Telling the truth is dangerous
March 29th, 2006 at 1:07 pm by David FarrarThe Government often blames its staff for things like getting projections wrong etc.
A foolish scientist yesterday was quoted as saying with regards to climate change that the problem is that Pete Hodgson “basically directed the staff to model the next target as if it had been accomplished” and “stuffed it up”.
Today he has been ordered to clear his desk and leave work.
I can’t say I am surprised. But it is a good reminder that Ministers often dictate the assumptions on which civil servants have to make forecasts. So when things go wrong and a Minister blames his or her officials, make sure you ask about what involvement the Minister had in the forecasts.
No tag for this post.
March 29th, 2006 at 1:48 pm
David, I saw your heading and thought the post must be about the Labour Government’s policy manual!
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 3:13 pm
ahh doesn’t the article state that he was on a fixed term contract and going on jury service?
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Yeah, as Phil says, the claims is that he hasn’t been told to pack and go. Anyone got the final details on this yet?
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
telling the truth is dangerous?
That’s why we see so little of it from our Liar-bour leader and politicians!
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
telling the truth is dangerous?
That’s why we see so little of it from our Liar-bour leader and politicians!
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 5:48 pm
Well David seems to have been economical with the truth in this report so far.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 6:22 pm
Could be worse – when Soviet statisticians came up a few million short in a census during the 1930s (nothing to do with collectivisation and the purges I am sure) Stalin had them arrested and shot.
Vote:March 29th, 2006 at 10:27 pm
It is obvious from the report that he had been told to pack his desk up early. Their source is probably the employee himself, and he would know.
But if you really want to believe the Govt PR flack go for it.
Vote:March 30th, 2006 at 1:59 am
I’m sure climate change scientists are a dime a dozen on the employment market (not!). NZ loses a scientist serving the countrys interest for merely calling a spade a spade. A quiet word not to talk to the media unless authorised/ trained in how to discuss issues with them was surely all that was required. Not a sacking/ contract termination.
Does the scientist serve NZ or the minister? Surely the country comes first, and as an expert he has the right to state his professional opinion. It seems scientists are somehow not allowed to have opinions on issues – but merely remain as servants who the politicians keep in the back room cooking the numbers to look “scienterrific” and sound convincing to the electorate.
Vote:March 30th, 2006 at 6:43 am
Well I was at that conference this week, and to be fair Pete Hodgson’s speech was pretty bad.
But if there’s anything we need at the moment it’s better relations between scientists and politicians – MPs aren’t listening to them…
A shadow was cast over the conference because our government recently scrapped the proposed carbon tax, one of the only things we were doing to prevent climate change.
Vote:March 30th, 2006 at 8:59 am
GPT Thats the solution of all Socialists If you dont agree with me Bang your dead.What an intolerant bunch of arseholes these pieces of turd we have for a government are.
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