I’m going to use that in future if you don’t mind, brilliant and thank you x

  5. ianmac 5

    We have to understand that taping is not a crime when National do it because they are entitled to make their own rules. You peasants will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

    • Draco T Bastard 5.1

      Exactly what I was thinking.

      It’s the typical One law for National and another for everyone else thinking that they always employ.

      • Blade 5.1.1

        Draco, does that also apply to accommodation for Yankee Political Interns?

        In other words, one law for every landlord to follow, with Labour exempt?

        Or as the average man likes to snidely snigger….. the left love different ways of solving problems as long as it’s their way.

        Before throwing stones, please step out of the glasshouse.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1

          Fuck you’re a moron.

          The accommodation for the interns didn’t break any laws.

          Or as the average man likes to snidely snigger

          No, that would be morons like you who have NFI WTF they’re talking about.

          the left love different ways of solving problems as long as it’s their way.

          Which is, as expected from a RWNJ, completely meaningless as you try to conflate many with one.

          • Blade 5.1.1.1.1

            ”Fuck you’re a moron.

            The accommodation for the interns didn’t break any laws.”

            What has Barclay been charged with, Einstein?

            • Draco T Bastard 5.1.1.1.1.1

              What has Barclay been charged with, Einstein?

              He hasn’t been charged due to the police being incompetent. Prima facie evidence suggests that he and several other National Party supporters broke several laws.

              The police, having been caught with their pants down, have reopened the case although I’m not holding my breath that they’ll charge this time either.

              BTW: You’re the one suggesting that the intern thing broke some laws so I suggest you put up the evidence for that.

    • McFlock 5.2

      Yep. It always catches tories by surprise when they’re held to even half the standard they expect for their opponents and poor people.

  6. Tautoko Mangō Mata 6

    …but in the case that taping IS a crime, “it hasn’t been established that the tapes actually exist.” English on The Nation.

    • dv 6.1

      “it hasn’t been established that the tapes actually exist.” English on The Nation.

      So why is Barclay goonbugger then!!!

    • dukeofurl 6.2

      yes . English seems to have doubled down now..

      ‘taping never existed it was just a dispute between two people’

      Hes learnt well from Key, if caught out dont be contrite, in fact enlarge on the falsehoods as you can win by repetition.
      Strange that Gower seems to be letting him spin it ?

  7. So English to Gower on the nation – top story nzh – I knew both parties really well. And a wee bit later yeah it is true I couldn’t remember who told me. He shouldn’t be able to get away with that imo.

  8. Treetop 8

    I want to know if the commissioner of police has a copy of the tapes?

    If he has a copy, I want him to tell me what is going to be done to inform the person/people that Barclay taped them unlawfully?

    and

    Whether or not this is new information?

    Dickson was not talking to herself when Barclay taped her.

    Office of the Commissioner of Police may try to say that the people Dickson spoke to cannot be identified so no breach of privacy.

    I am not a lawyer, however I am not an idiot either.

    English’s statement to the police has been with held, Id love to see the police file on the matter.

  9. Bill, Bill, Bill. This is awful.

  10. Just watching Patrick Gower’s interview with Bill English, in which English keeps repeating “the fact of the recording has never been established.”

    That’s just astonishing. English texted the electorate chairman to say Barclay had told English he’d made recordings of his staff member, and later told the Police the same thing in a sworn statement. Now he says it hasn’t been established a recording ever existed. What the fuck are we supposed to make of that? That maybe Barclay just made it up to make himself look bad? That English passed idle gossip that may or may not have been true to one of his party’s electorate chair’s, about that electorate chair’s MP? That he said something that might not have been true in a sworn statement to the fucking Police, of all people? For fuck’s sake, who told him this was a good idea? Andrew Little?

    • dukeofurl 10.1

      And the top people at national made a secret extra payout to an employee over something that didnt exist ?

      Its a common tactic nowdays with politicians and public officials, they expect to be judged only by the standards of court procedure regarding evidence and proof of guilt.

      Its crazy idea, its shouldnt even be on the balance of probabilities , if they arent trustworthy at all is over.
      The evidence is all circumstantial but its enough.
      You could almost think Barclay ‘exit package’ included some sort of indemnity about his criminal acts- they will all sing from the same song sheet- there was no tape.

    • marty mars 10.2

      Yep just watched it at last – thanks.

      Well the billshitter in full flight – he’s still lying. Fuck does he lie to his God like that – what a disgraceful shifty eyed wanker.

  11. Frankie and Benjy 11

    I have just watched the video with Patrick Gower and there was plenty of billshit in it. I found the repeated assertion that “I’m not a lawyer” so I can’t understand a law particularly billshitty. He is in parliament, and MAKES the laws! If he can’t get his head around a law, he shouldn’t be in parliament.

  12. Frankie and Benjy 12

    Another big kaplosh of billshit was lying by omission about why the police dropped the criminal investigation. Not that “there was no criminal activity” but Barclay refused to talk to police after promising that he would.

  13. Tamati Tautuhi 13

    Toddy, JK & Bill should have sought professional advice before bugging the National Party Electoral Offices ?

  14. Treetop 14

    So many times I have heard the minister of police say that they cannot interfere in a police matter. For English and others to have decided that nothing criminal had occurred was not for them to make a judgement on, (Bush has this right). From the onset Crown Law should have been consulted.

    The Barclay scandal has some similarities with the Rickards scandal re being an employment issue. In the Rickards case a hearing was held first regarding a criminal allegation and then the employment matter was dealt with.

  15. What a week! BarBar’s Bizarre Adventure

    Part 1: Phantom Recording
    Part 2: Criminal Tendency
    Part 3: Bullshit Crusaders
    Part 4: Debarclay is Unsalvageable

    I can’t think of anything for the rest (From JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure – Hirohiko Araki)

  16. Philj 16

    All brewing up to be another human dinger unpopulatity mud wrestle come September. Can it surpass 2014? Next episode tomorrow! It’s a sick joke and we are paying for this man ure. The British are awakening, the Yanks too. Everywhere is unsettled and angry with the status quo. Our media pumps the Abs and the AM Cup! Lol

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    4 days ago
  • That Word.
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    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
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    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
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  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
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    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
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    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
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    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
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  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
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    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
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    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
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  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
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    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
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    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
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    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    7 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
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    21 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
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    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
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    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
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    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
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    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
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    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
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  • Government delivering on tax commitments
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    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
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    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
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    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
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  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
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    6 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
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    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Fresh produce price drop welcome
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68)
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
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  • Statement to the 68th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women
    Tēnā koutou katoa and greetings to you all.  Chair, I am honoured to address the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. I acknowledge the many crises impacting the rights of women and girls. Heightened global tensions, war, climate related and humanitarian disasters, and price inflation all ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Government backs rural led catchment projects
    The coalition Government is supporting farmers to enhance land management practices by investing $3.3 million in locally led catchment groups, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced. “Farmers and growers deliver significant prosperity for New Zealand and it’s vital their ongoing efforts to improve land management practices and water quality are supported,” ...
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    6 days ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber
    Good evening everyone and thank you for that lovely introduction.   Thank you also to the Honourable Simon Bridges for the invitation to address your members. Since being sworn in, this coalition Government has hit the ground running with our 100-day plan, delivering the changes that New Zealanders expect of us. ...
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    7 days ago
  • Commission’s advice on ETS settings tabled
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    1 week ago
  • Government lowering building costs
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    1 week ago
  • Trustee tax change welcomed
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  • Minister’s Ramadan message
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    1 week ago
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    1 week ago
  • Speech to Life Sciences Summit
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    1 week ago
  • Progress continues apace on water storage
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    1 week ago
  • Government agrees to restore interest deductions
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    1 week ago
  • Minister to attend World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium
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    1 week ago
  • Pacific Language Weeks celebrate regional unity
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    1 week ago

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