Comments on: The Jones inquiry

By: backster

backster — Thu, 31 May 2012 01:29:55 +0000

I don’t think Dover SAMUELS showed as much diligence and energy in any other aspect of his Parliamentary duties as he did over ensuring that LUI gained citizenship. I suspect Lui’s treatment was worth far more than a token five grand to each of the main parties to cloud the process. The only mystery is who received what for what..Te Pou, Cunliffe, Samuels, Barker, Jones, Williams, all should be able to shed some light. Oh for a lie detector.

By: Nostalgia-NZ

Nostalgia-NZ — Thu, 31 May 2012 01:21:22 +0000

Keeping Stock
11.32

Shearer knew he wasn’t able to set the terms of the inquiry.

By: DJP6-25

DJP6-25 — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:46:31 +0000

David Garrett 10:33 am. Let’s hope he does interpret it widely then.

cheers

David Prosser

By: lastmanstanding

lastmanstanding — Thu, 31 May 2012 00:14:19 +0000

kowtowHow right your are IMHO there is far more corruption across all sectors than most Kiwis realise. the difference between NZ corruption and that in the more blatant countries is that Nz corruption is very very subtle. Nudge Nudge Wink Wink. Very indirect and usually involving 3rd parties to keep some distance between the corrupter and the corruptee.

Yet most Kiwis have an almost child like believe that ‘it doesnt happen here” Well it does and most get away with it at a real cost to society as a whole and individuals in particular.

Like you are paying too much of a good or service because of the hidden cost built into the price to pay off the guilty parties.

We must now hope that the AG Lynn Provost and Francis Cook QC do their jobs without fear or favour.

By: s.russell

s.russell — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:54:29 +0000

An enquiry into WHY Jones granted citizenship should cover pretty much anything.

By: Nookin

Nookin — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:53:31 +0000

Have the Police said that they are investigating Banks?

By: ross69

ross69 — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:43:35 +0000

If the A-G finds that Jones acted entirely appropriately, will we get an apology from DPF and Co?

By: Keeping Stock

Keeping Stock — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:32:41 +0000

Quite so Nostalgia; but I doubt that he is pleased that the A-G has decided in her wisdom to look at Jones’ decision as well. Shearer had asked only for an inquiry into process.

By: mikenmild

mikenmild — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:23:42 +0000

Tut tut Ross, you know that’s completely different…

By: ross69

ross69 — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:20:16 +0000

Anyone heard whether the PM has stood down John Banks, who’s the subject of several investigations including a police investigation?

By: marcw

marcw — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:08:58 +0000

@Nostalgia-NZ:

By: Nostalgia-NZ

Nostalgia-NZ — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:59:27 +0000

Taking into account Shearer called for the inquiry, plaudits to him for that.

By: Flyer

Flyer — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:46:31 +0000

He has a good summary of his work here: http://www.thorndonchambers.com/fc.html

He also has a great pedigree being the son of Lord Cooke of Thorndon.

By: David Garrett

David Garrett — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:33:20 +0000

KS and slightly: Both spot on. Both Jones and Shearer would be shitting themselves.

I have never heard of this Cooke fellow – we move in different circles I imagine! – but I would guess that how far he takes “other matters he thinks it desirable to report on…” would depend largely on his…can’t think of an appropirate adjective that might not get me into trouble…

I had some slight involvement with the Tongan Royal Commission on the sinking of the “Princess Ashika” which had a similar “catch all” provision in its terms of reference. His Honour Justice Andrew interpreted that provision very widely indeed…if Cooke takes anything like the same approach Jones, Shearer and the Labour Party have probably got a great deal to worry about.

By: slightlyrighty

slightlyrighty — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:26:17 +0000

Helen Clark would never have called for an inquiry in this manner. If she could not dictate terms of reference, or knew the result, then nothing would have happened.

By: Keeping Stock

Keeping Stock — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:14:44 +0000

@ DPF and Scott Chris – I think that “any other matters the Auditor-General considers it desirable to report on.” actually gives Francis Cooke QC to look at pretty much anything related to the Bill Liu affair, if he “considers it desitable”. These Terms of Reference are far wider ranging than I’m sure David Shearer either imagined or desired.

By: kowtow

kowtow — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:10:32 +0000

Our political and media elites don’t like the use of the “C” word when it comes to matters New Zealand, that’s something the fuzzy wuzzies do, not us. It’s almost literally banned as unpatriotic. Funny how they can get patriotic when it suits them,the rest of the time we are ‘responsible members of the international community” or if you’re a Helenite, then you’re an internationalist.

Corruption, there ,I’ve said it.There’s alot of it around.

By: Scott Chris

Scott Chris — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:07:41 +0000

It is a pity that the inquiry is into the citizenship issue only

So what does 'any other matters the Auditor-General considers it desirable to report on' mean?