Comments on: Around and about http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html DPF's Kiwiblog - Fomenting Happy Mischief since 2003 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:59:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Peter Metcalfe http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165609 Peter Metcalfe Fri, 17 Mar 2006 06:57:14 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165609 Tony, I'll required far more than just your mere say-so considering that your original explanation of my supposed laziness completely ignored Judith's ministerial status (which was a core part of my skepticism) and also failed to mention that the education and science select committee was meeting that day (contrary to the information that I cited from the Clerk's Office). I wouldn't accuse you of lying - instead I'll accuse you of being pathetically maladept in the communications business as the manner of your rebuttal reeked of pathetic spin so much so that it looked as though you had worked in David Benson-Pope's office. Had you just pointed out that a) Ministers outside Cabinet are now subbing on the select committees from time to time (which certainly wasn't the case not so long ago) and b) Judith was subbing on the Education and Science Review comittee which met that day then your rebuttal would have credibility attached to it. But since it didn't, you only have yourself to blame for my skepticism. Tony,

I’ll required far more than just your mere say-so considering that your original explanation of my supposed laziness completely ignored Judith’s ministerial status (which was a core part of my skepticism) and also failed to mention that the education and science select committee was meeting that day (contrary to the information that I cited from the Clerk’s Office). I wouldn’t accuse you of lying – instead I’ll accuse you of being pathetically maladept in the communications business as the manner of your rebuttal reeked of pathetic spin so much so that it looked as though you had worked in David Benson-Pope’s office.

Had you just pointed out that a) Ministers outside Cabinet are now subbing on the select committees from time to time (which certainly wasn’t the case not so long ago) and b) Judith was subbing on the Education and Science Review comittee which met that day then your rebuttal would have credibility attached to it. But since it didn’t, you only have yourself to blame for my skepticism.

]]> By: Tony Milne http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165608 Tony Milne Fri, 17 Mar 2006 06:25:47 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165608 Peter, I work in the Government Whips Office which deals with Select Committees - whose on them and who gets replaced, and I can assure you Judith was on the Select Committee. Unless you want to accuse me of lying too? Peter, I work in the Government Whips Office which deals with Select Committees – whose on them and who gets replaced, and I can assure you Judith was on the Select Committee. Unless you want to accuse me of lying too?

]]> By: Peter Metcalfe http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165607 Peter Metcalfe Fri, 17 Mar 2006 03:28:04 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165607 Darryl, "Sitting on the select committee" indicates that a person is acting as a member of that select committee. "Appearing before the select committee" which is what Ministers do in select committees is something else. Darryl,

“Sitting on the select committee” indicates that a person is acting as a member of that select committee. “Appearing before the select committee” which is what Ministers do in select committees is something else.

]]> By: Danyl Mclauchlan http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165606 Danyl Mclauchlan Fri, 17 Mar 2006 03:22:26 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165606 <i>I've never heard of Ministers sitting on select committtees before</i> Huh. I understand its an almost daily occurence. I’ve never heard of Ministers sitting on select committtees before

Huh. I understand its an almost daily occurence.

]]> By: Peter Metcalfe http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165605 Peter Metcalfe Fri, 17 Mar 2006 03:02:22 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165605 Tony, I've never heard of Ministers sitting on select committtees before or replacing another MP. Perhaps you could take the trouble to cook up more convincing spin? --Peter Metcalfe Tony,

I’ve never heard of Ministers sitting on select committtees before or replacing another MP. Perhaps you could take the trouble to cook up more convincing spin?

–Peter Metcalfe

]]> By: Michael (The Right Wing One) http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165604 Michael (The Right Wing One) Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:53:28 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165604 I wondered if she'd been subbed onto the other SC. Thanks, Tony. I wondered if she’d been subbed onto the other SC. Thanks, Tony.

]]> By: Tony Milne http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165603 Tony Milne Fri, 17 Mar 2006 00:16:12 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165603 David, as you well know, MPs often fill in for other MPs on Select Committee if someone has leave to be away. That is what Judith Tizard was doing. A lie? No, just a lazy blogger (Peter Matcalfe) who doesn't know how Parliament works and was too lazy to ask anyone. David, as you well know, MPs often fill in for other MPs on Select Committee if someone has leave to be away. That is what Judith Tizard was doing. A lie? No, just a lazy blogger (Peter Matcalfe) who doesn’t know how Parliament works and was too lazy to ask anyone.

]]> By: Idiot/savant http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2006/03/around_and_about.html#comment-165602 Idiot/savant Thu, 16 Mar 2006 23:00:48 +0000 http://kiwiblog-test.inspire.net.nz/wordpress/?p=13654#comment-165602 I've been trying to get the Clerk to put more information online (or even just to publish a PDF of the appropriate page from the parliamentary Bulletin), but have hit some resistance. Basically, while they have a "fair copy" of the bill (the version which will be introduced to the House if it is drawn), they don't regard it as a public document, and don't regard it as their job to make them available to the public. Some MPs of course are quite secretive about their legislative plans (something I'll be making sharp coments about in the next batch of bills). Democracies are supposed to be open, and we are supposed to be able to know what our lawmakers are up to so we can hold them accountable. This should extend to being able to see the full text of any bill they put in the ballot. They're not before the House, but they're in the process, and so we should be able to see them. I’ve been trying to get the Clerk to put more information online (or even just to publish a PDF of the appropriate page from the parliamentary Bulletin), but have hit some resistance. Basically, while they have a “fair copy” of the bill (the version which will be introduced to the House if it is drawn), they don’t regard it as a public document, and don’t regard it as their job to make them available to the public. Some MPs of course are quite secretive about their legislative plans (something I’ll be making sharp coments about in the next batch of bills).

Democracies are supposed to be open, and we are supposed to be able to know what our lawmakers are up to so we can hold them accountable. This should extend to being able to see the full text of any bill they put in the ballot. They’re not before the House, but they’re in the process, and so we should be able to see them.

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