Murray McCully must go

Written By: - Date published: 12:17 pm, July 10th, 2014 - 65 comments
Categories: david cunliffe, feminism, john key, national - Tags: , ,

The next time the Herald or any other organisation is contemplating a New Zealander of the year award they should have Tania Billingsley at the top of their list.  She is the complainant in the Malaysian Diplomat assault with intent to rape case.  She has done something extraordinary.  She applied to have Court suppression of her name lifted and has then released one of the most damning critiques of rape culture and this Government’s handling of the issues surrounding the Malaysian diplomat that you will ever read.

The political implications surrounding this are undeniable.  After reading Tania’s statement you have to question if Murray McCully is fit to be a Minister.  John Key’s standing amongst women must have been severely damaged.  And after the lashing that some have given David Cunliffe for his recent expression of regret for men’s role in domestic violence you can probably imagine that David may be smiling just a bit on the inside today.

Tania’s comments about McCully are particularly scathing.

Murray McCully – not only has watching and reading his response to my attack been incredibly hurtful and frustrating, I have also felt embarrassed for him. Watching a grown man try to talk his way out of responsibility at what is effectively failure at his own job is a painful thing to see. I can’t believe his incapability to admit a mistake and try to fix it rather than pointing fingers at everyone else.

If he and Mr Key are so intent on pinning incompetence on a ministry official and solving this incompetence with job loss, then I’ll expect to see their resignations handed in any day. Genuinely I would like Mr McCully to take responsibility and resign, not just responsibility at the incompetent handling of the diplomatic immunity aspect, in which it was clear to me that my experience or wishes were not even a factor to consider, but also responsibility for his insensitive and embarrassing public reaction, which for me was so painful to hear.

And get this.  As at the time of TV3’s interview with Tania MFAT had still not formally apologised to her.  You would think that the first thing McCully could do was pick up the phone and ask Tania how she was and apologise for what is a mind numbingly display of ineptitude.

And McCully’s sins?  How about this for a selection:

  1. Overseeing a reorganisation of MFAT which appears to have crippled its ability to handle the country’s foreign relations effectively.
  2. Despite being told about the most serious incident involving a diplomat for many years failing to keep track of developments.
  3. Having a chief executive who did not know what was happening within his department.
  4. Blaming the staff and refusing to accept any responsibility.  If you are the Minister you should take responsibility for shortcomings, especially where your personal performance lapses contribute to the situation.
  5. Causing a diplomatic by the hurried release of papers for short term political protection.
  6. Completely lacking in sympathy and understanding for Tania.  FFS she is a New Zealand citizen who on the face of it has gone through a terrifying incident.  Our Government should be protecting our citizens not ignoring them.
  7. Failing to apologise appropriately.  Apologising by saying that you regret the distress caused to Tania does not cut it.  McCully should have signed the letter, not Allen.  And giving the letter over a month after details of the case were publicly disclosed suggests a regret that is very measured.

If you ever wanted proof that McCully and National are out of touch with the desires and expectations of ordinary New Zealanders this is it.  Murray McCully must go.

65 comments on “Murray McCully must go ”

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  1. emergency mike 1
    10 July 2014 at 12:33 pm

    Her comments about Key’s insincere demeanour are also telling. His ‘shrug shoulders-shake head-nothing we can do’ performance is pathetic. This is our leader?

    He is incapable of empathy, so situations like this are difficult for him, he’s not sure how to act. He doesn’t care about her and just wants it all to go away. And it shows. Nothing we can do, move on. Hey John, your sociopathy is showing.

    • David 1.1
      10 July 2014 at 12:52 pm

      Totally agree, his mock look at contrition came across as insincerity which of course it was. I’m not sure why any of us are at all surprised by this now.

    • kenny 1.2
      10 July 2014 at 12:55 pm

      Spot on!

    • JonL 1.3
      10 July 2014 at 1:45 pm

      “He is incapable of empathy” – of course he is – he’s a psychopath, which has been clear for years. Not sure how to act – perhaps the job’s getting to him – pyschopaths are extremely good at acting – it’s how they get through life, why most people like them and refuse to believe they are anything other than the persona they project – even when they are destroying other peoples lives……….

      • JanM 1.3.1
        10 July 2014 at 3:40 pm

        I agree with you JonL and not many people seem to be aware of it. I’m not sure what it will take – something which seriously corners him and makes him lose his rag, maybe

        • emergency mike 1.3.1.1
          10 July 2014 at 4:13 pm

          As I said above, the mask can slip in novel situations. But also, I’ve noticed that Key quickly gets nasty whenever he is directly challenged about something. He also reacts in a nearly knee-jerk way to anything which might threaten his image, he’s clearly an offensive is the best defense guy.

          If there is any natural justice in this world, there will come a day when Key will fall flat on his face for all to see.

      • emergency mike 1.3.2
        10 July 2014 at 4:04 pm

        Psychopaths work from scripts that they have learned by watching how others react in particular situations, and they are good at acting, because their whole life is an act. But it’s in situations where normal people instinctively understand that empathy is called for that they can fail to appreciate the kind of act that is required. Thus they can be surprisingly dismissive about an emotionally charged situation in a ‘What’s the big deal’ way.

        Also in surprising or novel situations where they have no particular script, the mask can often slip. A good example is Key’s famous throat-slitting gesture. A guy attempts to commit suicide in the house, what does John Key do? He makes a throat-slitting gesture at Phil Goff. Not appropriate.

      • Once was Tim 1.3.3
        10 July 2014 at 5:32 pm

        Check out Rinny Ryan’s RNZ NinetoNoon (the regular work-life-balanced regular gal without issyoos, and a spectacular leave entitlement – her/it that’s not the most egregious jonolistic offender – and with a C.V. to prove it) interview this morning on pyschopathy with Dr Dutton and Andy McNabb: On the mixing desk, the empathy feed is turned way down low. It’s even worse – the Gain Control is at zero, and the Foldback is absent. Maybe we just call the prick a sociopath and be done with it. Labels these days are easy to manipulate – just call the local spin doctor!

      • lurgee 1.3.4
        11 July 2014 at 6:40 pm

        If he’s ‘very good at acting’ how has it been ‘clear for years’ – and what gives you the special insight that has eluded about half the voting public of New Zealand?

        The continual monstering of John Key – who is a man who I disagree with fundamentally on almost every issue, but whose fundamental decency I’ve never seen cause to question – is one of the more unpleasant things hereabouts. We’ll need to be able to hold some sort of moral high ground in the next three months, and treating John Key like Hannibal Lecter isn’t the way to do it. Play the ball, not the man, and all that.

        This place often has a faint whiff of the Whaleoil sewer about it.

        • JanM 1.3.4.1
          11 July 2014 at 6:53 pm

          Psycopaths are very difficult to spot – it’s why they are so often successful. Some people are just better at identifying them than others, particularly if they’ve already suffered at the hands of one 🙂

          • Roy 1.3.4.1.1
            16 July 2014 at 11:53 am

            I agree with this. Once you’ve been a victim of a psychopath (e.g. a boss) you become sensitised to the telltale signs and start recognizing other psychopaths. Same goes for recognizing Narcissists. There is a remarkable sameness about the personality-disordered and once you have experienced one, you get good at recognizing others.

        • Draco T Bastard 1.3.4.2
          11 July 2014 at 7:03 pm

          If he’s ‘very good at acting’ how has it been ‘clear for years’

          It wasn’t spotted through his acting but through the documented lies (H/T BLiP).

          and what gives you the special insight that has eluded about half the voting public of New Zealand?

          Education and studying humanity.

          Play the ball, not the man, and all that.

          See the part about documented lies?

          • lurgee 1.3.4.2.1
            11 July 2014 at 11:47 pm

            Half the voting public are uneducated and incapable of seeing through his facade? Or perhaps, they are just less stupidly vindictive than some on the left.

            If Key has lied, fine. Critique the lies. But that wasn’t what I was referring to, as wel you know. It’s the tendency to sneer at Key himself, and denigrate him. Stupid names aren’t part of that (how stupidly, unfunnily convoluted is ‘Shonkey Python’ – WTF?) and taking poorly expressed phrases (“It’s been fun”) and exploiting them isn’t part of that.

            Targetting Key like that justifies the sewer tactics championed by Whaleoil. People called foul about the ridicule directed at Cunliffe for his own half baked “I’m sorry for being a man” comment. But we’re happy to jump on any slip or fumble by Key. Makes us look nasty, and desperate.

            And neither of those are election winning strategies.

            • dialey 1.3.4.2.1.1
              13 July 2014 at 9:32 am

              The name calling is only a response to the vicious attacks that have been made on Cunliffe for months. Pot/Kettle?

  2. idlegus 2
    10 July 2014 at 1:28 pm

    sean plnkett called her brave & the govt lacklustre. someone rang & said ‘ rape culture in nz? the guy was malaysian!’. that was some incredible telly, was expecting mcullys head to roll today but i guess i hold pollys up to a higher standard than our pm.

  4. Zorr 4
    10 July 2014 at 2:05 pm

    Being able to admit when you’re wrong seems to be impossible to anyone with blue blood… at least Hone can:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10252967/Harawira-U-turn-in-diplomat-sex-case

    • Enough is Enough 4.1
      10 July 2014 at 2:19 pm

      Hone should never have put himself in the position where he needed to apologise. What a tool. Why would he have ever said that?

      An apology that comes only after a media shit storm is wee bit insincere.

      • Bearded Git 4.1.1
        10 July 2014 at 3:28 pm

        Hone was a bit off colour in that episode of Backbenches, perhaps because his office had been shot at a few hours before.

        BTW the episode last night with the youth politicians was excellent, even inspiring.

      • Colonial Viper 4.1.2
        10 July 2014 at 3:30 pm

        Yeah but he fronted up. And it looks to me like Laila Harre gave him a bit of a kick in the shins on the way.

      • wtl 4.1.3
        10 July 2014 at 3:46 pm

        Why would he have ever said that?

        People make mistakes.

      • Zorr 4.1.4
        10 July 2014 at 4:31 pm

        That the apology is made is what matters.

        Ideally, yes, he would have never made those comments. He is living with his actions, has realized that they were wrong and has apologized unreservedly. If only some other people in positions of power could find it in them to do the same over this issue…

        Like… ya know… John Key or Murray McCully?

        • One Anonymous Bloke 4.1.4.1
          10 July 2014 at 4:34 pm

          No he hasn’t. He’s apologised for some third party’s perceptions.

          • Zorr 4.1.4.1.1
            10 July 2014 at 4:45 pm

            You’re right. I feel a bit dumb for trusting the media reporting without reading the text of what he said…

            Well… an apology is still an apology, right? >_<

            sigh Can I get off this planet now?

          • lurgee 4.1.4.1.2
            11 July 2014 at 6:47 pm

            I think his original comment was aimed at the media fixation on the issue, rather than trying to downplay the significance of the issue itself. I think he was really commenting on how the media seems ready to expend a lot of ink on this story, which has a whiff of sex and power and corruption, while cheerfully ignoring the day to day apallingness of life for a lot of people in New Zealand. But it was poorly worded.

            Ideally, the media should be able to cover both, fully. That might mean not covering the Kardashians or showing 20 year old footage of Angelina Jolie on the phone, but we could probably live with that!

            • dimebag russell 4.1.4.1.2.1
              11 July 2014 at 7:52 pm

              movie acting and celebrity is for the beautiful people.
              politics is for the ugly.
              and kweewee is very ugly.
              his demeanour and his utterances show that he is really not in command of this job and he never has been.
              without hootonboageytextorcrosby he wouldnt have a clue yet these people chose a manque to lead us.
              what did we do to deserve john key?

              • lurgee …
                11 July 2014 at 11:41 pm

                Don’t be an idiot. he’s a brilliant politician. Why do the left insist on making themselves look so utterly useless by proclaiming they’ve been thrashed, twice, by an douchebag, an idiot, a fool, a clueless moron. What does that say about the left?

  5. Paul 5
    10 July 2014 at 2:25 pm

    Better than not apologising at all..

  6. Hagar 6
    10 July 2014 at 2:30 pm

    Those calling for McCully to resign, be careful of what you wish for. Consider this….McCully resigns, but remains on as national list candidate, national put up a “weak” candidate in McCullys electorate, conservatives get 3% party vote, Colin Craig then wins the electorate seat by default, conservatives get 4 seats in the new parliament and supports the Tories, you got what you wished for… Or did you?

    • bad12 6.1
      10 July 2014 at 2:39 pm

      You keep spreading this stupidity Hagar, National will gift the seat to Colon’s Conservatives irrespective of whether McCully remains a Minister or not,

      Trying to protect McCully through such fear-mongering is pretty stupid…

    • mickysavage 6.2
      10 July 2014 at 2:41 pm

      Interesting comment. Some responses:

      1. People are asking for McCully to stand down as a Minister, not as an MP.
      2. I am not sure there is an upside for National. If McCully is sacked there will be an adverse political consequence which may wipe out the benefit of getting the Conservatives into Parliament.
      3. I am still not convinced that Craig would win and any sort of accommodation with him will also cause an adverse political consequence for National.
      • bad12 6.2.1
        10 July 2014 at 2:47 pm

        Yep MS, the third of your reasons will be the one most worrying to the National Party with every indication that such a deal is un-liked by quite a swathe of its own voters,

        On paper it might look good having Colon’s Conservatives given an in with a likely 2.5-3% party vote but only if that doesn’t cause a mass exodus of the softer National vote…

      • Cancerman 6.2.2
        10 July 2014 at 10:26 pm

        Agree with these comments.

      • lurgee 6.2.3
        11 July 2014 at 6:50 pm

        I think the upside is that if the left shriek and howl for McCully to resign, and nothing happens, they look marginal, deluded and unimportant.

        The even bigger upside is if there turns out to be some back story to this incident that we don’t know about yet and suddenly the left ends up looking stupid and hysterical. Because that’s what’s happened with pretty much every other crisis thus far …

    • Te Reo Putake 6.3
      10 July 2014 at 2:44 pm

      The question is whether McCully should resign as minister, not as an MP. Though, of course, he’s fatally wounded now anyway. He’ll do as he’s told and if the Nats decide to cede his seat to Colin Craig, there is nothing he can do about it. But I don’t think it’s going to hurt NZ if he joins the long, long list of Key’s sacked ministers and MP’s two months before the election. It’d be a nice reminder of what a low standard Key has when he employs people in the first place.

  7. Tracey 7
    10 July 2014 at 3:55 pm

    anyone who thinks this isnt about nz rape culture because the accused is malaysian, is part of the problem. re read the victi6ns view of how mr mccully and mr key dealt with this publicly for a clue.

    • finbar 7.1
      11 July 2014 at 5:01 pm

      Yes Tracey.both Key and Mc Cully,handled this with no concern for the victim, and further, both lied to the public about knowlledge of this incident.And now to rub salt into the wound, the terms of refrence of the departmental investigation into this matter excludes Mc Cully,and his action along with the P.M.to be exempt,so by that it would appear that they have a patsy in mind, further it is being suggested that the enquiry will be held after the election.

      As an aside,yet important.If the person accused of this alledged offence came from a lower socio economic circumstance or welfare dependent,the charge would be one of the more sentence serious home invation and attempted Rape, and no bail would be forthcoming.Rather than the lesser sentence charge of burgulary and rape.Also the police and their prosecution service are knee deep is this cess pool,of international political skulldugery.

  8. One Anonymous Bloke 8
    10 July 2014 at 4:15 pm

    Number 7. on the list… bloody awful thing to read, that the head of our diplomatic ‘service’, not content, apparently, with the great steaming mountain of callous incompetence (or worse, sympathy for the alleged offender), goes on to issue a Clayton’s apology and this the third of three public apologies before a single one has reached the complainant.

    I feel sorry to be a man right now.

  9. CnrJoe 9
    10 July 2014 at 5:15 pm

    MCCULLY is proof that the choices of cabinet minister material are frikken limited for Mr Keys.

  10. Draco T Bastard 10
    10 July 2014 at 5:46 pm

    And giving the letter over a month after details of the case were publicly disclosed suggests a regret that is very measured.

    Get real, it tells us that the regret is non-existent.

  11. dimebag russell 11
    10 July 2014 at 6:54 pm

    time for mccully to go.
    he has been hanging round for far too long that he does not know right from wrong.

  12. James Thrace 12
    10 July 2014 at 8:54 pm

    May 2014

    Rumours start surfacing about Colon Craig standing in East Coast Bays.
    McCully essentially states – not over his dead body
    Malaysian sex fiend leaves Brooklyn abode to unsuccessfully rape some PYT.
    McCully finds out about it
    MFAT screws up somehow, somewhere (still not clear)
    Nothing is said about MSFATRPYT

    June 2014

    Colon Craig annouces he is going to run in East Coast Bays
    McCully states no, not until someone says something to him
    Donghua Liu is presented by the NZ National Party Pravda Herald as a “Look, Labour can’t be trusted” fait accompli
    NZ National Party Pravda Herald falls flat on its face when it cant be proven that Liu donated anything of worth to Labour (much less donated to Labour more than the $20k+ donated to National)

    July

    Malaysian sex fiend attempted rape case raised in the media
    McCully under Fire
    Colon “I’m still here” Craig, Standing for Something, in East Coast Bays
    Donghua Liu story essentially disappears
    Tania Billingsley – Key doesn’t care, McCully is incompetent.

    I’m sorry, but the timeline kinda stinks of haddock. Much as I detest National, is this a stitch up in ECB to get rid of Muzza?

    McCully is notorious for his Machiavellian tendencies, so his alleged incompetency smacks of interference from another hand. It’s not quite believable that McCully dropped the ball given his predilection for the appearance of all things (acceptance of rape culture within the National Party aside).

    • karol 12.1
      10 July 2014 at 9:27 pm

      And I’m sure Tania Billingsley is just a Nat-CC plant, there to help them when needed?!
      🙄

    • lprent 12.2
      10 July 2014 at 9:49 pm

      Incredible…..

      How much of a fool you appear to be….

      For a starter, the incident all took place in early May. At that point I seem to remember that Crazy Craig was eying up Williamson’s electorate.

      Haven’t you ever heard of a timeline? Or Occam’s razor.

    • blue leopard 12.3
      10 July 2014 at 9:53 pm

      I’ve been bothered by this too James Thrace. There is something odd about the timing of all this. I can’t fathom that McCully would deliberately ignore this very important and sensitive issue yet the timing is so odd with respect to East Coast Bays, and as you say McCully has a reputation of being cunning, that it is difficult not to wonder if there is some underhand connection in there somewhere.

      • Colonial Viper 12.3.1
        10 July 2014 at 10:09 pm

        Joyce and his crowd is looking to take out Cabinet rival McCully. Remember they all keep dirt on each other – it is the timing of if and when it is used which is critical. In this case, doing so facilitates the one and only National road to victory: Colin Craig winning East Coast Bays.

        McCully has to stay in his seat.

        • blue leopard 12.3.1.1
          10 July 2014 at 10:13 pm

          I don’t understand (not rhetorical!) – are you saying ‘McCully has to stay in his seat’ from the perspective of that being better for getting a left-wing government?

          • Colonial Viper 12.3.1.1.1
            10 July 2014 at 10:30 pm

            Yes. Getting rid of McCully now will be a quick feel good scalp, but his ongoing presence in the National Cabinet will be far more damaging to them throughout the campaign.

    • blue leopard 12.4
      10 July 2014 at 9:53 pm

      I’ve been bothered by this too James Thrace. There is something odd about the timing of all this. I can’t fathom that McCully would deliberately ignore this very important and sensitive issue yet the timing is so odd with respect to East Coast Bays, and as you say McCully has a reputation of being cunning, that it is difficult not to wonder if there is some underhand connection in there somewhere.

    • blue leopard 12.5
      10 July 2014 at 9:53 pm

      I’ve been bothered by this too James Thrace. There is something odd about the timing of all this. I can’t fathom that McCully would deliberately ignore this very important and sensitive issue yet the timing is so odd with respect to East Coast Bays, and as you say McCully has a reputation of being cunning, that it is difficult not to wonder if there is some underhand connection in there somewhere.

  13. emergency mike 13
    10 July 2014 at 9:20 pm

    And the Herald headline on their web front page – Diplomat case: Harawira’s ‘big mistake’.

  14. Shorts 14
    11 July 2014 at 7:41 am

    McCully’s response or lack of is easy to understand…. Refer rape culture. The woman is secondary to any other concern…. Cue Hone’s ill thought out response…

    While there are political ramifications and opportunities the discussion of such here and everywhere is very distasteful.

  15. tc 15
    11 July 2014 at 7:42 am

    Oh look the dark lords are having a turf war.

    Like collins, blinglish, brownlee etc muzza knows far too much and needs to be kept within the fold, any sinecures they toss his way could be unwound by a new govt so why not stay and tough it out.

    please stay muzza the good folk of nz need to be reminded of those higher standards you represent.

  16. Cancerman 16
    11 July 2014 at 9:39 am

    Funny that Goff or King never resigned over the cover up in the Darren Hughes affair?

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1
      11 July 2014 at 9:45 am

      Labour did it too? Did that excuse work for you in Primary School?

    • dv 16.2
      11 July 2014 at 7:31 pm

      I seem to recall the “Hughes affair” was a beat up
      The police investigated and did not press charges.

      Also Hughes resigned.

  17. SPC 17
    11 July 2014 at 11:10 am

    According to some there is no longer expectation of accountability from the Minister when their ministry fails to perform – see Armstrong’s defence of McCully in the Herald today.

  18. dimebag russell 18
    11 July 2014 at 7:20 pm

    has mccully gone yet?
    if not why not?

  19. Tanz 19
    11 July 2014 at 8:36 pm

    McCully is not the crim here though, is he.

  20. Tanz 20
    11 July 2014 at 8:36 pm

    McCully is not the crim here though, is he.