The Greens and inquiries
July 3rd, 2012 at 11:00 am by David FarrarToby Manhire blogs at The Listener:
John Key has dismissed the Green party call for an inquiry into the raid on Kim Dotcom’s mansion by saying that the Greens call for an inquiry on virtually everything.
“It’s sort of the boy who cried wolf a few too many times I think,” the prime minister said on TVNZ Breakfast this morning.
Is he right?
Here are some of the things Green MPs have demanded independent inquiries into (some have been successful) over the last 18 months.
Australian shipments of uranium passing through NZ ports.
Hydraulic fracturing (successful).
The death of SAS solider Leon Smith in Afghanistan.
SAS prison transfers in Afghanistan.
South Canterbury Finance affair.
The police case against Urewera Four.
Leak of Ports of Auckland worker’s details.
Genetic experiments on animals.
The Sky City convention centre negotiations.
Alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka in 2009.
The Rena accident and oil spill response.
NZ’s dependence on imported oil.
Good to see a journalist doing research to substantiate a claim. That is indeed a fair number of inquiries demanded.
The sad thing is that the Greens will ignore the results of an inquiry, if it clashes with their beliefs. Take for example the Royal Commission on Genetic Engineering.
Related posts:
- Good Greens
- Inquiries we await
- Type of Inquiries
- Greens reject fracking report even though a Green candidate was team leader
July 3rd, 2012 at 11:06 am
I want an independant inquiry into the anti smacking bill and CIRs.
Vote:How can parliament ignore a referendum?
CIR has got to be one of the most cynically undemocratic processes in the western world.
July 3rd, 2012 at 11:08 am
I want an independent inquiry into whether or not the Greens are vexatious inquirers…
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:23 am
Why do the Greens think NZ needs to conduct an inquiry into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka?
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:25 am
I’d like an inquiry into how many inquiries the National party asked for between 2005 and 2007. If it was less than 30, then they were being very lazy indeed.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:26 am
No current Green MP was a member of Parliament at the time of that Royal Commission. You may be right, but you can’t sheet home blame to MPs who didn’t even exist on the basis of this evidence.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:28 am
Hey Bevan, follow the link above and find out. Ask again if that’s too complicated.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:34 am
Perhaps we should have an inquiry into the ban on set-net fishing, that has cost at least 21 people their jobs:
“…they’re calling us liars when we say nobody has ever seen a Maui’s dolphin in Taranaki waters.”
“”But what’s going happen to us? Who’s going to pay our wages? Fishing is all I’ve known all my life. We all had good jobs, but now they’ve all gone because of a decision to protect a dolphin that’s not even here. We’ve tried to tell the officials that – we all put in submissions.
“But they’ve just screwed them up and chucked them in the rubbish.”"
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/7208540/Bureaucrats-cost-me-the-job-I-love
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:34 am
So if the Greens want too many enquiries, and that’s why the Dotcom request should be rejected, why then did the spineless Nats cave in on fraccing?
I’ll tell you.
No guts.
No fight.
No rhetoric.
No principles.
Believe in nothing.
Just socialist lamers.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:36 am
But the MSM faithfully reports them every time.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 11:55 am
Why would anyone want to dig a bit and get to the bottom of something, when it’s more fun to just talk smack on breakfast tv, eh John?
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:06 pm
If this government and related cronies didn’t mismanage their way into so many fiascoes the Greens wouldn’t call for so many inquiries.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:09 pm
We could look at these issue on their merits and consider whether inquiries might be useful. Nah, too hard, there’s just too many. Back to counting parliamentary questions to see if MPs are doing the right thing, eh?
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:27 pm
Hey Bevan, follow the link above and find out. Ask again if that’s too complicated.
Really Mike, you think that is why NZ and not a more appropriate international body like the UN or the ICC should be investigating?
When Locke next scratches his balls, will you support an inquiry into jock-itch as well?
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Oh dear, it was too complicated for you. The Greens were supporting a call for an international inquiry into the atrocities in Sri Lanka.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:45 pm
> That is indeed a fair number of inquiries demanded
Except the PM said the Greens want an inquiry on “everything”. Typical hyperbole from the mobile smile.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:51 pm
> The Sky City convention centre negotiations.
I think you’ll find the deal is the subject of an Auditor-General’s inquiry…but why let the facts get in the way of a rant.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 12:54 pm
> the price of milk.
But there has been and continues to be an inquiry into the price of milk. Sounds like the Greens might be on to something.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10784482
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Oh I see, obscure footnote in the article.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 1:12 pm
See Mike, not hard to be nice and just point things out.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Just let me know if if I can be of service interpreting anything else for you. Always a pleasure.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Price of milk was sorted along time ago.
Supermarket duopoly.
But let’s not allow facts to prevent us from attacking that old favourite target of the looney left,farmers.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 1:52 pm
My milk from 2 local dairies still $5.50 for 2 x 2 litres.
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Lets not forget these looney tunes also tried to ban the ‘Sausage Sizzle’ a few years ago….I think that pretty much sums them up credibility-wise!
Vote:July 3rd, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Who needs a sausage sizzle when you can suck up to a gambling trust and get money from the pokie addicts?
Vote: