The Listener on Hawke’s Bay DHB
March 12th, 2008 at 10:33 am by David FarrarDavid Fisher puts his investigative skills to good use in the latest issue of The Listener. The article will not be online for a week or so, so I really recommend people interested buy a copy. Some key points I noted:
- The e-mail between Hausmann and CEO Chris Clarke in January 2006, discussing details of the contract Hausmann was tendering for, was only accessed by Board Administrator Deborah Houston as she was filling in for his PA. Hence there may have been many more e-mails like that.
- King’s appointment of Peter Hausmann was at whim, and while legal (she can appoint anyone she wants) failed to follow best practice by having the potential appointee go before an interview panel.
- The Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee staff alerted King’s office to the extent of Hausmann’s conflicts of interest
- A senior Ministry of Health staffer wrote a letter describing Hausmann’s appointment as posing a “huge risk”.
- Peter Hausmann asked for an inquiry not just into his own actions, but for a full review of the Board’s performance and governance. The Ministry of Health advised there was no need for this, and that it should be into Hausmann’s conflicts only as they believe “these are prima facie serious matters”.
- Pete Hodgson ignored the Ministry advice, and by making the review so much wider, meant the review took much much longer to complete, which in itself led to greater dysfunction.
- Ray Lind recorded several conversations with staff and board members, without telling them at the time.
- These secret recordings were only discovered when PWC audited the e-mail system and found Lind had e-mailed himself a copy – the e-mail had been deleted but was on the backup tape.
- Hausmann had access to the RFP months before his ten competitors did, and at least one of them complained about the lack of time to respond when it went public
- The e-mails to and from Hausmann regarding the RFP were deleted from the DHB’s e-mail system. This is arguably illegal under the Official Information Act.
- The only backup tape which had the e-mails was May 2005, and of the 12 backup tapes given to PWC, it was the only one damaged.
- DHB Management were severely criticised by the Audit Office for another (Wellcare Education) contract they gave to Hausmann’s company.
- An e-mail from Hausmann, after he was appointed to the Board, was sent to a senior manager extensively advocated on behalf of Wellcare Education, which Hausmann’s company’s owned.
The failings of both King and Hodgson, but also Lind and Clarke seem numerous. Deleted e-mails, official advice ignored, preferential treatment, secret recordings, appointments without interviews, to name a few.
What Annette King has yet to answer is why she appointed Hausmann? She says she just met him and as impressed with him. But why did she ffail to follow best practice? She says she was not legally obliged to do so. Fine, we know that. But the question is why did she not have an interview panel as normal?
And has Pete Hodgson explained why he ignored the advice from Ministry officials who had no political interest in the outcome? Did he talk to King before making that decision? Did he talk to Hausmann, Clarke or Ray Lind?
And why did DHB management not once, but twice, fall over themselves to give preferential treatment to Hausmann?
Related posts:
- Hawkes Bay DHB and Annette King
- Ralston connects the dots
- King on Hausmann
- O’Sullivan on HB DHB Inquiry
March 12th, 2008 at 10:44 am
I do hope the Hawkes Bay DHB has much better data protection systems for patient files than they do for their own internal communique.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 10:58 am
The interaction between King, Chris Clarke, Hausmaan, Lind and Hodgson can only be described as Croynisim. Add a $50 million dollar contract and in my book that is Corruption.
corruption
noun
1. lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain [syn: corruptness] [ant: incorruption]
seems to fit to my thinking
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Prehaps dear Annnette is still just a little bit pregnant as the attempted abortion was bungled.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Oh they so thought this had been brushed under the carpet first time around.
Funny how a whiff of power gives one the illusion of invincibility.
Confucious once wrote: ‘If you sit on the riverbank long enough, the bodies of all your enemies will float by.’
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:10 am
If you don’t want to shell out for a Listener, you can read the whole article here in pdf format
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2008/03/listener-ii.html
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:16 am
At last someone has raised the issue of why Hausman? Annette King did not pluck him out of thin air. At what point was he recomended and by whom? If it was indeed King who put him forward herself then surely that was a conflict of interest. Did Lind know Hausman before he was appointed.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Firstly, the official party line: Nothing to see here – move on.
