Shearer shafts Jones
June 13th, 2012 at 6:02 pm by David FarrarNZ Herald reports:
But Mr Shearer said Mr Joyce was being “extraordinarily arrogant in continuing to run this process while an inquiry is going on”.
“To me it beggars belief that he can continue to do this while an inquiry is going on.”
Not only should negotiations be put on hold until the inquiry was complete, but the tender should be reopened begun again from scratch.
He said there was “obviously something dodgy” around the deal “otherwise the Auditor General wouldn’t take a look”.
Deborah Coddington just pointed out that Shearer has just effectively declared Shane Jones is “obviously dodgy”, as Jones is under investigation by the Auditor-General also.
The only thing I can’t work out is did Shearer shaft Jones on purpose, or did he just do it by accident as he didn’t consider the stupidity of his comment?
June 13th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
What aspect of public business is Jones administering at the moment that is under investigation?
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
Perhaps that explains why Winston Peters and Shane Jones were dining together at the Green Parrot last night, whilst the Parliament they have been elected to serve in was sitting. Somehow I doubt that Jones feels any alliegance to the Labour Party at the moment; they have treated him like a leper.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:35 pm
@mikey,
What public office did John Banks hold when he had his alleged contacts with Kim Dotcom?
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:40 pm
What’s that got to do with the price of fish? Banksie’s trouble is about whether he complied with the electoral laws, isn’t it?
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:46 pm
@Mikey,
It has exactly the same relevance to the price of fish as your statement re: Shane Jones. He could potentially be found to have been corrupt in his handling of the Bill Liu case.
Even more to the point, I dont think anyone actually believe that Banks will be found to have breached electoral law
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:49 pm
Jones volunteered to be investigated. How surprising that that subtle difference escaped you.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
No, Banks seems likely to be able to successfully thumb his nose at the law. But the position of Jones and Banks seems the same: they are the subject of investigations into past dealings. The point Shearer made is that Joyce is continuing to run a process that the Auditor-General has decided to investigate. Maybe there are good reasons why that process continues, but saying “nyah, nyah, what about Shane Jones” doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:52 pm
ross69,
Jones volunteered to have the ‘process’ investigated (not his decision) – and even then, in interviews, has shown himself to be less than completely happy to be placed in the position of having to volunteer that.
How surprising the facts escape you.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
That is simply not true. The OAG is not investigating the terms of construction, timeframes, milestones, or potential legislative amendments. They are investigating the decision that has already been made and closed – to agree to Sky City cosntructing a conventions centre under certain conditions.
They are not investigating the process that is running, but the process that has been completed.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:05 pm
The best thing that the labour leader can do at the moment is to keep quiet as there is nothing that the Labour Party, Greens or NZ First can inflict on the government that they are not doing a better job of themselves.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:12 pm
After the red herrings re Banks and Jones, you may actually have a point.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
> Jones volunteered to have the ‘process’ investigated
Rubbish, go and look at the OAG’s terms of reference. The OAG has scope to investigate anything and everything.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
ross69,
Errant nonsense. The OAG was not invited to investigate anything other than the process around the decision. However the OAG is not bound by the terms set by Shearer and decided, themselves, to broaden the terms of the investigation.
Once again you demonstrate your mastery at ignoring the facts.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:47 pm
Shearer stood Jones down from his portfolios, the blue team is pushing on with it’s Skycity negotiations.
DPF’s constant blue cheerleading is rather tiresome to those of us that hold political opinions based on ideas rather than allegiances. Yawn.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Don’t feed the trolls!
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 7:50 pm
@ Bedrater – Helen Clark SHOULD have stood Jones down when the story first broke in 2008. Then it might not have a four-year-old stench to it…
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 8:09 pm
> the OAG is not bound by the terms set by Shearer
Shearer didn’t set the terms, the OAG did. But once again, Jones volunteered to stand aside. Will hell freeze over before Banks does likewise? Or is it ok for Banks to be in Cabinet while he is under police investigation?
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 8:14 pm
Keeping Stock: Agreed.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Ros 69
In a word, “yes.” Get used to it.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 8:36 pm
ross69,
Tripe. Shearer tried to set the terms when he invited the OAG to investigate the process Shane Jones followed granting Bill Liu citizenship. That was what Jones – reluctantly – agreed to.
The OAG chose to extend the terms to include the decision itself.
You disingenuity knows no bounds it seems…
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Keeping Stock
Imagine it….
(Jones) Hell Winston they might make me pay the money back….
Vote:(Peters) Gulp gulp
(Jones) What do you think my chances are of getting a tax cut for Chinese billionaires in the next Labour budget….
(Peters ) Gulp gulp
(Jones) Hell if you can slip one through for the racing industry anything is possible right…..
(Peters) Bet ya can’t get a helicopter for campaigning though… gulp gulp.
June 13th, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Keeping Stock
Helen Clark should have been stood down after the 2005 election fiasco and the EFA.
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 9:28 pm
ross69
How many times was Clark in Cabinet while under Police investigation ?
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
burt
You missed the odd ‘hic,’ ‘burp’ and ‘fart.’
Vote:June 13th, 2012 at 9:29 pm
ross69
I personally think he should go, like I did over Clark. I’m sure you and I will disagree over the later. However as Adolf said… get use to it – they are above the law.
Vote:June 14th, 2012 at 10:45 am
I see that the other “tenders” for the Casino are quite happy with the way it was conducted (including the Maori tender).
Vote:They say that they have no problem with the outcome !
Could be that it will not cost the Taxpayer any money.
PPPSSS ——The Mayor of Auckland wants it too (for free).
June 14th, 2012 at 10:57 am
“Jones volunteered to be investigated. How surprising that that subtle difference escaped you.”
Like he had a choice?
Didn’t he drop the “C” bomb in his discussions with Shearer?
Wasn’t he reported as having thrown his toys out of the cot and threatened to quit?
Didn’t Shearer find that by his own comments he had painted himself into a corner so tight that there was absolutely no option?
Does anyone really believe that Jones fronted up to Shearer and said let’s go to the A-G to clear this up?
Who else believes that the earth is flat and the tooth fairy is real?
Vote:June 14th, 2012 at 11:25 am
Banks isn’t in cabinet.
Vote: