Not after the flak they copped for their Working for Families ad with iPod-bedecked kids in a designer kitchen.

It just rankled.

Yeah, corruption here is leaving an attribution off a political leaflet.

Corruption in Aussie is conspiring with the mafia to import large quantities of smack, then having anyone who finds out murdered and dumped in motorway foundations.

(Exaggerated, but not much)

Well, Rich, to paraphrase Chris Rock I'm not going…

Parliamentary Services are funding parties information campaigns in compliance with a statutory duty they've had based on them. That isn't voluntary, so it isn't a donation.

The TV advertising is just the same – it isn't a "donation" by the Electoral Commission.

Parliamentary Services is statutorily obligated to fund the…

i am however willing to state my surprise at the herald running a stupid story about a cheap photo.

Particularly when that same newspaper, along with most in New Zealand, frequently relies on stock photos to illustrate…

you'd struggle to find a NZ MP that would compare with some of the ogres that occupy state and federal parliament in Australia

Yeah, corruption here is leaving an attribution off a political leaflet.

Corruption in Aussie is conspiring with the mafia to import large quantities of smack, then having…

Parliamentary Services are funding parties information campaigns in compliance with a statutory duty they've had based on them. That isn't voluntary, so it isn't a donation.

Yes.

What gets me annoyed about it is that it has twisted 'information campaigns' so far into 'party political advertising'. If we're going to…

...you've got to admit that steaming turds like John Della Bosca, and downright twisted misters like Troy Buswell, don't have easy analogues this side of the pond

I'll keep my views on Della to myself but it's worth noting that the heat is now on federal MP Belinda…

Parliamentary Services are funding parties information campaigns in compliance with a statutory duty they've had based on them. That isn't voluntary, so it isn't a donation.

The TV advertising is just the same – it isn't a "donation" by the…

Oh, I disagree. I think that if someone wants to make a fuss about the photo, they'll find a way to make a fuss about the photo.

Yes, Amy, and don't you think National is going to erring on the side of caution when it comes to the soundtrack to…

I think the provenance of the photograph is a distraction, however it's precisely this kind of distraction that you'd expect to avoid by either using an agency, who'd manage this for you, or being directly assured of the origin of any photos.

Oh, I disagree. I think that if someone…

It says something about the relative status of the respective Labo(u)r governments that I don't recall there being any discussion or examination of the Australian publication...

Well, whatever you say about the incumbent Government you've got to admit that steaming turds like John Della Bosca, and downright twisted misters like…

It is not clear cut, and there has been no decision (or even discussion as far as I am aware) by the Electoral Commission or a Court, but I know that if I was paying for Labour Party leaflets that…

Surely there is a law against govt depts spending money on political donations?

The law would generally be the budget. It sets out what government money may be spent on. Money cannot be spent by government departments except in accordance with parliamentary instructions (as contained in the budget). Parliament has…

Seems like our ideal family gets around,
They were promoting affordable housing in OZ 3 months ago :)

It says something about the relative status of the respective Labo(u)r governments that I don't recall there being any discussion or examination of the Australian publication...

And Clark's office have not said it will be declared – Audrey Young has blogged that she has asked five times for the cost and whether it will be included and they won't tell her.

The EFA requires a return of election spending 50 days after the final election results…

http://www.facs.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/vIA/housing_affordable/$File/making_housing_affordable_again.pdf

Grant, your comparison with Key's DVD will be valid if the leaflet has to be recalled and the photo removed. Or if they used the photo without permission. Otherwise, there's no comparison at all.

Far call, but I meant in terms of the bad publicity it resulted in, not the…

I thought they had. Doesn't the presence of the authorisation identify the leaflet as advertising? (Seriously, correct me if I'm wrong.)

No. Electoral Commission advice (and prudence) is that anything that might possibly be an election advertisement should have a promoter statement on it, just to be safe. The existence…

And Clark's office have not said it will be declared -…

And Clark's office says all advertising will be declared under the spending cap.

Do you mean, "we will declare all our spending, as per the spending cap rules", or "we declare all our spending was under the cap, trust us."

:) Just messing...

If there is "zero" chance of the expenditure not being declared why is Labour refusing to confirm that?

I thought they had. Doesn't the presence of the authorisation identify the leaflet as advertising? (Seriously, correct me if I'm wrong.)

And Clark's office says all advertising will be declared under the…

Russell said "there is zero chance of the expenditure not being declared". Yeah not like the party has a history of telling…

The provenance of the photograph is a non-issue.

I think the provenance of the photograph is a distraction, however it's precisely this kind of distraction that you'd expect to avoid by either using an agency, who'd manage this for you, or being directly assured of the origin of any photos.…

Fletcher, are you seriously telling me that you see no distinction to be drawn between an electoral agency trying to make sure the electoral rolls are accurate (rolls which every qualified New Zealander is required by law to be on), and political parties engaged in self-promotion?

