Goff demotes three

June 14th, 2010 at 12:16 pm by David Farrar

Phil Goff has announced:

Shane Jones repeatedly misused his ministerial credit card and this requires a clear sanction.

He will lose his front bench position and the two major portfolio responsibilities he holds. …

Chris Carter also wrongly used his card on several occasions over six years as a Minister on things outside the rules for Ministerial expenditure. He has now repaid the money.

These items by themselves would not warrant removal from the Foreign Affairs portfolio. However there has been public controversy around the frequency and cost of Chris’ travel as a Minister accompanied by his partner which damages his ability to continue in this portfolio.

Chris has lost the portfolio and his front bench seat and will sit on the second bench. Given the importance he attached to his portfolio this will be a severe sanction for him. …

Mita Ririnui wrongly used his Government credit card to purchase golf clubs and a bike. These are clearly personal items, involving significant expenditure and occurred on two occasions.

He did not do so with any dishonest intent and reimbursed Ministerial Services for that expenditure at the time.

However it was clearly outside the rules and he should have been aware of that and showed poor judgement.

As a result he will lose his shadow portfolio responsibilities for forestry.

I can’t complain about Goff’s decisions – mind you he had little choice after his attacks on Heatley over $70 of wine. But well done to him for taking some action.

The outcome is a bit unusual now. Carter is MP for Te Atatu and still has electorate duties. He also retains Spokesperson for Ethnic Affairs.

However Shane Jones and Mita Ririnui now hold no portfolio at all, and are List MPs. One has to seriously ask what value they will bring to the taxpayer, sitting there for 18 months with no portfolio responsibilities, and no electorate. Their sole responsibility will be to attend their select committees, yet get paid the same as they are getting paid today. It is a political demotion, but not a financial demotion.

We’ll find out tomorrow who gets promoted.

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87 Responses to “Goff demotes three”

  1. Michaels (1,304) Says:

    I wonder if Shame Jones will put on his CV “fired for buying porn on the company credit card?”

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  2. Michaels (1,304) Says:

    Now that Shame Jones will be doing the KFC ad, you know the one….. “sit in the back getting fatter and fatter”…. and still being paid the same….. Was it really such a good idea from Goff? I’m not keen on paying people for doing nothing.

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  3. Fale Andrew Lesa (473) Says:

    I just hope that other political parties follow suit, in future all inappropriate spending should result in an immediate political domotion (I much prefer financial demotion: better yet a combination of the two).

    Some of us have had a gut’s full of this lack of accountability and financial transparency, MP’s and political leader’s alike are only coughing up when the media shines the spotlight and that suggests immorality, unethical behaivour and an overall lack of judgement.

    Let’s hope that this affair changes the current political mindset towards spending, this issue should serve a reminder to future political leaders’, the axe is falling faster now than ever before on reckless and inappropriate spending.

    :D

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  4. Rich Prick (1,098) Says:

    Seems Carter’s massages didn’t have the happy-ending afterall.

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  5. Murray (8,832) Says:

    Yes well done Phil, you’re getting better at coming second.

    Keep it up.

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  6. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    “mind you he had little choice after his attacks on Heatley over $70 of wine”

    Damn right. Fools hoist by their own petard.

    ( For those recently educated in the public school system that means ‘blown up by their own bomb’.)

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  7. KevinH (944) Says:

    Goffs reaction to his MP’s misuse of credit cards amounts to a slap over the hand with a wet bus ticket.Jones and Ririnui should be shown the door, they have discredited themselves.Carter however should do the honourable thing and resign from parliament and move on.Labour does not want to limp into the next election with baggage that it’s rivals can use plus Goff has to reassess his own future because his reaction to the credit card fiasco has been limp wristed.

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  8. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    “I’m not keen on paying people for doing nothing.”

    So you’re with me in reducing the number of reps to 20? ( for a start)

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  9. Michaels (1,304) Says:

    That’s probably the amount that actually work there yes.

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  10. george (398) Says:

    Goff has been far too weak. Carter still on second bench – ie, top 20 which means Goff intends to have him in his Cabinet if he ever becomes Prime Minister.