I fear this will slip away quietly, there are senior Labour party people involved so there will be no accountability for what looks like very serious corruption.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hooray, more investigative journalism creaking and groaning into action in the land of the slumbering “society’s watchdog”…….
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Oh, everybody who is interested in this should buy the Listener. It will encourage them to run the hard news stories when it generates bumber sales.
Sure it saves a few $$ to read a bogus copy online but hey it’s stealing – and if we steal the material we are no better than Huasmann and King subverting the process for their own gain.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:26 am
The political and familial linkages between Lind, King, Clark and Hodgson are simply too blatant to be explained away. Then there’s the early link between Clark and Lind followed by the direct link between Housman and these two by way of emails and Linds appointment to Hausman’s company.
Housman’s link to the Minister is not yet obvious, but as the article notes (it’s on Whaleoil’s blog) Hausman had or has contracts with many other other DHBs.. so there’s an inescapable link between Hausman and the Minister (or Minister’s office) straightaway.
What’s now of interest is the relationship of Hausman and his company to those other DHBs round the country, to the point where an inquiry should be made. The speed and blatancy with which Hausman moved on management in HB to secure the contract there perhaps indicates a certain amount of practice?
JC
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I’d be interested to know where in the OIA it provides that emails cannot be deleted?
d
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:59 am
burt, it isn’t stealing when it is the public interest, i know this to be true because Chris Trotter said so.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I wonder if ex dental nurse Aking will front up in p-mint today? pity she wasnt there for yestys q-time on EFA sagas-Leaving it to Grandpa Podgson to rave and bluster
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Whaleoil said “burt, it isn’t stealing when it is the public interest, i know this to be true because Chris Trotter said so.”
excellent. hold these strange folk to account. its about time.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Timeline:
April 2005 – Board chair Atkinson is advised by King’s office that she intends to appoint Hausmann to the DHB
May 2005 – e-mail correspondence discovered between Hausmann and CEO Clarke
June 2005 – King announces Hausmann’s appointment, despite widespread misgivings.
Questions: If King advised Atkinson of the intended appointment, were Clarke and Hausmann also advised? Is it plausible that she would advise the Board chair of her intentions having not asked Hausmann if he wanted or was available for the appointment? Would Atkinson have discussed the pending appointment with his CEO?
IF – Clarke and Hausmann knew of King’s intentions prior to the commencement of their e-mail correspondence over the RFP and amendments, their behaviour is, at the most charitable, highly unethical – at the worst it is downright dishonest.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
wow Go NZ
Your grasp of the english language is really coming along isn’t it? The txt speak is funny, but the name calling.
Seriously folks – HOW FREAKING OLD ARE YOU PEOPLE? What’s with the name calling?
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Sheesh Paul – that’s a worry – I agree with you!
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Bugger, Inventory this a first, I’ll give you a big thumbs up for that.
It won’t be the last you’ll come over to the dark side of socialism eventally
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Paul
Vote:Why is it that you cannot deal with the actual discussion. Full scale corruption, so you have to nit pick about the way people write.
Try this. Certain Parties, at this stage identified as MS A King and a Mr Hausmann, has been found to be somewhat lacking in integrity and honesty viz a viz , their involvement in the HBDHB. One would have to ponder the possibility that said Ms King might once again be absent from etc….. same thing really
March 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Bok,
I try to read the posts, but you know the stupid name calling is actually a distraction, and makes you want to stop reading.
I didn’t want to comment on this thread, as I only want to comment on issues that I have some understanding or interest of, but still try to read all threads, but once again the name calling is just infantile and belittles many of the comments some make here.
One thing that has escaped all investigation, is that the majority of the senior clinicians at the DHB all have no confidence in the board. Why is it the concerns of those at the actual coal face are once again superfluous to a political stouch.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Speaking of socialism, I see your dearly beloved National Party members are lining up with the Labour lot to “re-allocate YOUR tax dollars” to their Speaker’s Tour junket, and I was sure you lot led by Farrar would be ALL OVER that topic today.
