Comments on: The Grabbies

By: I like Hone and why he should stay. « Aotearoa: a wider perspective

I like Hone and why he should stay. « Aotearoa: a wider perspective — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:55:24 +0000

[...] of NZ’s tax dollars he falsely claimed for his house in Wellington and all those other piggies (thanks for that list Standard) at the trough do the [...]

By: Swampy

Swampy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:16:57 +0000

The Roger Awards would not meet any recognised standards of objectivity, if you want them to be taken seriously choose impartial judges of political neutrality.

By: Swampy

Swampy — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:14:56 +0000

Surely you’d agree it’s fair if the government decides to release all the allowances use for the period back to 1999?

We might get a better comparison then.

By: Craig Glen Eden

Craig Glen Eden — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:19:17 +0000

Really starts to make you think what it was that Worth actually did, given Key is relaxed about everything else.

By: Daveosaurus

Daveosaurus — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:18:06 +0000

Richard Worth, without a doubt. Whatever it was that he did, unlike whatever the rest of them did, it got him the boot from the Government that was “comfortable” with the others’ dodgy dealings.

By: Homo Domesticus

Homo Domesticus — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:09:20 +0000

Friends. Beware the gloating, baby-kissing rug wearer John donKey. He is a media-friendly glove puppet; the cabinet do not respect him and are not scared of him. They and Key all bow to the same bosses Brash, Douglas and co. Rise friends, throw out Key before it is too late. The bell tolls for Auckland, soon to be asset stripped and sold to those with head offices in Melbourne and Geneva.
Homo d.

By: tc

tc — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:45:19 +0000

Yes they all may have done it, as the rules permit it.
However the last PM had guidelines that were enforced, on any number of areas like knowing if you have the numbers, and where she copped it was following due process…innocent till proven guilty (Field) and by having the political nous to know when to act and when to let it ride.
Compare this to NACT inc and take note as JK will go down as the worst PM since Muldoon who like Howard in OZ enjoyed a weak opposition to claim 2 elections more than he would have otherwise……you labour powerbrokers listening ?
History will show a lazy gov’t hobbling genuine long term initiatives with ‘L’ plate ministers being propped up by the more talented like Blinglish….scary indeed.

By: torydog

torydog — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:44:20 +0000

Those thieving tories……not to mention hypocritical, oh and lack of argument as well from the tories…..when they cant defend the crims in the beehive they trot out stuff that happened years ago….”oh what about Helens speeding car” PATHETIC and soooooooooo predictable!

By: Bright Red

Bright Red — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:27:34 +0000

but Key said it applied to ministers, he didn’t say anything about MPs

and he has no authority over all MPs. He can however, being Pirme Minister and all, direct his ministers (and his party’s MPs if he wants).

Don’t get confused. this ins’t a legal issue or an issue of keeping within the formal rules. This is a standard of practice that Key set for his ministers in public and the consequences of not doing so are political, not legal.

Key ruled out ministers using tax payer funds for international trips worth their spouses so he could be seen to be setting a higher standard. We are perfectly entitled to ask that he live up it to.

By: Jared

Jared — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:19:10 +0000

I don’t care what Key has said. MP’s are entitled to use their 90% deduction by law, if Key has said they shouldn’t use them then it shouldn’t just apply to Ministers, ALL MP’s should refrain from utilising the deduction, else it is just plain hypocrisy.

By: felix

felix — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:16:37 +0000

Sounds nasty. I wouldn’t fancy my chances getting up a stairwell if Gerry were at the top and wanted me down.

By: Brett Dale

Brett Dale — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:00:26 +0000

FELIX:

It’s all his actions from his past, threatening to throw people down stairs, anit a class thing to do.

By: Bright Red

Bright Red — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:53:58 +0000

so, you’re OK with National ministers behaving just as you claim the Labour ministers you despise behaved?

Key promised new and higher standards. I don’t see what the problem is with asking him to live up to the promise

By: Bright Red

Bright Red — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:52:27 +0000

ah, John Key set the standard that ministers were to pay for spouses’ travel themselves (ie not with tax payer money), you should speak to him if you have a problem with it.

By: Seti

Seti — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:49:36 +0000

Perhaps the previous government’s abuse of travel and other perks over nine long years could initiate their own awards. I propose the inaugural Golden Trotters, or The Porkys. Nominations include the ignominious Chris Carter and the corpulent Jonathan Hunt, however the overwhelming favourite would have to be the entire Labour party for its shameful and contemptible suckling of the public tit over the pledge card.