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  11. Inventory2 (8,801) Says:

    You’re right DPF; it is, to all intents, a Clayton’s demotion, with little more than a reduction in status. But it was notable that Goff gave Jones a serve in the Herald story, and yet was silent about Carter – which leaves one to speculate as to his motives …

    http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2010/06/goff-wields-axe.html

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  12. philu (13,393) Says:

    i wd guess that carter said he wd walk…if thrown straight to the backbench…

    tho’ i agree…goff shd have done that….

    and jones was never a contender…

    to say he lacked the common touch…is a roaring understatement…

    phil(whoar.co.nz)

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  13. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    “Their sole responsibility will be to attend their select committees, yet get paid the same as they are getting paid today. ”

    Why should it be their sole responsibility? Their responsibility should be to do as much as possible to give us good value for money. Paid by the country, work for the country.

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  14. RRM (7,218) Says:

    If Goff had balls he should have kicked Carter all the way to touch / the back bench for being clearly the worst offender by a significant magnitude.

    If he had packed a sad and resigned, so much the better. Labour are so far behind the Government in the polls that the good karma Goff might earn from appearing hard on this issue might ultimately be worth more to them than potentially losing one more electorate seat right now.

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  15. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    No comment on the glaring difference between Goff’s approach to this and Key’s, DPF? Defrauding the taxpayer OK for National Ministers, then?

    [DPF: Don't be a fuckwit. The scale of offending was massively more for Labour. But regardless if you bothered to read what I wrote at the time on Heatley I said his use of the card was "totally unacceptable" and I also criticised his return to Cabinet after the Auditor-General report. I have been consistent throughout]

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  16. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    ” Their responsibility should be to do as much as possible to give us good value for money.”

    Hahah.. thanks for the laff PG. Line of the day. Still in that separate universe?

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  17. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    Hey, let me author your response for you..

    “Redbaiter, do you think.. bla bla bla??”

    How?

    Why?

    When?

    Who?

    Is it bla bla bla?

    Or a hundred other similar queries all based on that ignorant of history and tortured logic that all commies are so good at..

    Yawn…

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  18. PaulD (90) Says:

    Just another reminder that the attack on Heatly was not for $70 of wine but as Stuff reported “He falsely signed a declaration that he spent $70 on food and drink for him and his wife, when it was for two bottles of wine for a table at last year’s National Party conference.” That’s more than just misusing the card.

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  19. big bruv (11,202) Says:

    Carter still retains the ethnic affairs portfolio?

    It is clear that he (Goff) has been overruled by the gay element inside the party, surely Goff should resign.

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  20. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    So, Jones booking up PPV movies in his hotel room is “massively” worse than Groser and McCully booking up drinks from the minibar? Do explain how.

    I also criticised his return to Cabinet after the Auditor-General report.

    So, you’re effectively saying that Goff has handled this far better than Key did.

    [DPF: No. They are your words. If it were not for Key none of this would have ever come out]

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  21. tvb (3,303) Says:

    Carters’ demotion is weaker than I thought so it seems the threat of a resignation might have had some effect. He still retains a portfolio responsibility though Goff insults the pacific community with Carters’ appointment.

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  22. burt (5,930) Says:

    As long as these guys don’t make threats to stand as independents their income and their freedom will be assured.

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  23. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    “Do explain how.”

    He’s been exposed as a porn freak and serial puller. You don’t think there’s anything bad about that of course because you’re probably one yourself. Perhaps you need to ask his missus why she’s so pissed off.

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  24. Inventory2 (8,801) Says:

    So Carter seems to be indispensible in the role of Shadow Minister for Ethnic Affairs. What does that say about the abilities and contributions of the likes of Ashraf Choudary, Rajan Prasad or Raymond Huo?

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  25. Repton (769) Says:

    It is clear that he (Goff) has been overruled by the gay element inside the party, surely Goff should resign.

    It could be the Judith Tizard factor…

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  26. tom hunter (3,852) Says:

    One has to seriously ask what value they will bring to the taxpayer, sitting there for 18 months with no portfolio responsibilities, and no electorate.

    Think of it in free market terms, where different people can place different values on exactly the same thing.

    In this case they’re preventing the return of Judith Tizard, which is of almost incalculable value to me.

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  27. burt (5,930) Says:

    Bring back Clark, we never had any of this pesky accountability shit when she was running the shop in her own best interests.

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  28. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    So, Jones booking up PPV movies in his hotel room is “massively” worse than Groser and McCully booking up drinks from the minibar? Do explain how.

    It’s quite different, Jones hasn’t claimed to have entertained others with the movies. Groser and McCully are still a question mark, if they stroke bottles solo then it could be a problem, but it’s also quite feasible it was reasonable socialising as part of their portfolios.

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  29. transmogrifier (490) Says:

    Heartily sick of Chris Carter now, with his self-important, self-aggrandizing proclamations. The sooner he disappears from public view, the better.

    Shane Jones isn’t nearly as annoying, but should not get within a mile of a leadership position. Someone who can’t think through the ramifications of putting porn on a ministerial card is hardly equipped to think through the ramifications of actual policy. He’s done.

    If I was Goff, I would have fired them outright. A bit of a line in the sand and something that actually marks him as a leader. What he did today was what any two-bit politician worried about appearances would have done.

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  30. burt (5,930) Says:

    Pete George

    The day that we can all expect the tax payers to provide us with free alcohol and porno movies will be the day these wankers did nothing wrong getting us to pay for their own indulgences. It’s not about what they did, it’s about them expecting us to pay for it.

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  31. SHG (228) Says:

    The whitest guy in parliament speaks on ethnic affairs?

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  32. burt (5,930) Says:

    SHG

    Clark talked about “trust” as well. Politics is full of contridictions.

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  33. kowtow (4,402) Says:

    Get rid of the list. MPs should be responsible to a defined electorate.

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  34. MikeNZ (3,234) Says:

    Pete George (5069) Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Once again I am in agreement with you.
    They need disciplining but not from Goff but from parliament.
    They have broughht it into disrepute and should be sanctioned accordingly.
    My wife thinks prosecution is in order where it is clearly personal and not state business.
    I’m now tending towards that too.

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  35. Manolo (9,891) Says:

    “Chris has lost the portfolio and his front bench seat and will sit on the second bench. Given the importance he attached to his portfolio this will be a severe sanction for him. ”

    Ultimate proof that Goff lacks backbone.

    The delicate Carter must be fuming at losing access to the junkets he’s acustomed to. And being the miserable character he is, yet he doesn’t have the dignity to resign from Parliament. With troughers like Jones, Tizard, Horomia, and Carter is easy to explain why socialist Labour is mired in shit.

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  36. JiveKitty (869) Says:

    Redbaiter: ” Their responsibility should be to do as much as possible to give us good value for money.”

    Hahah.. thanks for the laff PG. Line of the day. Still in that separate universe?

    You’ll note that what you quote says “should”. It’s a normative statement rather than a statement as to what the reality is. It implies PG understands the reality but would prefer if that was not the case, much like you it seems:

    “So you’re with me in reducing the number of reps to 20? ( for a start)”

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  37. tom hunter (3,852) Says:

    So, Jones booking up PPV movies in his hotel room is “massively” worse than Groser and McCully booking up drinks from the minibar? Do explain how.

    This could be a great experiment for you to conduct Psycho:

    Picture your wife.

    Picture your wife as an average member of the public.

    Picture your wife after telling her you’ve spent her money on mini-bar drinks.

    Picture your wife after telling her you’ve spent her money on porn movies.

    Better yet, try it in real life. Do let us know the results ;)

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  38. Manolo (9,891) Says:

    “This could be a great experiment for you to conduct Psycho:
    Picture your wife.”

    Did you mean hubby? :-)

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  39. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    Tom Hunter: I’m not Shane Jones’ wife, I’m a taxpayer. The issue at hand is personal spending on ministerial credit cards, not how you (or the ridiculous Redbaiter) personally feel about the relative merits of said personal spending.

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  40. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    Did you mean hubby?

    Keep your erotic fantasies to yourself.

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  41. Yvette (2,412) Says:

    Not only will all this card misuse be pointed out again next Election, but Goff has left the culprits there to be pointed at.

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  42. Yvette (2,412) Says:

    And it would seem some today’s move may have to do with Goff not wanting Tizard bought on off the Party List, as she seems to not only be poison in herself, but would have to immediately be demoted for her credit card abuse?

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  43. Eddie (295) Says:

    Who will be promoted?

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  44. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Jivekitty, there is a much better chance of encouraging and forcing better performance out of our parliament structured much as it is than there is of achieving some fanciful idealist dream of a ranting redbile.

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  45. Zarchoff (100) Says:

    Hang on – wasn’t Goff guilty of using a Ministerial credit card for personal expenses??? I am sure he was mentioned in the Dom Post. Can you shed any light on that DPF. Demoting Jones is fair enough but a bit rich to demote the others when the leader is guilty of the same behaviour.

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  46. GPT1 (1,950) Says:

    To be fair they have some value when Judith Tizard is the next cab off the rank.

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  47. Dean Haynes (2) Says:

    I saw this “take it and see if you have to pay for it” attitude in action a couple of days ago.

    I was in the supermarket and a woman with her young son was behind me. She says to the boy, handing him a paper bag that once held a bread bun:

    Tell the man you ate this.

    Why?

    Because you have to pay for what you take.

    Why?

    There are cameras in the ceiling watching everyone and they would have seen you eating the bun and if you don’t pay for it you’ll get in trouble.

    So as I leave I see the boy hand the assistant an empty paper bag. Assistant asks,

    what was in this?

    A bun.

    What kind of bun?

    I don’t know.

    The assistant sighs, screws up the bag and chucks it under his counter.

    Have I taken things, of similar value to that 30 cent bread bun, though not from a supermarket, and paid for it “later”? Despite everything I’d been taught, and knew to be “right”, yes I have. Would I do it again? No way – there is something inherently wrong with the practice that, I hope, you realise once you do it. My offences pricked my conscience and that was enough to draw a line. And If I’d done it as a boy, I would have recieved the hiding of a lifetime. I wasn’t taught to take then pay by my parents, that’s for sure. Social attitudes have clearly changed and I don’t know why. As far as I can figure out, it’s the kind of conceit attached to social status that motivates people to “bend the rules” and complain later, self righteously, that it was just a little bend.

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  48. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    “Who will be promoted?”

    Goff’s next test. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with.

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  49. burt (5,930) Says:

    Zarchoff

    Hang on – wasn’t Goff guilty of using a Ministerial credit card for personal expenses???

    Are you new to NZ ? Labour leaders are always blameless and never required to be accountable. Some really corrupt ones have even used the power of parliament to kill off court cases against them, back in the dim dark days when NZ was a dictatorship with a “Dear Leader”.

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  50. Eddie (295) Says:

    Lawn bowls must be rained off today.

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  51. tom hunter (3,852) Says:

    Tom Hunter: I’m not Shane Jones’ wife, I’m a taxpayer. The issue at hand is personal spending on ministerial credit cards, not how you (or the ridiculous Redbaiter) personally feel about the relative merits of said personal spending.

    Oh come on – are you really so outraged by this that you can’t see a little humour in it?

    As it happens I rather agree with you – but when it comes to porn I’d reckon a lot of woman, perhaps the majority, don’t (although many will pretend to do so for a boyfriend) – that was my point.

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  52. slightlyrighty (2,246) Says:

    Milt.

    If you cannot see the difference between a Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a Minister of Trade using a mini-bar, given that they may well have been doing so on ministerial business, socialising, or conducting late meetings with other overseas officials and dignitaries, and a minister racking up bills for hotel porn, then that’s your problem.

    I can envisage a number of perfectly feasible and justifiable reasons for utilising a hotel minibar if one is in the portfolios that Groser and McCully hold.

    I simply cannot see any reason why any minister should be booking up skin flicks to the taxpayer.

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  53. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    ” The issue at hand is ”

    I doubt you meant the pun Psycho, but I hardly need an amoral commie like you dictating wrong and right to me. I know you find nothing wrong with pornography and whacking off over it, because you’re a follower of the moral relativity doctrine of the left. Perhaps not so common in your circle of friends, there are people about who have not succumbed to that sickness.

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  54. Eddie (295) Says:

    If Ginga and Mt Albert boy (what’s his name from Iraq) are promoted who else and then who will step into the whip role/s?

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  55. curia pigeon (204) Says:

    Gerry Brownley should go a hunger strike until JK demotes the National Party’s double-dipping recidivists. Now that would get some media attention!

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  56. curia pigeon (204) Says:

    Careful RB – it always seems to be those who take the highest moral ground that in fact occupy the lowest….

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  57. freethinker (590) Says:

    The question I would like asked is – was any of the misused expense, Theft. Criminal theft is the intention to permanently deprive the owner(The NZ Taxpayer) of their property so the timing of any repayment is critical – within a short period say 30-60 days definitely not theft, after the inquiry was announced or was obvious – definitely theft as the repayment was only prompted by the certainty of detection and between subjective. An answer from Ministerial services will enlighten us, I hope!!

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  58. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    If you cannot see the difference between a Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a Minister of Trade using a mini-bar, given that they may well have been doing so on ministerial business, socialising, or conducting late meetings with other overseas officials and dignitaries, and a minister racking up bills for hotel porn, then that’s your problem.

    And if you’re happy for ministers to be putting personal spending on their ministerial credit cards and pretending it’s legitimate expenditure, fine. Clearly you are happy about it, because you’re not only backing these minibar raiders, you’ve got a guy in your team who booked up a family holiday on his card, only paid it back when he was found out, and is still sitting in Cabinet.

    Redbaiter: nobody on the entire planet gives a rat’s ass what you feel about pornography.

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  59. Pete George (17,596) Says:

    Pyscho, I haven’t seen anything yet that determines whether the minibar use was personal or not. Is that being investigated or do the right get a free pass from MSM on it this time round?

    Could be a fair call on someone who may be happy to Hide from all of this at the moment.

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  60. RKBee (1,344) Says:

    Shane Jones and Mita Ririnui sitting on the back benches smirking for 18 months with no portfolio responsibilities as List MPs.
    Pulling wages and continually reminding the public of their misused spending, will not be good for Labour.

    The Labour party will need to take them of the labour party list. It’s also the right time for David Cunliffe to do a Helen Clark step up and challenge Phil Goff for the leadership of the party, while the party MPs are still shamed and embarrassed. The will get rid of Goff and his old guard including Carter… Restoring public confidence in the party… or they will kill their chances of strongly contesting let along winning the 2014 election.

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  61. Inventory2 (8,801) Says:

    Pete George said

    Goff’s next test. It will be interesting to see what he comes up with.

    Don’t you mean “Goff’s next TEXT. It will be interesting to see what SHE comes up with?

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  62. Poliwatch (330) Says:

    TIME FOR SOME INTERPRETATION

    Shane Jones repeatedly misused his ministerial credit card and this requires a clear sanction.

    He will lose his front bench position and the two major portfolio responsibilities he holds. …

    READ: HE WAS PLOTTING AGAINST ME SO LETS CHUCK HIM AS FAR AWAY AS I CAN

    Chris Carter also wrongly used his card on several occasions over six years as a Minister on things outside the rules for Ministerial expenditure. He has now repaid the money.

    These items by themselves would not warrant removal from the Foreign Affairs portfolio. However there has been public controversy around the frequency and cost of Chris’ travel as a Minister accompanied by his partner which damages his ability to continue in this portfolio.

    Chris has lost the portfolio and his front bench seat and will sit on the second bench. Given the importance he attached to his portfolio this will be a severe sanction for him. …

    READ: I WOULD LIKE TO GET RID OF HIM BUT THOSE DAMN FEMINIST WOMEN AND GAY GUYS WON’T LET ME. OH I WISH I WAS STILL A UNION DELEGATE AND DEALING WITH REAL BLOKES

    Mita Ririnui wrongly used his Government credit card to purchase golf clubs and a bike. These are clearly personal items, involving significant expenditure and occurred on two occasions.

    He did not do so with any dishonest intent and reimbursed Ministerial Services for that expenditure at the time.

    However it was clearly outside the rules and he should have been aware of that and showed poor judgement.

    As a result he will lose his shadow portfolio responsibilities for forestry.

    READ: THE MAORI ELEMENT IN CAUCUS IS PRETTY WEAK THESE DAYS SO THIS ONE DOESN’T MATTER. IT MIGHT EVEN LEAD TO SHANE AND MITA DEFYING THE WHIP AND VOTING WITH THE MAORI PARTY AND THEN I CAN GET THEM EXPELLED. MUST READ THE RULES UP ON THAT ONE.

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  63. trout (818) Says:

    Agree with Poliwatch. Carter as a sometime lapdog of ‘she who must be obeyed’ still has support of the the gay faction of the labour caucus; Goff does not have the numbers to cross them.

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  64. Redbaiter (13,197) Says:

    “Redbaiter: nobody on the entire planet gives a rat’s ass what you feel about pornography.”

