Labour’s plan to avoid the EFA
The NZ Herald has obtained confidential strategy notes from the Labour Party Congress, detailing how Labour plans to get around the spending limits they have foisted on everyone else.
It involves taxpayer money again of course – this time Government Departments:
In a private session on the election strategy, run by president Mike Williams, delegates were advised to distribute pamphlets on KiwiSaver produced by the Inland Revenue Department and on Working for Families produced by Work and Income.
They were also advised to tell voters when handing out the pamphlets that National voted against both measures.
Normally in an election a party in Government would pay a hundred thousand dollars or so to produce a party pamphlet which tells people about the good things they have done. But to both save Labour money, and keep them under the limit everyone else has, they plan to get hundreds of thousands of extra Government funded information pamphlets and then scare people into thinking they WFF and KiwiSaver will eb abolished if you dare not to vote Labour.
Now let us remember here that this is not a low level campaign worker thinking “Hey why don’t we grab a hundred KiwiSaver pamphlets in case we run into people interested in them. This is the Labour Party’s most senior campaign official telling every MP, candidate and campaign activist to use taxpayer funded material as part of their election campaign.
The Auditor-General actually saw this possibility back in 2005:
Auditor-General Kevin Brady raised concerns about the use of Government publicity as a political tool in a report he wrote in June 2005, three months before the election.
He said a non-political departmental publicity campaign for a policy such as Working for Families could still have value to the Government as a political tool if it were used in a wider, more politically driven campaign.
And that is exactly what they are doing.
Oh there are going to be so many lawsuits and electoral petitions after the election.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:34 am
Unscrupulous, illegal and manipulative… but totally consistent with Labour’s ethically bankrupt modus operandi.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:35 am
DPF: then scare people into thinking they WFF and KiwiSaver will eb abolished if you dare not to vote Labour
A delightful slip of the tongue there. But isn’t it beautiful to have EB, Labour and “scare people” all in the same sentence together? The Labour party is showing us what a mockery of democracy and honesty this law really is. The intent was never to work towards a level playing field. It was always to legislate Labour an advantage.
They are one of the few parties who have broken their own law.
They have admitted the law is confusing.
And now they are working on using public funds to work around their own law.
I’m sure any regular visitor to Kiwiblog remembers how vehemently all the lefties decried assertions that the government was effectively legislating itself a larger slice of the pie and giving themselves an unfair advantage. And here, in the words of Mike Williams, we have proof of it.
Apologies in writing please.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:40 am
And if the Labour Party is using Government material for political purposes then the cost of producing that material will count towards Labour’s election spending cap. It is not how the material is financed that matters, it is what purpose it is put to by the Labour Party. I suppose they could try and get the Unions to distribute this material being registered third parties. That might work for them.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Utter disgrace. The Labour Party are desperate, having written the rules to silence everybody else, are well prepared to cheat and steal this election again.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:47 am
The Herald has an obligation to refer the papers it has obtained to the Electoral Commission and the Police. Labour is clearly breaking a large number of laws here – State Sector Act, Public Finance Act and of course the Electoral Finance Act.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:50 am
Labour are desperate because they have no money. As I noted on Whale-oil’s blog, no one wants to back a losing horse, and in this race Labour are riding a lame donkey and Parekura is the Jockey. Labour’s election plank is attack John Key all day everyday. They are totally obsessed and consumed by John Key. The electorate has turned off this negative tactic.
And then everyday the hated EFA comes back to haunt them in one manner or another.
By the way so pleased to see the Nats are challenging the decision of the Electoral Commission on the EPMU – Labour seem very worried about that – but are trying to put on a brave face.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:55 am
So, when is the State Services Commissioner, and the heads of the IRD and Ministry of Social Development, going to publicly assert their political independence and tell Mike Williams they’re not amused at being used as campaign props? I’m not so confident as some others here that any laws have been broken, but it seems pretty clear to me that the spirit of public service neutrality has blatantly been told to go get fucked.
Still, on the partisan level, all I’ve got to say is this: What goes around comes around. Not for the first time, Labour has set another precedent it won’t like being on the receiving end of when back on the Opposition benches.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:55 am
This government is corrupt and must go, just on principle alone.
April 14th, 2008 at 8:57 am
Watch for a variation on 2005’s Housing NZ hate mail scam too. State tenants will be sent a convenient letter from their landlord explaining all the entitlements they currently receive under this administration.
Why don’t we save a lot of time and energy and just get the Supreme Court to decide who will win the election?
April 14th, 2008 at 9:03 am
A good time might be when these folks are actually politically independent. And that time isn’t now.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:03 am
The Dame will grant Helen another go and 2 million people will leave New Zealand in the next two years. Go girls go !!
April 14th, 2008 at 9:04 am
if natioanl become the next government, how long will it be before labour go apeshit and demand they scrap the EFB “they said they would”.
god i hate the left.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:14 am
i see you succeeded in whipping up a souffle here ..dpf..
your usual acolytes are baying on cue..
but aren’t we (just!) talking about pamphlets promoting kiwisaver..and working for families..?
(sheesh..!..much ado about nothing..!…eh..?..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
April 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Meh… The best revenge is living well, AFAIC. I’m not interested in degrading myself by ‘hating’ people who deserve pity rather than contempt; and I’d rather use the energy to ensure the first thing Helen Clark will be doing after the election is shifting her stuff to the Opposition Leader’s office suite at the other end of the Parliamentary complex.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:19 am
Ha ha, this is a genius stroke, imagine getting your people to work for you.
But the conspiracy people have been out in their insane best this morning, just look at Dad’s lunacy above.
Some of the headlines are priceless, over at stuffed they are ’secret’ papers. When was a party political strategy ever public and open – oh yeah lets tell the others how we are going to campaign.
Yawn!
ps “god i hate the left.” Aw come on you don’t mean that, we are people too, and Hate is a very strong word – a little love goes a long way. I’ve heard there are some nice people on the right ???
April 14th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Parliament is sovereign and it is possible for a new parliament to try failed past members for breach of office. Clark the Mugabe of the South Pacific ?
April 14th, 2008 at 9:23 am
I heard Mike Williams say on the radio this morning that they have buckets of money. In fact one branch had a million dollars just lying around after their whip around to repay the money they stole last election.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Kev, we can only hope so, but I’m pretty sure Helen will be appointed a UN Commissioner the moment she loses and whisked away with diplomatic immunity. At least that might lead to NZL withdrawing from the UN
April 14th, 2008 at 9:32 am
When is the Ministry of Deviousness going to be publicly acknowledged and the Minister named?
April 14th, 2008 at 9:38 am
pushmegentlystrokeyourmember is quite ‘excitable’..eh..?
“.. I’m pretty sure Helen will be appointed a UN Commissioner the moment she loses and whisked away with diplomatic immunity.
At least that might lead to NZL withdrawing from the UN..”
(whoar..!..)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
April 14th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Craig Ranapia – dont get me wrong, i do live well
ive made plenty of money during labours reign… but im still gonna go with hate. i dont hate them as individuals, just as the fucked up collective group they are haa
April 14th, 2008 at 9:44 am
philu: but aren’t we (just!) talking about pamphlets promoting kiwisaver..and working for families..?
DPF: This is the Labour Party’s most senior campaign official telling every MP, candidate and campaign activist to use taxpayer funded material as part of their election campaign
Maybe time to go back for remedial English classes or an introduction to elementary logic there, philu? Or are you in favour of tax payer funded election campaigns for the incumbent government?
April 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Much kudos to the NZ Herald for their journalistic integrity. The bastion of a free press is such a wonderful thing to have in this country. It serves as a wonderful safeguard against those who would seek to use abuses of power to thier own ends.
True democracy in action.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am
“I heard Mike Williams say on the radio this morning that they have buckets of money. In fact one branch had a million dollars just lying around after their whip around to repay the money they stole last election.”
Sounds to me like they are just selling off the offices and property they own and use government money to lease back to themselves.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Paul, public servants are there to serve the public of NZ. They are OUR people. They are not pawns to be used by a party seeking re-election.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
which words come to mind (again)? – deceit, hypocrisy …
April 14th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Is it not appropriate and time for the word “Corruption” to be openly used when referring to these bastards. If not, what do you have to do to qualify ?
April 14th, 2008 at 10:17 am
getstaffed, yes they are our people, not your people.
A couple of dozen frothing right wing christians is not NZ.
They have a role to advertise their core services, because if they didn’t they would be in breach of their duty as a branch of the government.
WFF and Kiwisaver shouldn’t shut up in election year because a few of the far right decry the death of free speech. It’s their job to tell the country that they are there and they are bloody successful.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:20 am
Paul: WFF and Kiwisaver shouldn’t shut up in election year because a few of the far right decry the death of free speech. It’s their job to tell the country that they are there and they are bloody successful.
I agree, but you need to look at what is happening.
The Labour Party is using the public purse to pay for a part of their election campaign and are thus avoiding having it counted against their election return. They are allocating themselves funds above and beyond what they are allowed to under law, in direct contravention of the slated purpose of the EFA.
So Paul, when the Labour Party uses the public service and WFF and Kiwisaver as electioneering material without it being attributed to their election expenses then yes, it is wrong. They are more than welcome to put out their own pamphlets trumpeting their successess providing they pay for it and it counts as part of their election return.
Can you see the difference or do you want to froth about “right wing christians” some more?
April 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Might I suggest that we make a distinction between the true Labour Party movement (supported with passion by many of the left-leaning advocates here and elsewhere) and the corrupt and unprincipled Labour Government politicians who see nothing wrong with manipulating anything and everything to stay in power?
Absolute power, it turns out, does indeed corrupt absolutely. Yet many of the Labour movement’s followers simply wish to have their principles represented in government. Alas, their leaders left their principles behind a long time ago.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
Paul, you seem confused over the terms ‘ours’ and ‘yours’. Odd. Perhaps that’s a socialists thing… what’s mine is mine and what’s your is mine also. As for the ‘couple off frothing right wing christians’ wet bus ticket, I’d say you can do better mate.
Back to the issue, directing public servants to increase their spending on messages that encourage the re-election of an incumbent government is wrong. You’d agree if it were a National-led government that was secretly orchestrating such shenanigans. But for those who want Labour re-elected ends justify the means don’t they?
April 14th, 2008 at 10:35 am
gestaffed: But for those who want Labour re-elected ends justify the means don’t they?
Indeed. So Paul, can we conclude that you support the government of the day purloining funds from the public purse to run secret, parallel campaigns that are not counted against their election return?
April 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Dear Leader is pack-pedalling at a furious rate,according to the radio news at eleven. There was no secret sesssion, there are no plans to give out brochures. It was all a beat-up by Ian Wishart – well, she didn’t actually say that. but she will next Monday!!
April 14th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I’ve just spoken to Labour HQ rep to see where I can get some pamphlets on WFF to tell people not to vote National. She was very helpful and encouraged me to go to the MSD – she called it social welfare – and get some pamphlets – when she probably should have told me to go to IRD – and she advised that I could use such material to encourage people not to vote National and to vote Labour instead. She said this was not breaking the law in distributing such material with the sole aim of influenceing people to vote one way or other.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Dave, would it be a good idea to get such a phone call on record before the word comes down to the minions that they are no longer rorting the system so blatantly?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Forget about the Electoral Commission Forget about the Police Forget about the Judicary
None of them will take any steps against the Socialist Scum
The Electoral Commission is looking more and more like its Zimbabwe counterpart and the Police and the Judicary aint far behind either
April 14th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Exactly gd, what a disgrace this country has become!
April 14th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Will information about “you paid for it”, like the website does, come under EFB restrictions? I reckon the best thing someone with the money to do so could do now to lose Liarbour the election, is to put the “you paid for it” information in every letterbox in the country on a regular basis from now till the election.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Wouldn’t it be the height of hypocrisy to be spending huge dollops of taxpayers money on political propaganda and at the same time sending to jail anyone who merely tries to keep NZ-ers informed about the cost (TO THEM) of that propaganda?
April 14th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
No no No PhilBest Those who seek to infrom the citizens about the COST of the Socialists propoganda deserve to be sent to jail.
Havent you figured out that ZANU PF Party operating manual has now been adopted by the New Zealand Labour Party.