Who do you think you’re fooling, Kate?
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- Date published:
7:46 am, August 28th, 2009 - 12 comments
Categories: national/act government, spin, Unions -
Tags: kate wilkinson, ndu
“I’m not going to resign” – Kate Wilkinson
It’s one of the truisms of politics that when you’re a minister and you say you’re not resigning, it’s only a matter of time until you are.
Kate Wilkinson’s behaviour has been almost universally disgraceful- the Kiwisaver debacle, her vitriol during the Shawn Tan affair, refusing the let the Fire at Will Bill go to select committee, killing the National Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Committee, the folate in bread debate, and her refusal to act on the report on her desk that recommends universal redundancy payments for all workers at the same time as thousands of Kiwis are losing their jobs.
Her behaviour in this latest episode has been just as bad:
- Refusing to keep a meeting the National Distribution Union’s executive in Auckland on the weird excuse that the EPMU, a different union, had undertaken strike action in the same city the previous day.
- Then denying that this was the reason she cancelled the meeting.
- Then blaming the confusion on her EA, saying the EA had it wrong when she told the NDU Wilkinson had consulted with her advisers and decided the political risk was too high.
Each lie just makes it worse, Kate. ‘Fess up. Admit that you have repeatedly lied to the NDU, the House, the media, and the public. Then do what ministers must do when they have lied to the people of New Zealand.
You can end your statement with a similiar sentence to the one at the top of this post. Just minus one word.
12 comments on “Who do you think you’re fooling, Kate? ”
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Today's passing of the Government's Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill–which allows landlords to end tenancies with no reason–ignores the voice of the people and leaves renters in limbo ahead of the festive season. ...1 week ago
- Release: National Party urged to support modern slavery legislation
Labour is urging the Prime Minister to walk the talk and support legislation combating modern slavery. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Labour has lost confidence in the Speaker
The Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament made an unprecedented decision on the government amendment to the Fast Track Approvals Bill last night. ...2 weeks ago
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Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network. ...2 weeks ago
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The Government has done the right thing in moving to ban greyhound racing. ...2 weeks ago
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The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
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Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says Health New Zealand will move swiftly to support dozens of internationally-trained doctors already in New Zealand on their journey to employment here, after a tripling of sought-after examination places. “The Medical Council has delivered great news for hardworking overseas doctors who want to contribute ...19 hours ago - PM appoints business leader to APEC Business Advisory Council
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has appointed Sarah Ottrey to the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC). “At my first APEC Summit in Lima, I experienced firsthand the role that ABAC plays in guaranteeing political leaders hear the voice of business,” Mr Luxon says. “New Zealand’s ABAC representatives are very well respected and ...3 days ago
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Loading…(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){var ql=document.querySelectorAll('A[data-quiz],DIV[data-quiz]'); if(ql){if(ql.length){for(var k=0;k<ql.length;k++){ql[k].id='quiz-embed-'+k;ql[k].href="javascript:var i=document.getElementById('quiz-embed-"+k+"');try{qz.startQuiz(i)}catch(e){i.start=1;i.style.cursor='wait';i.style.opacity='0.5'};void(0);"}}};i['QP']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){(i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o),m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m)})(window,document,'script','https://take.quiz-maker.com/3012/CDN/quiz-embed-v1.js','qp');Got a good quiz question? Send Newsroom your questions.The post Newsroom daily quiz, Monday 23 December appeared first on Newsroom. ...22 minutes ago - Govt walks away from infrastructure alliance
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This is an appallingly low standard of behaviour from a minister meant to be looking after the nations workforce. Blowhard Brownlee has probably saved her this week, but she has to go on the basis of insensitivity, credibility and her so obvious lack of regard for workers apart from the unorganised, malleable, cheap variety.
Whatever way you cut it, it seems like political stupidity for a minister of labour to not take every opportunity to talk to unions when they are not involved in an active dispute. It builds credibility in the union movement for when they are.
It’d be interesting to find out what ‘prior engagement’ she blew the union off for. That’d at least give a sense of the ministers priorities.
Nice to see the masthead..
Quite sad really, that a young woman with a promising career in front of her can behave like an embittered old Tory reactionary. Hard as nails, and slippery with it.
The 1960s liberal, paternalistic section of the National Party – guys who had knocked around and knew hard times in the 1930s – has long gone. The wide boys and the hardliners run the show now. Plus a few interesting items like Ms W!
Eddie you’re swimming in hyperbole again.
That isn’t behaviour. Almost all the examples you cited are policy decisions that would have been backed by the National leadership. Your real issue is with the National Party’s policy and not Mrs Wilkinson.
I think we can have an issue with both, Tim, and she’s the minister, she’s responsible for government policy and actions within her portfolio.
She also appears to be a scaredy puss, dodging the NDU executive, eek… nasty workers representatives. Tories generally find positive engagement vexing, preferring predetermination and bullying from a distance ala “Container Collins’ and the Corrections rep.
Frightening how similar Folly Acid Kate is to the young Maggie Thatcher . . .
Yes but the dementia has hit several years earlier
her greatest crime is that she’s an abject fool.
Storm in teacup. Doesn’t even get mentioned in the media. Just another opportunity for a union lackey to make a big song and dance out of a government minister over nothing.
The voices in your head probably didn’t tell you, Swampy, but the story was all over the evening news on TV One and Three.
I think ol’ swampy’s main aim is to try and fill the ‘recent comments’ list with his own handle.