    Only an arrogant “I know what’s best for you all” commie like you Milt would assume to speak for the entire planet. Especially when you’ve already made it so obvious how much you actually do care about how I “feel”.

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  65. RRM (7,218) Says:

    ^^^ (trout) x2, Poliwatch analysis FTW.

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  66. Manolo (9,891) Says:

    IV2 raises an interesting point. What would the dictatorial Clark be thinking about the credit card scandal and what instructions would be sending to her henchmen and minions, e.g., Hughes, Tizard, Dyson, Mallard, on how to stir the pot to defend her “precious good friend” Chris Carter?

    Despite proclamations to the contrary, the socialist Labour Party is still run from a lofty U.N. office in New York.
    Goff is a weak emperor without a kingdom.

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  67. rouppe (630) Says:

    Chris Carter must really be feeling aggrieved. He was, after all, opposition Foreign Affairs spokesman.

    He was in Argentina… And isn’t a massage with a happy ending having a foreign affair….?

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  68. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    No. They are your words.

    It’s difficult to see any other interpretation. You criticised Heatley’s return to Cabinet after he was caught out at this. Key was responsible for that. Goff is responsible for the ones who’ve been caught out this time, and has stripped them of their portfolios. Which of them responded better to the situation?

    The fact that Key deserves credit for bringing this out into the open is irrelevant – at issue in my comment is his response to what bringing it into the open revealed.

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  69. backster (1,777) Says:

    POLIWATCH…….Yep you are right on. If its so obvious to you(and me) then why can’t the media commentators also see it.

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  70. RightNow (5,365) Says:

    RRM (2296) Says:
    June 14th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
    ^^^ (trout) x2, Poliwatch analysis FTW

    Damn, was FTW “for the win” or “F**k the world”? I keep forgetting.

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  71. philu (13,393) Says:

    “..He’s been exposed as a porn freak and serial puller..”

    it would seem that redbaiter also sees masturabation as yet another sign of the collapse of ‘his world’…

    ..especially ‘serial’-masturbation….

    ..eh…?

    phil(whoar.co.nz)

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  72. philu (13,393) Says:

    wht y aren’t you all over tim ‘hic!’ groser…..farrar…?

    phil(whoar.co.nz)

    [DPF: Because I don't think the amount of alcohol consumed is excessive for someone whose job requires him to spend 200 days a year overseas]

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  73. curia pigeon (204) Says:

    lol – redbaiter shows itself to be merely a computer programme once again…

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  74. Poliwatch (330) Says:

    [DPF: Because I don't think the amount of alcohol consumed is excessive for someone whose job requires him to spend 200 days a year overseas]

    I agree and it would be the same view for the minibar bill for Helen Clark or Phil Goff. Or even Chris Carter. Grosser has been doing this type of stuff for years (negotiating that is). Anyone who has done this sort of stuff that you get more done over a drink after the official meeting than at the meeting.

    If he was quietly sipping the stuff (in that quantity) himself in his room my view would change.

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  75. BR (67) Says:

    All personal use of ministerial credit cards should be deplored, regardless of political stripe.

    Jones and Carter however have more to answer for than Groser or McCully.

    Shane Jones said he was a movie buff, but did not watch buff movies. That makes him a liar as well as a thief. The mental image of Shane Jones sitting on the sofa in his underpants watching porno videos would be enough to make even the most stalwart socialist want to switch sides.

    “I have lots of faults but arrogance, pride and love of luxury are not among them.”-Chris Carter

    Chris Carter is one of the most odious hypocrites ever to grace the NZ parliamentary debating chamber. There has never been a skerrick of remorse on offer from this compulsive trougher, nor has he has ever possessed the slightest sense of duty towards the people he is supposed to represent. This became glaringly obvious when he was first pulled up on his travel expenses. He hid from the media for four days, and when he finally emerged, his only comment was that he was a loyal Labour party member and that his senior colleagues approved of his spending. There was no attempt by this crook to placate the electorate or to justify his excesses to them. His thoughts, as always, were on saving his own arse (no pun intended regarding who he might be saving it for).

    Bill.

