Hard News by Russell Brown

If you go back a generation or so, the officials provided the advice and the Ministers took the heat. The change since the turn of the millennium is palpable - officials are part of the political process, not advisors to it.

Until I read this this morning, I hadn't realised there's a new Public Service Act in the works. It could be interesting to see if it'll have any meaningful effect.

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/on-the-inside/359453/is-public-service-working-for-mps-or-the-public

Spinoff doing more good work. AA put out a striking press release and the msm pick it up and run with the headline. Another moral panic based on misapplied "studies" and unverified assumptions? https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/21-06-2018/are-drug-drivers-really-killing-us-by-the-droves/

Russell, as a heads-up the industry is sending OIAs for discussions by Ministers and agencies with you and Ross Bell (e.g. https://fyi.org.nz/request/8197-expert-opinion-on-methamphetamine#incoming-26287 and https://fyi.org.nz/request/8192-communications-regarding-methamphetamine#outgoing-14647)

From Miles Stratford, no less. It would be interesting to know how much he’s made personally from meth-testing.