Parliamentary Analyst wanted
September 18th, 2012 at 1:17 pm by David FarrarThis year I have been doing a post on house sitting days detailing what is likely to occur in Parliament that day, with links to the bills, and some analysis of the questions and bills.
The main reason I started doing it, is I was a bit frustrated that there is nowhere else you can get this. Don’t get me wrong – the Parliamentary website has all the information on it, but the order paper is a pdf, and the questions are on a separate page etc. The idea is a one stop shop, making it easier for people to see what the “action” is on a sitting day – and get an idea of whether the debates will be on laws that parties disagree on, or on ones that are controversial.
I’ve been too busy to do this on a regular basis, as I am not always able to get online between 1130 and 1400 on sitting days.
So what I thought I would advertise for is if there are one or more people out there (probably political science students, but can be anyone) who would like to become a Kiwiblog parliamentary analyst. The position is unpaid, but could be good on the CV, and bound to help you pick up guys or girls in bars and clubs. 
At this stage, just looking for a comittment to do the sitting day posts. If I get two or three volunteers, could assign a day each. If people are keen, could expand over time to other stuff such as covering debates on controversial bills, scoring question time etc.
For the sitting day posts, what is required is:
- Copy and paste oral questions over at or after 1130 when made public
- Summarise number of questions for each party, and what topics party are asking on
- Award “pasty of the day” to the most sycophantic question from a Government backbencher
- List the first five orders or bills on the order paper, and link them to their parliamentary page
- Estimate which bills will be dealt with that day. Don’t worry if you get it wrong – I often do.
- Provide a summary of each bill, which includes date of introduction, its “owner”, its purpose (take from the very useful library digest), and which parties voted for or against it at previous readings or stages.
It normally takes me half an hour or so, so isn’t a huge time commitment – but the challenge is being able to do it between 1130 and 1400, when Parliament generally starts for the day.
If you are interested in becoming a parliamentary analyst for Kiwiblog, just e-mail me. No pay, not even at minimum wage, but the occasional beer or wine – and the chance to show your skills off to the world.
September 18th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Mr Farrar gives estimate of time for the work as above for himself as about half an hour or so.
Vote:I think this is an indication of the immense, almost uncanny productivity of Farrar himself.
The work list there above looks quite a lot , eg provide a summary of each bill, and with voting behaviour..
September 18th, 2012 at 1:50 pm
But don’t be surprised if DPF is suddenly urgently required elsewhere just at the moment when said “occasional beer or wine” has to be paid for
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Oh, I don’t know about that. I had a drink with him a few years back and he bought the first round.
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 2:06 pm
Excellently done KS a penetrating discussion on DPF’s drinking and paying habits is clearly needed. I unfortunately can’t contribute in any way not because I haven’t drunk with him but rather because I haven’t got a clue if he payed or not. That probably reflects more on my drinking habits than DPF’s to be fair. Let the slander begin.
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Not even the minimum wage? Is that legal?
I can tell you what the analysis will say now – National is Right wing, Labour Left.
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
And I can tell you that under National, the Government’s share of the economy is larger than it ever has been under Labour (ever), so that analysis isn’t very good
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 2:37 pm
@ Ryan Sproull – you must be part of a highly select group
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Work for free for my website and it’ll help you pick up chicks.
It’s almost like tile my floor and you’ll get permanent residency
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 2:43 pm
“And I can tell you that under National, the Government’s share of the economy is larger than it ever has been under Labour (ever), so that analysis isn’t very good
”
Ding ding..!!!
They’re both the same.
Far left.
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 4:05 pm
You get what you pay for.
Pay Peanuts and you will get MonKeys.
Seriously if it is worth doing it is worth paying for it.
[DPF: Great. Please send me a cheque for your reading of Kiwiblog, and I'll pass it onto the staff]
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Any student would be retarded to take on this job for no pay.
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 5:19 pm
A cheque for reading Kiwiblog?!?
Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
All the Maori and beneficiary bashing takes years off my life.
Vote:September 18th, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Hamnida
Vote:Please read reds blog then it will speed things up even more
September 18th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
I volunteer to take the credit if someone else does all the work!
Vote: