Will the over 60s info kits catch some Labour MPs out?
October 23rd, 2008 at 1:09 pm by David FarrarMatthew Hooton quotes Andrew Geddis on the info kits, with Andrew saying that they are not election advertisements as they are orange not red and don’t mention Labour.
Hooton points out though that Phil Goff, unlike his colleagues, has described himself as the “Labour MP for Mt Roskill” on the cover of his info kit.
This raises the possibility that for Phil Goff (but not other MPs) they will be counted as an election advertisement and hence an election expense. And if he has already spent more than $16,000 then he may have broken his spending limit. If that is the case he could lose his seat.
So if Phil Goff wins Mt Roskill, I am sure lawyers will be looking very closely at his election return.
And I wonder why Goff stuck Labour on his cover, when it seems most of his colleagues did not?
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October 23rd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Jackie Blue will be pleased … go Jackie
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Isn’t using campaign staff to distribute them a violation?
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive. Hope he gets royally hung by his own stupidity.
The Herald site has had a huge response to their question about the pamphlet with, I would say 80%+ saying it is clearly a labour election brochure.
I also would love to know how they produced and delivered this brochure for less than a buck each. I smell a big fat porky pie.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
And I wonder why Goff stuck Labour on his cover, when it seems most of his colleagues did not?
Vote:C’mon DPF, we all know why he did it. Even Helen knows, which is why she had her little tanty the other day.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
If Goff exceeds his limit and loses the seat, then does he come back on the list anyway?
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
So if Labour get reelected then they can pass retrospective validations for this and we can have 17 years of uncontrolled election spending. Keep voting for Labour and lets see if we can get to 20 years with no accountability under electoral funding laws.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
The problem is National may not want to allow its MP’s to file any electoral petitions in Labour seats given that they are on the list anyway. Should National win, they may not want electoral petitions overshadowing the victory. And many MP’s cannot afford them. Overall, the costs might outweight the benefits under the MMP paradigm. The outcome is also not 100% reliable when one buys into a court process. Under FPP, the rewards are much clearer.
Vote:Despite all the above, I think National should approve and assist the enforcement of as many as it can (or at least one) since any story on the EFA is a good National story. And any new seats gained for National allow fresh footholds in Labour areas which is highly likely to increase National’s Party Vote long term in that electorate.
If I was part of the strategy group in National, I would recommend support and assistance to any strong case, provided that the MP or candidate can come up with the money.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
This whole thing is a total disaster for Labor.
Vote:The initial radio interview with Darren Hughes was a disaster. Hughes seemed so cocky then Brownlee gazumped him with a number of factual inconsistencies.
What I would like to know was if these documents have been delivered by Labor party poodle members. If it is a Parliamentary Services mail out surely this is illegal as well.
Does Labor really want to win this election ? They seem to be so slack and naive.
The EFA Act has been a disaster and hopefully in the end will catch Labor out.
October 23rd, 2008 at 2:39 pm
The answer to the question posed by DPF is YES and NO.
Yes it will catch them out and NO it will not matter.
The justification will be “we never anticipated this type of scenario, accordingly we are going to clear up one or two matters surrounding the EFA as it is not fair to prosecute a long time MP for something he did not understand”
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 2:42 pm
“Should National win, they may not want electoral petitions overshadowing the victory. And many MP’s cannot afford them.”
Can’t they just get Owen Glenn’s number from Mike Williams?
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Goff may prefer to be list only…then he can leave when he loses the vote on the leadership
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
The more interesting aspect is if the Axis of evil win by one seat but there are 20 electoral petitions against the Axis – we may not have a govt until 2011 – it may be the good ship NZ will weather the economic storm better without a Captain.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Should Labour win, it will lead to a ‘refined’ version of the EFA to iron out some ‘inconsistencies’ and to clear up ‘idiosyncracies’ that have ‘arisen’.
Vote:That will include how and when you can use this, and any other NZ -based political blog, people.
It’s that simple.
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Someone correct me if I’m wrong but wouldn’t Goff (for exampl) just waltz back in on the list and labour would have to slice one off the bottom of their list. This may just happen to be someone who is list only and lives at the other end of the country. Potentially a shitty deal for them I would suggest.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 3:48 pm
If they spend more than this, candidates forfeit their seats after an electoral petition.
Is this true? I thought all it would do would be to force a by-election – which Goff would probably win anyway. Or is this mistaken? Anyone care to enlighten?
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Im like Hoolian can someone please explain the situation
is there a penalty and what is the penalty and what is the effect in say Roskill if FlickOff is found guilty.
Does it help the Nats or not
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
“What I would like to know was if these documents have been delivered by Labor party poodle members”
The gutless liar known as Daren Hughes claims they are “volunteers” therefore its perfectly ok.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Lee, Are these “volunteers” anything like interns?
Is Monica Lewinsky also in the frame here?
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Chris Carters also has….
Vote:Chris Carter MP for Te Atatu on his.
October 23rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
It also says…..
Vote:This booklet is proudly approved by Chris Carter to advise you of services available in your local community.
So if it’s not electioneering, why would it need to be approved????
October 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 pm
ah, Mum just emailed me a scan of Lesley Soper’s cover…Labour logo is in the background of her picture…see ya lesley (not that you were going to win anyway)
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Maybe Goff is trying to undermine Labour’s campaign to ensure Helen gets the chop after they lose.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 8:59 pm
david (591)
Is Monica Lewinski in the frame here?
Only if she is on her knees, hands at the ready, with mouth wide open.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
The 48th Parliament was brought to an end at 3 pm on Friday, 3 October 2008, when a proclamation was read on the steps of Parliament House.
When parliament already stands dissolved how Phil Goff can call himself as member of parliament. I think it is misleading and should be challenged .He should have written “former” before member of parliament.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Deep sigh
The booklets are factual and contain information of entitlement. Why does National oppose our elderly learning what they are entitled to?
The cost comes out of the MP’s office expense. All electorate MPs get the same budget. If National MPs do not want to spend their budget on this they could spend it on something else.
The scandal is ?
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Hoisted on one’s own petard!
I would call it social justice!
Read and weep!
Let’s grow the economy and grow the nation; enough of this social redistribution!
..exclamation marks! the new philu..
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 10:28 pm
ah mickysavage and his meery bunch of trolls must have been given the night off from following National MPs around with tape recorders…
ask most holders of the SuperGold card what it’s good for. propping the front door open while they get the rest of the groceries from the car. I’ve already seen one over 65 use the ‘information kit’ to light a bbq, and another recycle theirs without opening it. And I bet the $64,000 was just for printing, not for the time it took to collate and distribute.
National 60% Labour 20%. November 8.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 11:23 pm
They are great cards for creating warm fuzzy’s !!
You can also use them as a therapy tool for people that see imaginery images of money!!!
You can trust the Green/Labour Axis to keep you occupied with a piece of worthless plastic.
Vote:October 23rd, 2008 at 11:32 pm
“The booklets are factual and contain information of entitlement. Why does National oppose our elderly learning what they are entitled to?”
The issue here is the timing. Had they been released six months ago or even just before the start of the four week campaign, they would be fine. Had they been released a week or month after the election they would be fine. Releasing them right in the middle of an election campaign with the smiling faces of Labour ministers plastered on them is blatant taxpayer funded electioneering.
“The scandal is ?”
The scandal is that your party believes in stealing taxpayers money to get elected. It has done so at least twice now. You can hide behind the fig leaf that this may not technically breach the letter of the law (we shall see) but it certainly breaches the spirit of the law. And you know it.
The scandal is that you and your party are so dishonest and deceptive about these issues.
The scandal is that after nine years of Labour our “democracy” is fast becoming a meaningless joke, because of stunts like this and laws like the EFA which have, to quote the Human Rights Commission, ” a chilling effect” on democratic process.
And the scandal is that people like you are so blinded by partisan loyalty that either you really don’t see what is wrong here, or you know it is wrong and are defending it anyway.
That answer your question?
Vote:October 24th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Ian Wishart’s next instalment in labour’s Immigration Corruption Scandal is out tomorrow. Wishart’s trailer is here. This is looking like a beautifully orchestrated campaign to completely shaft Labour and Clark as the election winds up. Listen for the crescendo.
Vote:October 24th, 2008 at 6:17 am
Too right, much as we would like to hope that Wishart’s exposes will have an effect, the fact is that they won’t. The breaking story was actually little more than a damp squib.
Vote:October 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Duxton damp squid or not,it immediately took my mind to a similar scandal which arose before the last election.Remember Taito? Mysteriously that issue is still being resolved,as well the minister who signed off on that deal is standing again.
Vote: