Open mike 15/10/09

Written By: - Date published: 6:00 am, October 15th, 2009 - 28 comments
Categories: open mike - Tags:

mike

We’re trying a daily “Open mike”.

This is a place for anyone to post comments on topics that might be of interest, and for any discussion following up on the comments. Over to you…

28 comments on “Open mike 15/10/09 ”

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  2. logie97 2
    15 October 2009 at 7:45 am

    ACC – Loss of income if accident happens while committing a crime.

    1. If your injuries are as a result of a motor accident in which you are found guilty of breaking the speed limit… will you be affected?

    2. How many fellons would be gainfully employed before they committed their crimes – one assumes they have never been eligible for compensation? Must be a fantastic saving to ACC there.

    • toad 2.1
      15 October 2009 at 8:00 am

      I think the proposal only cuts in if you’re sentenced to two years or more in prison.

      It’s probably one of the less worrying of the cuts – certainly far less worrying than the cuts to seekly compensation for seasonal and casual employees and the vocational independence changes that will see highly qualified people booted off weekly compensation if they are found to be able to do some low paid job.

      Sue Bradford referred yesterday to an aircraft engineer who had his weekly compensation stopped because he was found to be able to work as a carpark attendant, and a merchant seaman who had his stopped because he was found to be able to work as a meter reader.

      That sort of stuff used to happen – and will happen again, thanks to Nick Smith So much for ACC being about providing “fair compensation for loss from injury”.

  3. felix 3
    15 October 2009 at 7:46 am

    Is subversifpoet going to have to re-write Johnnie’s Boys in a less gender-specific fashion to include Melissa Lee?

  4. toad 4
    15 October 2009 at 8:06 am

    TheStreet.com reports:

    Melissa Lee, the moderator of CNBC’s “Fast Money” TV show said…

    Seems there is more than one Melissa Lee into fast money.

    • snoozer 4.1
      15 October 2009 at 10:48 am

      our one has never been known to be moderate though.

      what about her yelling out ‘idiot’ in parlaiment on tuesday? what an embarrassment.

  5. BLiP 5
    15 October 2009 at 8:32 am

    Another John Key lie spotted by Russell Brown on Radio Wammo – 9:00 minutes in.

    • Ianmac 5.1
      15 October 2009 at 10:29 am

      Blip: Does Mr Key’s comment qualify as misleading the House?

      • BLiP 5.1.1
        15 October 2009 at 10:42 am

        Dunno. Bloody well should. The last time the Goober misled the House he said that his cycle track had undergone “rigourous costings” when, in fact, nothing of the sort occurred. In that case, Lockwood said the statement did not mislead the House.

  6. outofbed 6
    15 October 2009 at 9:30 am

    Shippers say $1.5b subsidises trucks

    Original PDF report here
    A study commissioned by the New Zealand Transport Agency on freight transport in New Zealand, including an analysis of the prospects for coastal shipping.

    • Ianmac 6.1
      15 October 2009 at 10:35 am

      OOB: The ACC Minister is at pains to show that the users should pay the cost of their higher risk. For example motorcyclists. Should trucks reduce the billions that they cost us by paying for the true cost of road usage? $1.5bn could reduce ACC costs.

    • Armchair Critic 6.2
      15 October 2009 at 11:26 am

      Yet Joyce says
      “It’s just not correct to say there’s any form of subsidy.”
      in one breathe, and
      “I don’t think there’s any future for the country by widening subsidies to different modes.”
      in another. Sounds like he doesn’t know what he is talking about – I’m pretty sure he is wrong, and there is a subsidy for trucks. The cost they pay is less than their share of the total cost and the difference is picked up by the taxpayer, which seems like a subsidy to me.
      Not that I am against subsidies, I just want to see that they are applied as fairly as possible across the various transport modes.
      It frustrates me that the subsidy is in addition to the subsidies that the transport industry will get under the ETS, which again favours trucks.
      Of course the pre-election donation from the Road Transport Forum has had no effect on Mr Joyce’s opinions.

    • Armchair Critic 6.3
      15 October 2009 at 11:35 am

      The rise in ACC levies for motorcyclist seemed to have been justified on pretty weak grounds to me. Sure, the costs of motorcycle accident injuries is higher than for car accidents, because cars provide much more protection to their occupants.
      But I would be interested in some data on the causes on motorcycle accidents. The proportion of costs created when a car or truck driver is at fault and caused the accidents should be assigned to cars and trucks. Only single vehicle accidents involving motorcycles and the proportion of accidents caused by motorcyclist error should be included in motorcycle ACC levies.

      • Ianmac 6.3.1
        15 October 2009 at 11:40 am

        This morning on radio the figure of 30% motorcycle accidents caused by car error.

        • Armchair Critic 6.3.1.1
          15 October 2009 at 11:55 am

          Was there any information on whether the costs had been assigned between car drivers and motorcyclists, depending on who was at fault? Or were the costs all lumped on to motorcyclists?
          I will be happy with a “do your own research” reply.

          • Ianmac 6.3.1.1.1
            15 October 2009 at 12:37 pm

            Armchair:I believe the figure came from a motorcyclist on the end of Morning Report (i think?) and he said that 30% of bike accidents were car error but the figure was listed as bike accident with no weght given to the cars. All lumped together. Sorry that I can’t be more specific. Old age you see.

  7. RascallyRabbit 7
    15 October 2009 at 12:43 pm

    Came across this in the granny herald today:

    http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603270

    Sounds as though Rodney Hide will be on his way to ballsing up a useful jobs initiative if he gets half a chance….

  8. Clarke 8
    15 October 2009 at 1:41 pm

    And in other news, the Nats have decided to hear all oral submissions on the ETS revisions today, less than 48 hours after submissions closed. They will be hearing only 27 submissions in 4.5 hours, which tells you everything you need to know about National’s “fuck you” attitude to democracy.

  9. Armchair Critic 9
    15 October 2009 at 3:13 pm

    WTF is Lockwood Smith doing stripping supplementary questions from parties during question time?

    • Ianmac 9.1
      15 October 2009 at 3:32 pm

      Because he can. Trevor must really annoy him.
      I was listening rather than watching and my guess is that Lockwood made a slightly impetuous decision and his voice subsequently reflected some regret. (I can’t get it out my memory the image of Lockwood as quizmaster on TV all those years ago when he held the CONTROL and always seemed smug when he knew the answers and they did not. 🙂 )

      • Armchair Critic 9.1.1
        15 October 2009 at 3:43 pm

        I was listening too, the internet is too slow here for live streaming video but audio is mostly okay.
        No doubt both sides were pushing the boundaries today, and I’m happy for some form of sanction to be taken against misbehaving members, but removing supplementary questions doesn’t seem like a good thing. Wasn’t there a “freedom of speech” issue just yesterday?

  10. BLiP 10
    15 October 2009 at 3:42 pm

    Are you ready hey are you ready for this?
    Are you hanging on the edge of your seat?
    Out of the doorway the bullets rip
    To the sound of the beat yeah

    Another one bites the dust

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