Public Address | Cafe | Legal Beagle: Johndotbanks - the law is over, let the politics commence

Steve Barnes

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 12:55:18 +1200

but no one thinks my cricket ball signed by Hadlee was also made by him.

Damn that Hadlee, out there forging cricket balls.

Paul Williams

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:13:01 +1200

I am so sick of this continuing smear against one of the best politicians this country has had.
The signing of that painting was no worse than signing a bat, a ball or even a shirt if you were a sports star. No-one ever claims that some rugby player made…

Steve Barnes

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 11:40:41 +1200

I’m not sure being good (or even being the best) at being a politician is regarded by most people as a compliment.

Graeme, I'm sure you are a very good lawyer.
;-)

Graeme Edgeler

Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:18:47 +1200

I am so sick of this continuing smear against one of the best politicians this country has had.

I'm not sure being good (or even being the best) at being a politician is regarded by most people as a compliment.

Steve Barnes

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 15:02:43 +1200

Is that the Rugby World Cup I see our Michael holding, Jackie would be so proud…

eta, Can’t see the signature.
;-)

eta, a.
I suppose at least Dan Carters pants cover up the pubes better.

Joe Wylie

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:34:59 +1200

I am so sick of this continuing smear against one of the best politicians this country has had . . . No-one ever claims that some rugby player made the underwear he puts his name to.

Steve Barnes

Sun, 29 Jul 2012 14:27:16 +1200

NZ Police have not pressed charges when political figures are involved (and yes, I am thinking all the way back to Paintergate).

I am so sick of this continuing smear against one of the best politicians this country has had.
The signing of that painting was no worse than signing…

Phil fryer

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 00:12:12 +1200

Clearly, The honorable member, with integrity,never KNEW a thing about
MR Dotcom's anonymous "investment" to his election campaign ,Yea Right !

merc

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:45:54 +1200

Intent plays a large part in law I am told – and who is to profit from the act? I don't think Helen Clark's intention was to deceive or defraud (Paintergate). Mr Teapot on the other hand knew those donations were there and who they were from – by definition,…

DexterX

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:29:15 +1200

Yes, paintergate does spring to mind. Though I think Banks deed is far worese than Clark's.

What it represents, to me, is the ongoing and gradual erosion of a NZ society – equal treatment for all in the eyes of the law. It is said that Justice is blind -…

Paul Williams

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 13:25:37 +1200

The headline for this item is spot on. The decision to not file charges is not surprising but I do fear that too often, NZ Police have not pressed charges when political figures are involved (and yes, I am thinking all the way back to Paintergate). Perhaps every decision has…

Sacha

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:23:54 +1200

So he'll be lying at the next election

zing

Kumara Republic

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 11:48:44 +1200

I suspect it's also the same kind of law being an ass that lets pseudo-meritocracy off the hook in America.

Paul Campbell

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:44:15 +1200

Well no – a bit of evolution-in-action would kick in and what we would get would be a better quality of minor support partners .... if you never kick out the bad ones no one ever learns and a bit of institutional memory is a good thing – sadly after…

merc

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:35:43 +1200

Because Key needs to be covered and Banks is ACT, all very predictable.
In Key's case, he is several steps removed from what happened during the last Auckland mayoralty campaign – and can thus at least try to distance himself to a degree from Banks.
I see what he did…

Kumara Republic

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 10:17:36 +1200

And in the Granny, one of John Armstrong's personalities agrees the law is an ass.

Ian Dalziel

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:57:19 +1200

Dieu et mon droit!
Dieu et mon gauche?
tres...

linger

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:35:02 +1200

So he'll be lying at the next election? Well, won't that be a change :-P

Andrew Geddis

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:20:53 +1200

"I am pretty sure that as long as National select a candidate for Epsom in 2014 then he or she will defeat Banks."

According to Stuff, "sources close to the Epsom MP have indicated he will not stand at the next election."

merc

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:14:53 +1200

Yes I know those people, and they are very vocal in their abrogation of the man, however they remain glued to agenda. Dieu et mon droit!

Sofie Bribiesca

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 09:11:01 +1200

What does this mean for Key’s “complied with the law” test? Presumably “avoided scrutiny until the time limit expired” passes somewhat under that bar?

Was difficult to fathom in the House yesterday when Trevor did his best to angle a question (supplementary) in about Banks, Key was missing and Foss…

Tom Semmens

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 08:46:52 +1200

As for political cost, both you and I know, there will be none.

I wouldn't be so sure. I was having dinner with an very twin set and pearls Remuera accountant on Wednesday night and she was disgusted with Banks. Epsom/Remuera is full of people who are like to think…

merc

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 07:47:02 +1200

The law should not allow secret donations, or anonymous donations, or donations made through trusts.
Amen to that.

Sacha

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:15:47 +1200

Even if John Banks knew who was donating money to him, the same can likely also be said of Len Brown.

Except Len Brown declared his SkyCity donation rather than elaborately contriving to pretend it was anonymous. Ethics, maybe?

Sacha

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:13:43 +1200

any offending he engaged in was so minor that it is considered of a type we don't bother about after six months

Which tells us what our Parliament believes is important.

Graeme Edgeler

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 23:07:46 +1200

What does this mean for Key’s “complied with the law” test? Presumably “avoided scrutiny until the time limit expired” passes somewhat under that bar?

This mean police probably think John Banks did not comply with the law. They haven't expressly said that, saying that John Banks did not knowingly file…

Peter Green

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 21:24:00 +1200

What does this mean for Key's "complied with the law" test? Presumably "avoided scrutiny until the time limit expired" passes somewhat under that bar?

DexterX

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 17:21:25 +1200

But the offence provision in the statute makes you responsible for it, whether you've read it or not.

In relevant judgements on tax matters – The judge will always refer the person to their declaration – which the IRD kindly print on all returns – "I declare that the information…

merc

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:19:03 +1200

The reason that police decided that they could not properly charge Mr Banks is that, in effect, they did not believe they could prove he had read the return before he signed it,...
Maybe they should be forced by law to read the thing they are signing, then they could…

Graeme Edgeler

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:25:00 +1200

The tax return just asks if 'the information is true and correct'.

But the offence provision in the statute makes you responsible for it, whether you've read it or not.

Steve Curtis

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 15:14:52 +1200

The tax return just asks if 'the information is true and correct'.

Graeme Edgeler

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:02:45 +1200

Do similar laws apply to tax returns?

Different rules apply to tax returns.

:-)

Rich of Observationz

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:58:21 +1200

Do similar laws apply to tax returns?

If I get an assistant to raise, file and bank my invoices, never look at a bank statement, and then have another assistant produce a tax return that says I made $25k last year, is that ok?

Public Address

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 13:58:21 +1200

Discussion from blog post.