Of course I can…

They even sometimes dub TV ads for different markets (in the UK, they revoice ads with different regional accents for different parts of the country).

this is common here in nzl too. the flight centre for one (someone remind me to tell the world what fkcers those people are...)

most…

Labour obviously decided it wanted to maximise any boost from the Budget, and it has broken no rule in doing so. The leaflet is properly authorised as an election advertisement and there is…

Every time I see a leaflet or pledge card or whatever funded by parliamentary services by whatever dubious distinction a political party manages to include it outside their own money, I get pissed off.…

which is worse:
1. downloading american photo for pamphlet, which 99.9% of electorate won't even notice origin of
2. spending $k on getting a photoshoot done when you could have bought one from the net for $20, and saved the taxpayer a lot of money.

Obviously 1, because now the…

I mean, are you seriously suggesting we shouldnt have all been getting those nice little orange envelopes from the electoral office to make sure we were enrolled?

Fletcher, are you seriously telling me that you see no distinction to be drawn between an electoral agency trying to make sure the…

That's fine in theory.... but just like John Key's "bureaucrats" vs Labour's "essential infrastructure"... one person's "junk mail" is another's "useful and informative leaflet"

Not, Fletcher, it seems to be quite practicable that people who want self-promotion from political parties have multiple ways to solicit said bumpf, and those who…

I mean, are you seriously suggesting we shouldnt have all been getting those nice little orange envelopes from the electoral office to make sure we were enrolled?

A fairly important distinction is needed between the two examples, surely?

The Electoral office letters are about trying to ensure compliance with a…

i'm not going anywhere near the "information" vs. "propanganda" issue craig, so your outrage is best directed at another. :)

i am however willing to state my surprise at the herald running a stupid story about a cheap photo.

with only one TV channel

Two. The 1975 election was in November. SPTV started in July.

Labour don't have to back-pedal. They just need to smile sweetly and say "How about the…

How about a zero tolerance policy towards tax-payer funded junk mail?

That's fine in theory.... but just like John Key's "bureaucrats" vs Labour's "essential infrastructure"... one person's "junk mail" is another's "useful and informative leaflet"

I mean, are you seriously suggesting we shouldnt have all been getting those nice little…

Youngsters amongst us should remember that it was different rather black and white age

Colour. But I suppose a lot of people would still have had black and white sets.

which is worse:
1. downloading american photo for pamphlet, which 99.9% of electorate won't even notice origin of
2. spending $k on getting a photoshoot done when you could have bought one from the net for $20, and saved the taxpayer a lot of money.

How about a zero tolerance…

I believe the animation was outsourced to Hanna-Barbera.

It was. While the Cossacks advert was a landmark advert, people forget that it was only ever screened twice…

It would've been pretty simple to avoid. They only had to instruct the people that designed the ad to make sure…

I suspect we'll find that a PR company was paid $k to produce these pamphlets and that far from saving the taxpayer money we've been extensively fleeced.

then why isn't that the headline? seems more likely that the herald is trying to beat-up "the party" by demonstrating how unpatriotic they…

I remember the Dancing Cossacks – they were cheaply done cartoonage meant to imply that Labour's new super plan would lead to communism

I believe the animation was outsourced to Hanna-Barbera.

which is worse:

1. downloading american photo for pamphlet, which 99.9% of electorate won't even notice origin of

2. spending $k on getting a photoshoot done when you could have bought one from the net for $20, and saved the taxpayer a lot of money.

I suspect we'll find that…

which is worse:

1. downloading american photo for pamphlet, which 99.9% of electorate won't even notice origin of

2. spending $k on getting a photoshoot done when you could have bought one from the net for $20, and saved the taxpayer a lot of money.

Seriously. What is the preferred…

David Slack seems to have decided to endorse the National Party for 2008?

Besides, I just read this in the NZ Herald. It's great how the National Party not only produces a propaganda leaflet on a daily basis, but convinces Aucklanders…

Policy? Laws? Things that actually affect people's lives? Bo-ring ...

This is a great find. And looking at the photo now ... well Grass just doesn't look like that in New Zealand.

frankly... this is not a great find and is a bizarre storm in teacup.

which is worse:
1. downloading american photo for pamphlet, which 99.9% of electorate won't…

Let's pay tribute to the ultimate "false spoke true"

__"We could not use the real unemployed. They might have objected to appearing in Tory publicity. We wanted people who would not object – which is why we used…

(While I'm self-linking: lemonade satire, lemonade parody. Ta.)

As for the EFA, I looked into it last week. I can spend millions on newspaper, radio and TV ads – no limits – explaining my views on any…

Not with David Farrar waking each night from a tormented sleep to blog fresh insights on the horror that is the Electoral Finance Act.

I think today that…