Hard News: The Politics of Absence
523 Responses
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Bart Janssen, in reply to
who needs an emergency cleanup boat?
An emergency cleanup boat would have cost money now. Whereas the accident that needed it was just as likely to occur while Labour was government. Why spend the money when you may not get blamed for it?
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No Right Turn has a picture of 1/3 of the oil recovery fleet. Which would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
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3410,
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Kumara Republic, in reply to
ACT: sensible policies?
Mmm, bacon.
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BenWilson, in reply to
No Right Turn has a picture of 1/3 of the oil recovery fleet. Which would be funny if it wasn't so sad.
According to Steve Barnes' link earlier, that thing can go 25 knots. That would be a wild ride in the slightest swell.
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Rich Lock, in reply to
ACT: sensible policies?
Mmm, bacon.
Pork barrel politics.
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an absence of social spirit...
I gotta say that Ngati Whatua have an odd way of showcasing Maori culture - by banning the media (well at least TV1) from their multi million 11 day extravaganza - which means they are excluding the rest of the country who aren't tourists in Auckland, and have contributed to its construction. I think it would've served them better to rise above their critics and shared it with the nation. Just sayin' -
Labour points to Maritime NZ budget freeze.
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DexterX, in reply to
It likely could have been be just as bad under a Labour Govt – as a Rena thang could have easily happened at any time. It amazes me that our biggest export port, the one with the narrowest entrance, just didn’t have anything much.
The whole thrust of the policy direction NZ has pursued since the Roger Douglas Labour Govt has largely created a series of disasters or disasters in waiting.
Looking back from then till now – The water crisis, the Auckland CBD power crisis, Rail, ………… The Super City, …………..and this.
As a taxpayers and voters we need fewer people in parliament and for them to be more accountable and a functioning and effective “civil service”. The reason for having govt is to see that the right thing gets done the right way.
On the news tonight I Joyce mentions the senior civil servants getting the figures together on the likely cost of damages and clean up as “boffins”, I find this insulting rank brinkmanship, uncalled and arrogant.
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The situation is akin to waiting for the town to burn down before you think about getting a fire service.
Just as long as the Govt restructure and MAF and the Dept of Conservation - next disaster will be a massive bio security incident which say ruins agriculture or the great outdoors, all on account of another otherwise readily preventable set of circumstance.
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Sacha, in reply to
Joyce mentions the senior civil servants getting the figures together on the likely cost of damages and clean up as “boffins”
He's just spinning prepared lines about needing "experts" from overseas before being able to do anything. In contrast to govt assurances some months ago that preparedness was just dandy.
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Sacha, in reply to
we need fewer people in parliament
I don't see a connection between the problem and that solution. The issue seems more about quality than quantity of governance.
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DexterX, in reply to
more about quality than quantity of governance
In a nut shell - you are saying what I am saying.
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Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to
It likely could have been be just as bad under a Labour Govt – as a Rena thang could have easily happened at any time.
But it didn't and I think once again, (as Sacha linked to), budget freezes, cost cutting, job losses of strategically important people, who are all in a days achievements for NACT, have come home to roost. If you don't care about the people and it's environment what's the point of anything else. Money can take a jump as far as I see.
Labour are accused of too much bureaucracy , too nanny. I'd be happy right now with a better plan than what National have enabled. NACT don't give a shit about our environment. That is obvious. -
merc,
The plan, the only plan, the always ever will be plan, is to get re-elected, for all of them.
Character is fate, Heraclitus -
In other news, the Broadcasting Standards Authority didn't uphold Labour's complaint. I'll post the link, because I'm sure y'all will have a lot more to say about the Tory tooldom of the BSA than me. :)
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"Where's my Nanny? I've pooped on my Foreshore and Seabed."
"Now now John Boy, you know we had to "Let her go" after what you did" -
Steve Barnes, in reply to
He’s just spinning prepared lines about needing “experts” from overseas
Which is where they went
"An indication of the disillusion within the organisation is revealed by the departure of two key staff members and National Response Team leaders, the MPRS Group Manager and the Principal Environmental Advisor to the New Zealand National Response Team who left to take up positions in Australia in 2010," Fenton
h/t Sacha.
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merc,
Never let it be said they are the do nothing Govt. they tinker aplenty, http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5783005/Justice-not-well-served-Elias-warns
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merc,
Best not to tinker with the RMA just yet ay?
Mr Key said yesterday there was discussion and ongoing negotiations with the owners in terms of what the absolute liability would be but the Government wasn't without potential legal remedies.
"They come through the RMA act...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10758930
Bet there was a choking on crow sound when that little gem surfaced. -
hamishm, in reply to
And a few heads 'sploding.
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Well we don't have to worry about the cost. Greek shipping Millionaires, as they were known in the seventies, have plenty of dosh, don't they?
Oh, hang on... Greek. Don't they kinda have a bit of a cashflow problem at the moment?. -
merc,
This ship is owned by us http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10758985
Heads splodin' fer sure, next they be sayin' sorry for the warmin' -
Rich of Observationz, in reply to
You gotta bet a drachma to a lepta that ship is owned by a limited liability corporation with no assets other than said ship.
The chances of extracting anything from them are minimal.
Who's to blame though?
- the crew who are probably being made to work excessive hours and not given adequate training
- the shipowner who pays them the low wages and registers the ship under a flag of convenience, but couldn't stay in business otherwise
- the freight company who use cheap shipping lines, but again couldn't get any business otherwise
- the companies like Fonterra that ship their goods via the lowest cost carrier, but would be nailed by farmers and consumers if they didn't
- the farmers who want to maximise their milk price at the cost of standards
- the consumers who want the cheapest possible imported goods
- the voters that elected a government that cuts back on "back-office" functions like marine safety and regulation -
All just adds up to the fact that the Market needs more rigorous regulation. It may make things a little more expensive in the short term (let’s not go there) but over time businesses will find other ways of reducing their costs without resorting to what amounts to slave wages and slave conditions for their workers. Other ways like greater efficiencies in energy use and production and greater use of safe mass transport, like Airships or something.
[image of Huge Manatee floats through mind]
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