BUT THEN I saw Our Hero Mr John Key on the breakfast show this morning, weak and whiney and attempting to justify the participation of (retiring) National MPs in the Junket with “but there’s always been a Speaker’s Tour…” “… it’s not my fault…” and it was clear the Kiwiblog right will be embarassed into silence on this one.
A bit worrying that Our Hero Mr John Key appears to crumble whenever he’s faced with an unsupportive media, isn’t it? He will be another small, weak whipping boy for Clark to dispose of, just like his predecessor…
[DPF: 10 demerits for off topic. And I blogged on the issue yesterday, and will be again today]
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Paul
Vote:That is in fact a lie and I will call you on it. If you have any more integrity than above mentioned please respond appropriately (ie, sorry I made that up, and lied)
http://www.hbtoday.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3764402&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=
So Paul, as usual, you simply made up a lie, and asked us to believe it. Now please if you know more than an actual person involved with the issue as an investigator, please inform us. Otherwise just try to be different from those you so admire, by admitting you simply lied.
March 12th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
WhaleOil
Look I understand that Labour people do this sort of thing all the time, but I went and purchased a copy of the report for myself. All $3.90 of it.
Being honest and ethicle is very important – this is afterall what this entire debacle is about. Don’t sink to the same low level as the people we seek to expose. Remove that illegal material from your blog or be tarred with the same self serving brush as the people you seek to expose.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Bok called it first, Paul’s comment about the clinicians is exactly the talking point Labour want you to believe, but it is, like all their spin, a direct and knowing lie. Current Labour support in Hawkes Bay, hovering around the 10-15% mark I suggest.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
IMHO a full audit of all DHBs out sourcing processes and procedures would reveal more of what we have seen at HBDHB.
Think Auckland for a start. How many other suspect cases are there? Gives a lie to the naive and stupid who say alls OK.
Governance at all levels in the public sector needs a big rocket ,the private sectoirs aint crash hot either Think the finace companies and now Blue Chip ( ironic name)
There has for too long been a complete laxness lasise faire attitude in NZ Cant happen here We are all pure as the driven snow bullshit
Well it aint like that Wait up and smell the coffee folks Your being ripped off left right and centre and dont even know it.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Ed/Bok
Well said. Lets keep to the facts. King appointed Hausmann, Hausmann appointed Lind to his company. Hausmann edited the RFP documents and won the contract…. There is something very wrong here and no amount of denigration of the other people associated (but not directly involved) will change the core issue. Very very poor governance – perhaps even corruption.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I really would like to know why Paul finds it so easy to lie. Is it because of his political persuasion and therefore indoctrination, or simply that he is unprincipled and without integrity? Or was he the unfortunate victim of those above him suppling lies as fact?
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Paul
“I didn’t want to comment on this thread, as I only want to comment on issues that I have some understanding or interest of, but still try to read all threads, …..”
Maybe you should have stuck to your first instinct. You obviously have no understanding of the situation – no matter which way you look at this, it does not look good.
You are obviously a supporter of the current government, however, try not to defend the indefensible – take a leaf out of Tane, Nome etc book and disappear.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I feel that this is a scandal that is missing a few legs. The efforts of Labour, and Cullen in particular, over the Auckland Airport issue has deflected the attention of the media somewhat.
I see parellels with the ingram report here.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
slightlyrighty – and what was the ultimate conclusion in the fallout from the Ingram report? TPF in the dock.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Someone should appear in the dock over this, as I believe this matter falls within criminal jurisdiction. Hell I hope they build that Liarbour prison real fast ?
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
slightlyrighty,
I personally believe you are right. This government is very good at distracting the journos. Some of your may remember the EFB was released right at the time Benson Pope was dismissed. Coincidence? I doubt it.
In this case, this absolute scandal has exploded right at the time Cullen deals to the Canadians. The MSM, who take their cue from on high quickly fell into line and focused on “Slippery Key”. The fact that it cost investors 300 Mil is of course secondary. I always thought the MSM were trained to smell a smoke screen, but Clarke plays them like a violin. I note Colin Espiner was suckered into another of their smoke screens and is even arguing on his blog that Key was wrong to oppose Labours idea to buy back the railways. Unbelievable.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
The $250,000 annual fee payable to Wellcare remains unexplained…kickbacks perhaps?
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
PIta – this is news to me, any chance of more details.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Inventory, I am fully aware of what the ultimate result of the ingram report was, and that keeps a smile on my face. I can only hope the MSM learned from that, and that the latest Government whitewash effort is given the scrutiny it demands.
By the way, When is TPF in the dock and what witnesses will be called. How many Cabinet ministers will be required to give “evidence”
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
TPF is up for a depositions hearing sometime this year. Sadly,he won’t get to trial before the election, barring divine intervention!
Meantime, I got an interesting e-mail today – I know WhaleOil has had it as well, and probably other bloggers too – seems like the HBDHB is leaking like a sieve!
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2008/03/chris-clarke-speaks.html
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Paul said” didn’t want to comment on this thread, as I only want to comment on issues that I have some understanding or interest of, but still try to read all threads, but once again the name calling is just infantile and belittles many of the comments some make here.”
It always cracks me up when i see a socialist complaining about name calling.
Vote:It has been their MO for years.
It really is the sort of stuff that should be left behind in the schoolyard, but they know “cancerous, corrossive , slippery etc are very effective ways of denigrating a person.
They love to dish it out but can’t take it.
March 12th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
# Lee C +6 Says:
March 12th, 2008 at 11:07 am
“Oh they so thought this had been brushed under the carpet first time around.
Funny how a whiff of power gives one the illusion of invincibility.
Confucious once wrote: ‘If you sit on the riverbank long enough, the bodies of all your enemies will float by.’”
LeeC, I’ve wondered for a long time, every time you see Clark and Co looking smug, what have they got away with that we DON’T know about………..?
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Dean Knight said: I’d be interested to know where in the OIA it provides that emails cannot be deleted?
I think this is a PRA issue: Deleting emails that constitute business records is illegal as per the Public Records Act 2005, and penalties can be applied to both people and agencies. Refer s61 (offences) and s62 (penalties) for details.
A manager destroying records outside of a disposal authority could also be liable for contravening 18(1) of the PRA.
Also, under s32 of the State Sector Act 1988 the chief executive is responsible for the general conduct and management of the department’s activities. He or she could personally face a $5,000 fine.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
a couple of things.
Bok, I stand corrected and am willing to accept that. I can only go with what I saw on TV with my own two eyes, a representative of the senior clinicians at HBDHB saying that their voices weren’t being listened to. If your version of the story is indeed the correct version, I will accept that. (Although I was told last night by one of your kind, that I shouldn’t accept the printed stories and must find the source transcripts of each story to find the truth – a little tedious don’t you think). As they say Truth will out.
But please cloth cap in hand on bended knee accept my humblest apology if you are correct and the guy I saw on TV3 was lying.
Others: siobhan NO, I am obviously not a supporter of the current government, they are too centralist for me. But one is allowed to have an opinion, as that is all that about 99.5% of the crap in here is – still we won’t hold that against the little dears. So you want to curtail free speech too? Despite what you think free speech is alive and well in this country, and you folk are just too easy to take the piss out of with some of the goings on in this place – it’s you know fun – the stuff the facists tried to kill.
bwakile, I was talking about in this blog. We all know how caustic both sides of the house can be. So you know for a fact that socialists lie within the NZ political realm? As for the name calling, I thought if you were trying to be clever you would steer away from the childish name calling, and did you really use the classic 5 year old excuse “we’ll they did it”
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Paul +0 Says:
March 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
wow Go NZ
Your grasp of the english language is really coming along isn’t it? The txt speak is funny, but the name calling.
Seriously folks – HOW FREAKING OLD ARE YOU PEOPLE? What’s with the name calling?
Your dead right there Paul us stinking facist name-callers are lucky to have a sensible socialist non-name caller to correct our evil ways. Perhaps when you are finished here you could dash off an email to the 9th floor re the use of the phrase “slithery John” that seems to have tickled the fancy of your glorious leaders recently.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Actually Paul
Vote:My upbringing tells me that name calling is childess and immature.
But after having watched Clark and co lie, steal and cheat for the past 8 years I am beyond giving a shit.
