A Who’s Who of the Madeleine Setchell story
Good Guys
The PSA
Bad Guys
Steve Hurring
Hugh Logan
David Benson-Pope
Mark Prebble
Innocent Bystanders
Madeleine Setchell
Kevin Taylor
Now let’s take each player one by one
The PSA
The PSA win the good guy award. As a trade union they are generally very cozy with a Labour Government, but by speaking out (no doubt due to many concerned members contacting them) they remind people of the salient point. To quote them:
“The commissioner says it would be wrong to conclude anyone with political family connections is unwelcome in the public service. But I’m afraid I’m not reassured because of the way this case was handled,” says Brenda Pilott, National Secretary of the PSA, which has 55,000 members working in the state sector.
If the Government gets away with moving someone out of a public service job, just because of their family, then the bar has been moved – and not in a minor way.
Steve Hurring
We’ll take the bad guys in chronological order. Steve Hurring is a Senior Advisor to David Benson-Pope. He is also a [former] Vice-President of the NZ Labour Party. In a Minister’s office you have a mixture of political appointees and apolitical – he is clearly political. He is a former EPMU union official.
Hurring made the call to the Secretary for the Environment about Setchell. He should have made no such call. The whitewash excuse that he did not know if she was Taylor’s partner and was just checking if it was true is crap. You would not call the CEO to find that out. You would call her direct report. You call the CEO to complain.
But at the end of the day Hurring is only a minor villain. Because there can be no doubt that he would not have made that call without his Minister’s permission or more likely at his request.
Hugh Logan
Logan has acted disgracefully as CEO of the Environment Ministry. His only response to the Minister’s Office should have been “We trust this person’s professionalism. We have of course made very clear to her the absolute need for discretion and confidentiality. If she ever gives us cause for concern then we will take action, but as her employer she has my confidence to behave impartially”.
Logan is a bad employer and has seriously dented confidence in an apolitical public service. He has failed his staff and frankly I think his position is untenable. How could any future Government have confidence in him?
David Benson-Pope
David Benson-Pope has a habit of being, shall we say, evasive with the truth. After denying he knew any details about the case, the SSC report reveals he had a direct briefing on the case by Hugh Logan. The SSC report did not interview Benson-Pope or Hurring so we do not know how often they discussed it between themselves.
Of course the Minister should not have authorised Hurring to complain to Logan. By dong so he politicised the public service. The SSC report states that Logan not Benson-Pope made the decision to move Setchell from her job. This is an irrelevant truism. Of course Logan made the decision – it is impossible for anyone else to have done so. That is not the issue. The issue is what views did Hurring and Benson-Pope express to him, and how much he was influenced by them. Keeping the Minister happy sits very high on CEO’s priorities.
Mark Prebble
This is the person who has most disappointed me. I expect Benson-Pope to behave like he did, but it is incredibly regrettable that the head of the public service has become complicit in defending what happened, rather than protecting the public service’s neutrality. Prebble went into print last week claiming that what happened did not mean people with family in politics could not work in the public service. But as the PSA pointed out, one can no longer reach that conclusion.
Prebble as head of the public service should have been telling his Environment CEO not to damage the neutrality of the public service, that managing the conflict has almost never meant removing them from their job, and that the CEO’s response to the Minister should have been to assert independence over staff decisions and reassure the Minister of faith on his staff’s professionalism and integrity.
I don’t know Prebble particularly well. He worked in DPMC when I was in the PMs Office but I was about as junior as you can get on the totem pole, and he was at the very top. But I have always regarded him as one of the most intelligent and competent public servants NZ has. We’re certainly way better off for his contributions over many year.
But if I had one major criticism, it would his tendency to put his loyalty to the Government of the Day ahead of his loyalty to the institution of Government. We saw it over Corngate and we see it again today. And it is a worrying tendency for someone who is now head of the public service.
Madeleine Setchell
I have never met Madeleine Setchell. But some Google research shows that she has worked in the public service for many years, in roles very similiar to the one she took up at the Environment Ministry. It is unthinkable that the Ministry CEO would have asked her to leave her job had he not had a call from the Minister’s Office. She has previously been a Senior Comms Advisor for MAF and a spokeswoman for OSH in the DOL. Presumably she left a current job to take up the Environment job, and is now out of work.
As everyone has stressed she has behaved entirely properly in disclosing her relationship, and there has been no reason at all to suggest she has not and would not act in a professional manner. It is ironic that Steve Hurring [was] is the union vice-president of Labour, as his actions (on behalf of DBP) led to a worker losing her job for no good reason – something unions are meant to be against.
Kevin Taylor
Kevin worked for the NZ Herald for many years, and was a professional journalist. A couple of years ago he took up a role as a senior press secretary to the Leader of the Opposition and late last year was promoted to chief press secretary.
Staff in the leader’s office broadly are of two types. Those with a party background, and those without. People like myself in National, or Tony Timms (or Steve Hurring) in Labour are what jokingly get called the true believers.
The other staff, while certainly comfortable with what a party stand for, are not party members or activists. Examples are Mike Munro in Labour, Rob Eaddy in United Future and Kevin Taylor.
So Kevin isn’t a party hack. He comes from a journalist background, and like his partner, has moved into communications. I haven’t chatted to him about this, but can only just imagine how mortified he is having his relationship such a matter of public debate. He’s also a victim in this.
So of al the four bad guys, who is most to blame? I am tempted to say Hugh Logan who as CEO undoubtedly made totally the wrong call in asking Setchell to leave her job.
But at the end of the day I ask one question. If Steve Hurring had not made that phone call on behalf of his Minister, is there any real possibility Logan would have removed her from her job? No there is none. So Benson-Pope has to take responsibility. He had direct conversations with the CEO on this and Hurring works at his direction.
At the end of the day this is not an issue just about one civil servant who lost her job. It is about whether one has a neutral public service or a partisan public service. I am not in favour of an American style public service, and it is a shame to see the head of the civil service trying to pretend that what happened was acceptable.
UPDATE: Hurring is no longer a Labour Party Vice-President. The Labour website was two years out of date!
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:39 am
Stalinist Purge! David you noble warrior for truth and freedom.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:41 am
NZ is too small to attempt to enforce rules such as this. Neither the talent pool nor the social pool are deep enough to have rules about who can have relationships with whom. Mark Prebble’s brother is of course….
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:45 am
According the Clark, she is insisting that Hurring acted on his own initiative.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4137792a10.html
So he’s going to be the one to fall on the sword?
No.
Counselling, apparently….
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:55 am
So David Benson-Pope believes that convenience and truth rank about equal.
Who’s surprised ? I’m not.
In this light where do you rank Helen Clark ?????????…..
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 am
“She had spoken to Mr Benson-Pope and told him Mr Hurring needed to reflect on whether the call was wise” – Helen Clark.
The “call” got a seemingly professional and above-the-board employee fired. Two innocent people have their reputations damaged !
Clark has rocks in her heart as well as her head.
Still, given the polls out this morning, most NZ’ers still want her as PM. Apparently having rocks in your head is contageous.
Nothing to see here. Helen has spoken. Move on.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:02 am
Hugh should know better, he’s actually a decent bloke and a fine mountaineer. Unfortunately he’s shown a weaker side to his character here, and looks like a real tosser. Bad call Hugh.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:03 am
Pedro – nowhere do I use the term Stalinist or purge.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:17 am
No staffer in a Minister’s office would have made that type of call without direction from the Minister.
Just watch BP twitch in the House this week! He usually twitches when he is telling porkies, so it should almost be uninterrupted this week…..
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:17 am
Brilliant summary and analysis David! To me, this is the most important Government issue of the decade. Will all 190,000 public servants currently working for the Government lose their jobs if people they are close to are not labour supporters? We deserve an answer to this question. If Helen Clark does not sack Benson Pope then the Government is corrupt. If the States Services Commission does not sack Huge Logan then they are also corrupt, are influenced by political parties and have no regard for employment laws. Also, what’s all this stuff about sensitivity around sustainability? The Government has publicly announced all of its sustainability policies so there isn’t anything sensitive about this (unless of course there is something else they are hiding from us). I have lost all faith in the Government and Helen Clarks leadership over this issue. I used to be proud of this country’s political system and neutral public service – now I am ashamed.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:22 am
Yet another example to show that the reality is very far removed from the perception. Of course if Ms Setchell had not been hired we would have never known. Thats the way it usually works. Of course now we will see a scapegoat who will be well rewarded for falling on their sword. Poor governance continues to thrive where the culprits are allowed to operate.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:42 am
Hasn’t Benson Pope already sacrificed one of his Press Secretarys before? A Pete Coleman in 2005. How many people have to lose their jobs or get hit by tennnis balls before Benson Pope is made accountable for his actions? I can’t believe Helen Clark is even hesitating to sack Benson Pope over this – it’s a no brainer. If she trys to make his current Press Secretary accountable for doing what he was clearly told to do then the system truly is corrupt. It would be interesting to find out how many Press Secretaries Benson Pope has been through over the years and the ‘apparent’ reason for their departure.
July 23rd, 2007 at 10:46 am
Benson-Pope doesn’t have a press secretary. His office has been unable to fill the role – for obvious reasons.
Steve Hurring isn’t just an ordinary cabinet staffer – he’s a very senior party apparatchik with a great deal of autonomy and its not unlikely that he was acting off his own back. Even if he wasn’t Clark seems to be setting him up as the fall guy here, and since the media seem to loath Hurring even more than they hate Benson-Pope that seems like a wise strategy.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:06 am
Danyl said, …”Even if he wasn’t Clark seems to be setting him up as the fall guy here,”…
Even if this is quoted out of context, it looks like anywhere near the 9th floor is getting to be a dangerous place right now.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:24 am
Danyl:
Cheese and crackers, we’ve got to stop agreeing like this.
But in a funny way, I’m less upset by party hacks acting like party hacks and more disappointed in Mark Prebble and, in particular, Hugh Logan.
IMO, Logan should have just said “I’m hanging up the phone now, and I’ll be sending you a formal letter (c.c.’d to the Minister, Mark Prebble, and the State Services Minister) why I never want this kind of totally inappropriate call from you again.” The level of spin – and I’m just listening to Lila Harre toeing the party line on National Radio to a degree nauseating in a health sector union organiser – is reaching a level of farce that would be OTT in one of Sir Humphrey Appleby’s Yes, Prime Minister monologues.
Party hacks will always be party hacks. There will always be paranoid thugs with poor judgement, paper-thin skins, and excremental people skills in the Executive. But senior civil servants – and there’s nobody more senior than the State Services Commissioner – should be defending the political neutrality and independence of the civil service against tantrum-prone ministers and their sycophantic political appointees.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:31 am
And on the plus side this is a marvellous distraction from Clark’s trip to Malaysia.
The whole sorry saga is no surprise to those familiar with the vile and vindictive Labour Government this country has had to endure for the past 8 years.
This story has been made public – how many other times has a similar event happened, but was never made public.
The incompetent management of this government continues. I just hope National can continue to make this a big issue for the next three weeks and until the next scandal makes the news.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 am
Just what dirt does Benson-Pope have on Helen to deserve such leniency?
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:45 am
This certainly looks like a shameful nadir for the public service. There should be a full investigation. I HOPE there is more to the story than meets the eye. But on the face of it, it looks like the lowest kind of behaviour. Prebble is himself someone who should be familiar with the complex interface between being a civil servant and having interesting family connections. So, I just cannot believe he let this slide like this??? Hugh should be ashamed of himself. If the Minister is involved in this kind of shabby backroom interference he should lose his warrant immediately.
The thing is our system of government is so precariously balanced on a bunch of flimsy conventions – when one of the players starts acting way outside of the accepted bounds then it genuinely threatens to undermine the whole system. If ministers want to politicise the public service then get on with it – but do it openly and do it comprehensively with eyes open about the impact of these changes. If this series of events is as reported then it’s a truly shameful moment.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:46 am
Hurring acted with the full knowldge of his Minister and certainly Logan would NOT have acted as he did if he felt Hurring was acting on his own initiative. It is Logan’s actions that is the smoking gun evidence against Benson-Pope. Logan is dumb. He would have protected his Minister MORE if he had obeyed the law and reisisted the pressure from the Minister. His position is untenable. The SSC inquiry is so laughable I think the report is satire. The SSC at best is a pretty feeble organistsation with very feeble people. It is best to follow the law and resist Government pressure to do something dodgy. You protect the Government MORE if you behave this way. Prebble should realise this given the position he is in. His dodgyness and accomodation of dodgyness is NOT assisting the Government in the medium to long term. Not a very capable person in my view.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:47 am
Danyl said:
since the media seem to loath Hurring even more than they hate Benson-Pope
That is possible?
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:55 am
Wonder if this was a case of “who will rid me of this turbulant priest?”
DBP may not have asked for it to be done but the official could have seen it as being in the minister’s interest to check the potential conflict was known. I could imagine if I were a political appointee that I would do the same. And Logan might have read between the lines.
But I hope more that I wouldn’t care and that I would trust everyone’s professionalism – but if you are a political apparatchik I supposed the tendency is to see everyone else in a similar light.
Danyl’s comment on DBP’s lack of PR person is interesting – it took a year to fill the Setchell role – could there be a connection?
It could be interesting to map the relationships of politicians and senior civil servants to contrast MfE’s poor management of this with how such relationships are handled successfully elsewhere.
Did anyone notice Mark Prebble’s distancing of himself in an article in the Dompost last week? He appears to want nothing to do with this…
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:00 pm
With her “explanation”, Clark is saying that Hurring totally intimidated the CEO of the Envoronment ministry , all on his own. Logan must be a truly soft touch if he takes orders from a political hack.
Littelphil asks: “Just what dirt does Benson-Pope have on Helen to deserve such leniency?”
I wish that was the case and the mind does boggle at the thought!
However I think it more likely she is protecting her job, as the public flogging of such a high profile MP for a serious indescretion like this, would surely see an abrupt end to this government.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:02 pm
Members of Parliament with their surrounding, protective bureaucrats and a subservient Media forget that they are still bound by the Crimes Act 1961.
They have been advantaging themselves to the disadvantage of others and this has been covered up by Commissions of Inquiry with narrow terms of reference, in House Inquiries, Disciplinary Board Hearings – you name it – those in the Service of the Crown have had their backsides covered up till now.
Much has been made of the case laid against Taito Philip Field as an MP being charged under the Crimes Act 1961 as being a first. Who directed the POlice Commissioner to have another look at the Noel Ingram QC Report?
But how many other allegations of corruption against, MPs, The Judiciary and Bureaucrats have been laid with Police and have not been investigated?
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:06 pm
The official who made the call from the Minister’s office did so without the knowledge of Benson-Pope.
David was tied up at the time.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:07 pm
Oh, and even if we buy Clark’s spin – that Hurring was a complete loose cannon – then she should still sack Benson Pope. Who the frig wants an imcompetent like that in the Environment portfolio when you’ve spent much of the last year trying to position yourself as the Al Gore of New Zealand politics?
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
The unanswered question here is, what is it that made Logan so unable to manage the potential conflict of interest that his only choice was to dismiss Setchell from her job? DBP apparently said it was a CEO matter, so did the SSC, and Hurring only asked if there was a relationship to Key’s office. So where did this ‘revelation’ come from?
It also shows that disclosures of interest, which are supposed to clear the air, are a waste of time because Logan has all but admitted she wouldn’t have got the job if he had known, despite the SSC guidelines on appointments and managing conflicts. So you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t on COIs it now appears. I wonder if anyone believes Logan’s actions are in line with the advice to “make a decision in the best interests of his department and of a politically neutral public service”.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Herr Helen is standing behind Panty Slut Boy (again) – he has done nothing that she considers by her standards to be inappropriate.
True.
This just proves though that they’re both gutter slime of the lowest order.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:30 pm
this from Colin James iff his website sort of sums it up.
A responsible(?) minister
Colin James, Random thought, 23 July 2007
A person in a minister’s office speaks for the minister. The minister is responsible for what that person says or does as a member of the minister’s office whether or not it is as at the minister’s specific bidding or with the minister’s knowledge.
So, in effect, David Benson-Pope queried the employment of Madeleine Setchell, partner of Kevin Taylor, chief press secretary of Opposition leader John Key.
The precedent is Roger Douglas’s offer to resign after a member of his office mistakenly pre-issued copies of one of his Budgets. Douglas’s resignation was rejected on the ground that no damage was actually done.
Benson-Pope, through his officer, has done damage — to the constitutionally important principle of public service neutrality and separation of politics from public service administration. A strictly constitutionally correct Clark would logically ask for and accept his resignation — or at least not exonerate him n the ground that his officer is said to have acted without his explicit knowledge.
This adds to the need for a proper regularisation of the sprawling, politicised ministerial offices which have evolved over the past 20 years. They fit poorly in the public service model and should be separated out.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:35 pm
There should be a full and independent investigation into this. The alleged behaviour is such a fundamental breach of the constitutional and legal arrangements it needs to be thoroughly investigated and publicly reported. The SSC cannot undertake this inquiry because it is directly in the frame. Perhaps a Select Committee should initiate an investigation. Call the players to front up and answer direct questioning by MPs. Why not? It’s an ideal solution.
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Just for the record, David, Steve Hurring is not the Affiliates Vice President of the Labour Party. He was replaced in that role by Darien Fenton before the 2005 Election, and she in turn was replaced by Andrew Little at the 2006 Conference.
Embarrassing that the party’s website was out of date – I see it has been corrected.
Jordan
July 23rd, 2007 at 12:52 pm
re jordan comment: history is being re-written quickly. bp will be gone by the 6pm news. clark’s defence is not being believed and she is openly being called a liar, even on state radio
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Just more of the same from an immoral and unethical bunch of Socialists. They have no comprehension of the principles of good governance. As another poster said the convention in a Westminster style democracy that(cough) we are supposed to have is for the Minister to tender their resignation to the Prime Minister if an event that may be in conflict with the principles of good governance occur in their department. It is then up to the Prime Minister to excercise their judgement. Very clear vey simple Expect for this bunch.
July 23rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I can’t work out why Benson-Pope is taking all the heat on this, as I imagine that Climate Change Minister David Parker would have had just as much reason to jump up and down about Madeleine Setchell being hired at MfE. In fact it would be very surprising if he or his office didn’t find out about the same time the Benson-Pope’s did. He’s keeping very quiet, anyhow.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Jordan – if this is true – it’s truly shameful shit. I worry that this kind of behaviour could continue and grow if sensible people don’t call it for the crap it is but rather fall back on hackneyed partisan defensiveness. If this is true (about Benson-Pope’s office heavying public servants to lose someone because of a potential conflict of interest), then people like you – people who are the life-blood of the Labour party – should be calling it out as being anathema to the Party’s and government’s interests. This isn’t the kind of shit to be partisan on. This kind of crap, if it is true, can only occur where it’s permitted. The Labour Party (maybe not Helen Clark and co) but the Party, should be wary about letting this slide uncommented. When National comes to power they’ll have every reason to go on a similar pogrom and will defend it on the basis that Benson-Pope set the tone. This needs to be fully and independently investigated. Labour should also distance itself from Benson-Pope’s alleged behaviour and, if it’s proven to be true, should throw him out of the party. Rank and file members, like you, should also move to ensure the party walks the side of good on this and not play partisan cover-ups for the sake of one arsehole.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
gd: The following is an excellent example of the Westminster style democracy that (cough) you say we are supposed to have and the procedure to be adopted if the Minister creates an indiscretion. Ministers- Cullen, King etc.claim that Ministers never direct other Government Departments but:
Police HQ, Executive Services, received on 4 June 2003 the following directive from the Office of the Minister of Police signed by Gerry Cunneen Adviser (Police) 3 June 2003 “Correspondence of 25 May 2003…
The attached paper/s refer to alleged fraud, forgery, corruption (public sector).
No reply is required to this correspondence.
For filing please./Link with pps.
Helen Clark and Annette King along with other MPs have been provided with the above document which they have not acknowledged. Silence Golden?
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Helen Clark on Morning Report today said that Setchell should never have been hired That is alarming!
PRESENTER: one sees that there are things that may have gone wrong all along this process, but primarily it seems the mistake that’s made is that her application was progressed at all.
CLARK: That’s probably right Sean, and in the light of the advice that the State Services Commission later gave Mr Logan.
Helen Clark has just stated that people who have relatives, partners or friends connected to political parties other than Labour need not bother to apply for senior roles in the public service before the election.
National says this is proof positive that Labour sees the public service as an extension of its political operation
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:41 pm
HELENGRAD is alive and well and operating on all cylinders. The control freak has taken over, sheilding BP from the media. What an emasculated little toad he is. FFS, stand up for yourself man ! But ask Helen for permission first.
She that must be obeyed really is a remarkable politician (not a compliment)
It is little wonder that the public service coined the phrase Helengrad. They must have experienced this kind of BS for years.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Huge tactical error from Clark and Labour. Sack him, agree it was inappropriate, emphasise that ministers are responsible for their staff and move on. Added bonus of ridding the government of a major handicap (DBP). To me it echoes of the “free” early education balls up ( Just say its subsidised!!). This government reminds me of my 2 year old at bedtime……despite exhaustion and tears, contantly falling over and making a mess of it, they just dont want to go to bed. Cant see whats good for them….long may it continue
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Frank What really amuses me is how Transperancey International gets suckered into giving their rating when this crapola goes on. TI looks like it just asks the PM questions like Are you or any other government politican indulging in any bad governance practices? They obviously dont ask the 2nd or 3rd questions Ears and Eyes must be painted on.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I agree with frederico. There is a real opportunity for the government to show some mettle – but I suspect it won’t. The Party itself could assert some pressure on its political wing. The public would appreciate politicians standing up on point of principle rather than simple-minded partisanship.
July 23rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
This is why Setchell was sacked.
First, the Govt will make advertising by third parties illegal in election year (this will happen this week) and then, second, it will get the Ministry for the Environment to launch a massive election year advertising campaign about climate change, sustainability and carbon neutrality, and how Helen Clark is saving the world.
Setchell obviously couldn’t be the one to run this ad campaign.
July 23rd, 2007 at 4:35 pm
This reminds of when my old Dad joined the Post Office in the late 1930s. At that time Catholics controlled the top positions in many government departments. My Dad being a Presbyterian and from a State school was told very clearly by his boss that he was priviledged to get the job. Substitute non member of the Socialists with Catholic and we seem to have the same situation now.
Fact is we have and have had a partisan public service but like most areas of governance in NZ the reality is denied by those who believe you can fool most of the peasants most of the time.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:04 pm
Since Hugh Logan isn’t speaking to the media, they should contact the ex-CE of the Ministry for the Environment – Barry Carbon. Carbon apparently had quite a few clashes with the Ministers Office who put a lot of pressure on him to be political – but thanks to his integrity he refused. I think he lives in Melbourne now but am sure he would have something to say on this. Also, I wonder why the press secretaries that have taken a bullet for their Minister are now all working for DPMC or the Prime Minister’s office. Lianne Dailzel’s and David Parkers Press Secs both seem to have found jobs working for Helen after apparently ‘acting out’. Maybe they should move over and make room for Steve Hurring. Also, Anon’s comments are ridiculous – the Government’s policies on climate change and sustainability are not secret – and based on what Anon has said it would mean that no member of an advertising agency can have friends or partners who vote for the National Party either. Unless of course this is another new rule Helen has come up with.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:16 pm
TI report is put together by the same bureaucrats – call the trough-feeders international if you like.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Alice: the point is that the advertising campaign – called a “public information campaign” – will actually be designed to promote Helen Clark. Setchell could not be trusted to get this right. See had to go.
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Think posters this nasty bauld headed weasle will be out of a job soon, nasty peace of lying shit, opps .DBP is thought lower than cars sales pearsons , IE dog shit, on your shoes
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:45 pm
gd: Transparency International are kept abreast of allegations of corruption in our pollitical scene as it is realised that they have difficulty in recognising alleged corrupt actions. However despite being briefed they reinforce our No 1 world rating which Annette King is pleased to quote
I recall Transparency International threatening to revise our rating if the Validation of unlawful election spending was passed into Legislation!!!!
July 23rd, 2007 at 5:57 pm
jeex farra lot of answers to you post,
just as how you not dumb faarra,
thing about a new economy farrar
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:24 pm
look yous know what i thought, when that girlkmn thing say
szetchel i thought sexual do yous know hat i mean,
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:26 pm
It’s disappointing how many people’s values disappear out the window when they think their job might be on the line.
Public servants have certainly been ‘bullied’ before under other governments but this is the most blatant incident with the most serious consequences (someone else losing their job) that I have heard of.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:41 pm
Once a bully, always a bully.
3 cock-ups by DBP, no action by Helen. What dirt has he got on her?
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:47 pm
DBP is dog crap
OUR beloved helen produces the crap ,and everfaithfull selma believes in DOG crap
what gets me ,my 3 dogs produce honest dog crap every day , ,that i clean up , but i cannont push back the dog shit comming out of our (leader???????0 every day ,(there istnt enough doggie doo bags produced,to deal with the crap , from labour, THE workers party (yer right)
July 25th, 2007 at 7:06 pm
In the next Cabinet reshuffell Beson Pope in a GONE BURGER
as they say.
August 12th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
weight loss…
Proactol, does it really work?…