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  76. Viking2 (9,463) Says:

    Shameless Jones is going to the back benches to reflect on life and will add a few more well paid part time jobs to fill in the days ,now he has no responsibility for anyone nor anything.
    Carter is in hiding, just far enough back that the Speaker won’t see him all day and Mita, well slumber party with Jones.

    There is no loss of privileges nor any monetary sanction upon these unprincipled people. They continue to trough and worse they continue to be involved in opinion forming, policy forming and law passing when the odious bastards can’t even comply with clear law, enacted by the same institution to which they belong, and despite many reminders from the sentries.
    Goff has it wrong but it not altogether his fault. He responds to his factions.
    Cases like these should respond to the Law but it seems Parliament is its own law and refuses the ultimate sanctions that should be carried out. Dismissing them from their jobs without redundancy pay and so on and referring their transgressions to the police.
    But then I guess if they can legitimize false signatures, outright theft of the taxpayers money for Party purposes, speeding, etc etc etc, then why should we be surprised.

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  77. side show bob (3,660) Says:

    One must feel for Chrissy, he must be devastated, no Sao Paulo gay parade this year.

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  78. wat dabney (2,698) Says:

    No financial penalty, so Carter gets to keep the lifestyle fit for a queen.

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  79. Psycho Milt (1,346) Says:

    There is no loss of privileges nor any monetary sanction upon these unprincipled people.

    Fuckin’ oath! Why, if they’d been in John Key’s cabinet, they’d be… er… still occupying their cabinet posts. But I bet he would have given them a very stern talking to.

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  80. Johnboy (10,724) Says:

    From the press:

    http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/lifestyle/mainlander/657669/Hallmarks-of-a-psychopath

    Tick off any you feel that qualifies you Psycho:

    Hallmarks of a psychopath

    1. Glibness/superficial charm.

    2. Grandiose sense of self-worth.

    3. Need for stimulation/proneness to boredom.

    4. Pathological lying.

    5. Cunning/manipulative.

    6. Lack of remorse or guilt.

    7. Shallow affect.

    8. Callous/lack of empathy.

    9. Parasitic lifestyle.

    10. Poor behavioural control

    11. Promiscuous sexual behaviour.

    12. Early behaviour problems.

    13. Lack of realistic, long-term goals.

    14. Impulsivity.

    15. Irresponsibility.

    16. Failure to accept responsibility for own actions.

    17. Many short-term marital relationships.

    18. Juvenile delinquency.

    19. History of breaching bail, escaping or offending while under supervision or parole.

    20. Criminal versatility.

    The rest of us know the answer of course!! :)

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  81. Johnboy (10,724) Says:

    Shit your not Phool the Magpies twin brother are you? :)

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  82. Tauhei Notts (1,255) Says:

    In tonight’s Waikato Times Tracy Watkins writes that;
    The remaining figleaf covering MP’s use of public money has been blown away.”
    I wish to record my dismay at that very unfortunate turn of phrase used by Ms Watkins.
    When the final figleaves are blown away one is left with a sight of big pricks and useless cunts.
    That writer should be more careful with her choice of words.

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  83. wat dabney (2,698) Says:

    You’d think Shame Jones’s wife would’ve suspected something when he added slapping her face with his dick to his repertoire of foreplay.

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  84. Hurf Durf (2,860) Says:

    Silly Chris. It’s not because you’re gay, it’s because you’re fabulous!

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  85. Johnboy (10,724) Says:

    At least Groser shows real taste and proper kulture, like wot I do, he drinks The Famous Grouse just like me. Cheers Mush!

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  86. Chris2 (621) Says:

    With all his previous travel, Carter will have accumulated a squillion airpoints. So he will use those, coupled with his MP travel privileges to continue traveling overseas, he may even travel economy class so he can maximise their value. The Labour whip should deny him leave to travel overseas.

    Airpoints for MP’s should be banned by Parliament’s travel office in return for cheaper airfares from the airlines. I recall a couple of decades ago that the MFAT Travel section has a similar policy – no airpoints inreturn for cheaper air fares.

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  87. Kimble (3,691) Says:

    I see Tapu Misa has done her usual fill in the blanks article.

    She found out Shane Jone was a Maori, so of course he is being mistreated because of racism. Coz he’s a Maori, dont you know?

    Who knew Jones was a Maori? I had no idea. And I care even less.

    Still… its good to have another reminder about where a lot of the “racism” that NZ is apparently famous for comes from.

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