If any of these scumbags ever step foot in one of my establishments then I will gain a great deal of satisfaction in calling them whatever comes to mind at the time and then chucking them out.
March 12th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Paul 8.06pm – “NO, I am obviously not a supporter of the current government”.
One of your earlier statements of fact today proved to be a little “flexible”. Why should anyone believe this one now?
And what are you referring to with your use of the word “obviously”? (There’s nothing paricularly obvious about it from your occasional contributions to this blog site.)
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Sorry Paul
Vote:That is simply not good enough. Once again I provide proof and once again you talk about something you saw on the news some-one said. Give me a break. His name and his position would suffice (Just proof like I provided) And this bullshit of “I do not support the incumbents” that labour supporters come up with is so yesterday’s news. Go have a look at Tane, Robinsod, Roger Nome all saying the same thing, only to be revealed as actual Labour employees. Spare me the BS, you are a sad fake. That is all.
March 12th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
as much as we love our calendar girl, to be left is not to be of labour, or shall I call you on the right fascists.
Besides, if one is under the impression that they understand the facts as they are from someone they see on the TV in an important position, are we not allowed to believe them.
Do we know for a fact that the post article above is the definitive truth, it has been proven beyond doubt, or are we to follow John Keys’ approach, say something, deny saying it then come out with varying versions of what he may or may not have said.
Bok, you know 100% that this story is beyond a doubt the undeniable truth. And piss off, am I meant to remember any of the interviews I see on telly thinking, “someday on kiwiblog there is going to be a sanctimonious twat wanting verification of this”, yeah that’s what I waste my nights doing.
Bok, but you are also being one hell of a contradictory wanker. I am meant to take this story as the undeniable truth, yet you are not willing to take my word. Well that shows what sort of integrity you have, and good luck to your fantasist blogging, as nothing you say has any bearing on reality. With such insults you must have such low self esteem. I was willing to offer an apology, but you have just proven the ignominious nature of the right with their self righteous nature. I withdraw said apology and DEMAND you bring to me face to face with the person in your article – what can’t do it, I’ll have to take your word on it. Member of the SS are we, with out any ability to accept one’s word as truth. Twat!!! I care not one ounce if they are labour party people, that has no bearing on the fact that labour is just like National firmly wedged on the wooden fence in the middle of the road politics doing nothing of any real inspiration just collecting splinters in their lazy arses.
The last time I voted Labour was 1999, about the last time the anyone voted National too.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
bwakile, we have something in common. I ran into Lockwood Smith in a social situation in Wellington once and felt rather embarrassed at my “wanker” under my breath comment as I shook his hand. Still nice to vent one’s spleen from time to time eh.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Bogusnews
the only people masterful at distraction is National. After the best part of this decade in opposition, have we seen any meaningful policy that sets National apart from the other fence sitters.
For that fact, where the hell are the policies that are going to “win” this election, we’d love to debate these instead some low level regional stouch.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
Out of respect for the journalist who has spent time to put this together, I will refrain from further comment until I have purchased a copy of the Listener and read same! But I am so looking forward to this!
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Hausmann, Clarke and Lind all have to be longstanding card carrying Labour members. This is the politicisation of the public service, something Labour really puts a lot of work into much more than National or any other party. Labour has to have all the people in there so they can keep running the show after they lose the election and they do that and historically have done so much more than anyone else, whether it is student unions, trade unions, the education system and every corner of what could be called “public services” or stuff that the government has a hand in. Labour do this all the time and they are so much better at it than National, politically organising in society at large. Labour have all the tricks when it comes to winning elections like last time too. Clarke has a lot to answer for himself and the question really is why he doesn’t just do the decent thing and resign, there are just too many questions about what he was doing with the stuff talking to Hausmann and all.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
Right you can call me “ne hell of a contradictory wanker” and” your fantasist blogging” but yet you say at 12.32 http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2008/03/the_listener_on_hawkes_bay_dhb.html#comment-421268
“Your grasp of the english language is really coming along isn’t it? The txt speak is funny, but the name calling.
Seriously folks – HOW FREAKING OLD ARE YOU PEOPLE? What’s with the name calling?”
Vote:Paul, you just keep on digging mate, the hole is just getting bigger and bigger. You see facts will triumph over lies every time, and you are just again proven too be a hypocritical liar.
March 12th, 2008 at 11:04 pm
And then Paul after :”wow Go NZ
Your grasp of the english language is really coming along isn’t it? The txt speak is funny, but the name calling.
Seriously folks – HOW FREAKING OLD ARE YOU PEOPLE? What’s with the name calling?” you take it one step further and admit to “bwakile, we have something in common. I ran into Lockwood Smith in a social situation in Wellington once and felt rather embarrassed at my “wanker” under my breath comment as I shook his hand. Still nice to vent one’s spleen from time to time eh.>
Are you for real? Is this truly the standard of logic, debate and reason Labour can come up with. A person who is shown up to both lie and then contradict himself not in two different posts, but the same post. Mate even Tane does better than that.
Vote:March 12th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
OK Mr Bogus
Whatever you may think of the attack on National it cant be denied that English ranting about selling assets or minority blocks of shares its a fact he has shot it mouth off with these issues saying “we might re sell Toll”
Now I admire English for his conservative values but it has to be noted assets sales are not a vote catcher and Mr English is the National party leader who brought in disastrous results in 2002 which submits that the fact he is deputy right now is a liability to National and he doesnt seem to have done at all well in getting Mr Key the benefit of his vast political experience in keeping him out of trouble either.
So when I see Mr English enthusiastically spouting off some failed 90s policy as he did when Brash was running the show and now Key then I shudder because as much as I want to see National win the election it is one thing to have Key getting shown up as he has this week but it is even worse when his deputy seems to be the common weak link in opposition in the last nine years.
I support asset sales to some degree and think the railways should stay privately owned as now but it is not by any means a popular view at large and English is just making life difficult for National when he shoots from the lip as he did last year with the sell 24.9% policy that coincidentally brought National right down in the polls to almost being equal with Labour for the first time in months.
Vote:March 13th, 2008 at 6:36 am
Paul: For that fact, where the hell are the policies that are going to “win” this election, we’d love to debate these instead some low level regional stouch.
You must be right. When the Health Minister of the New Zealand Government effectively grants someone a large sum of money without following due process, despite potential conflicts of interest and then proceeds to destroy the records pertaining to this undercover dealings it’s just some “low level regional stouch”.
Despite your clamours for high level debate; you’re turning out to be just another one of the “Labour good, National bad” crowd. You can’t even stay on topic.
As for myself, time to see if I can dig up a Listener. It’s always gratifying to see how corrupt the Labour Party led government actually is.
Vote:March 13th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Paul,
I’ve put this in before, but once again it looks like it needs to be repeated. Here are a list of policies announced by National that Labour later stole. I assume we can reasonably apply your litmas test of them be worthwhile if Labour is now adopting them:
Removing the $1,890 cap on charitable donations. Donations of any amount, up to an individual’s total net income, will be eligible for the 33.3% rebate. Removing the 5% cap on the level of donations that can be deducted by companies and Maori Authorities.
National announced on 27 February 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=360672
Government announced in 2007 Budget http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=373322
Full-cost funding for community groups that better covers the true costs of service delivery. Less bureaucracy and fewer compliance costs.
National announced on 16 May 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=373003
Government announced in 2008 Prime Minister’s Statement http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=407955
All payments which reimburse volunteers for actual and reasonable expenses will be tax free, regardless of the amount of the payment. Honoraria payments will be tax free up to an amount of $500 per year per person.
National announced on 16 May 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=373003
Government released a discussion document on 1 November 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=373003
A greater emphasis on trades training in schools. Giving schools more flexibility to offer their students trades and industry training opportunities outside their school-gates. Expanding school-based apprenticeship training.
National announced on 18 June 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=378370
Government announced on 30 January 2008 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=406703
Giving the police the ability to issue time-bound, on-the-spot protection orders to protect families.
National announced on 1 November 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=397730
Government issued discussion document in mid-December 2007 http://www.justice.govt.nz/pubs/reports/2007/domestic-violence-act-review/discussion.pdf
Committing all fuel tax revenues to the National Land Transport Fund.
National had in 2005 election policy http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4358
Labour announced on 25 July 2007 http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/fuel+excise+duty+revenue+will+all+be+used+land+transport
Serious consideration of Public Private Partnerships for roading projects.
National policy for many years – most recently confirmed on 17 Sep 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=392188
Government announced on 7 February 2008 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=407520
Allowing lines companies to invest in generation, especially from renewable energy sources.
National had in 2005 election policy http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=4956#6
Government introduced with Electricity Industry Reform Amendment Bill, first reading 11 Dec 2007. http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Legislation/Bills/6/4/9/00DBHOH_BILL8370_1-Electricity-Industry-Reform-Amendment-Bill.htm
Devolving carbon credits to post-1990 forest owners
National announced on 6 March 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=361862
Government announced on 20 September 2007 http://www.beehive.govt.nz/speech/sustainable+land+management
An emissions trading scheme to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
National proposed on 6 October 2006 http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?articleId=8712
Labour announced on 20 September 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=392623
A multi-year programme of personal tax cuts
National policy for many years
Government announced on 7 February 2008 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=407526
Reducing the rate of business tax from 33% to 30%
National had in 2005 election policy http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=5078
Labour announced in 2007 Budget http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=373292
Promoting housing affordability by freeing up the supply of land and cutting building compliance costs
Vote:National announced on 5 Aug 2007 http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=385978
Government announced in 2008 Prime Minister’s Statement http://parliament.newsroom.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=407955
March 13th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Paul: this isn’t a ‘regional stouch [sic]‘ – it is a case of corruption. All we need now is evidence that Hausmann has donated money to Labour, or even has been a party member.The issues here is that the thieving Labour shits have been misusing OUR money.
Tony Ryall asked a number of very effective questions in Parliament yesterday. He is giving the clear signal that he has a copy of the draft report, and may drip-feed parts of it into the debate. Cunnliffe appeared a bit rattled, and ranted on about due process and public service neutrality, while at the same time being careful to avoid direct engagement in the subject which could bring him down with King, Hausmann, et al.
Vote:March 13th, 2008 at 7:25 am
Ok Mr Swampy,
While you have a very valid point that the average NZ’ers total illiteracy when it comes to proper policy makes the Nats talking of selling assets offensive, I find it refreshing they are focusing on what’s good for NZ rather than just what will get them into power.
Take for example their policy on lifting the caps on GP’s fees. The stupid media (and many NZ’ers) were predictably up in arms. The fact that very soon there simply won’t be any doctors left to see, regardless of how much you pay, for some bizarre reason didn’t figure. We have had several reports since then of doctors leaving for more money, adn there being an acute shortage of them, which will only get worse. NZ’ers (and the media) were incapable of joining the dots.
The other things they completely overlooked was the fact that electricity has increased by 50% under Labour in the last 3 years. Not every beneficiary needs to go to the doctor, but every one needs power, so NZ’ers were up in arms about an extra 15 for the doctor, but who cares about paying an extra $1000 in power a year? It’s nuts.
If you read Bassetts latest column of “whatever it takes” you might revise your view. It is refreshing to see an opposition (as opposed to this appalling govt) taking on policies that are good for NZ rather than just popular, regardless of how useless the media are in reporting them in a balanced fashion.
But let’s get back to point shall we. Once again we have an apparently compromised process involving large amounts of tax payer money, and it all comes back to the masters of corruption – Labour. No Prime Minister in our history has ever been interviewed by the police as much as this one.
Vote:March 13th, 2008 at 8:57 am
ZenTiger
Exactly. OIA has nothing to do with retention. Public Records Act yes; but the provisions of that Act and definition of public record apply rather awkwardly to emails.
Vote:March 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Bogus,
Sorry, I missed that. Can you write that post again?
Vote:March 13th, 2008 at 10:23 am
hey Paul and co- Stop picking on my spellin and textng- i woz edukated at state skools and mi teachas were good strong members of some yoonion thing called a pee-p-te ay or somethin ? A king is drilling into JK wenever possible and Granpa “health isnt in crisis” hodgson lashes EBs at any opportunity so stop stickin up for these losers O slippery socialists!
Vote: