Posts by Paul Williams
Last ←Newer Page 1 2 3 4 5 Older→ First
-
But that's the kind of site DPF chooses to run. Let him wallow in it.
I don't know about that, he simply shrugs his sholders and pretends he's got no responsibility for the comments... I reckon you are personally responsible for the company you keep (and more so for the company you encourage).
-
Maybe National should change its slogan to "vote for change! Elect the status quo!" ?
Well it worked for Labor in Australia. It was Howard or Rudd but little significant difference in policies.
But seriously, National does seem to want to minimise the differences between itself and Labour and why not? Aside from all the ridiculously hyperbolic statements from the Nats, they'd do next to nothing significantly different other than ... well, I was going to say cut taxes but Cullen's done that too.
-
And me. I have far less of an opinion about how anything Veitch has done should be punished, than that it should be accounted. It just has to be.
Whereas it appears Holmes is already talking about his rehabilitation...
-
One more element of Radio NZ's performance warrants mention: the internet. No other broadcaster has responded to the shift online as well as Radio NZ has under the guidance of Richard Hulse. The website delivered four million "programmes or programme parts" last year. That's really pretty good.
And for expats, that's just fantastic. Can't say enough how much I appreciate this access to NZ news. To call it "invaluable" would be an understatement.
Interesting comparing ABC with NatRad, there's things about the ABC (Sydney and National) that I prefer but on balance, NatRad still the favourite (it is, however, impossible to control for the NZ-content factor). ABC Sydney has some brilliant weekday (Richard Glover) and weekend (Simon Marney) presenters and has a more magazine-style format through the weekdays plus has a drive-style show in the evenings rather than a Checkpoint equivalent (ABC National however is straight news).
I'd recommend listening to Richard Glover here for an overview - very casual with a comedy-bent but still focused on the day's events.
-
I didn't think you did, but clumsy phrasing on my part could have reasonably given that impression. Please accept my unreserved apology for that.
Not needed, I've re-read and see that you meant the Standard.
I didn't think the original piece in the Standard was too far out of line though I can see why some might. I don't want this to become partisan but I do wonder about National's policy (as you well know). All oppositions' struggle with law'n'order and the need to be seen to be tougher than the other lot; I was working at the Ministry of Justice when Doug Graham was Minister... he wasn't much of a fan of justice policy too-far-from-the-orthodoxy but then Phil Goff wasn't making life easy for him either.
-
A great piece of commentary Craig.
-
Craig, I don't know if this is the right time to deal with the party-politics of this either however, I certainly didn't imply that National don't give a shit about preventing violence against women.
I do think that by saying that they'll disband the Commission, it's valid to ask what they'll do to fill the gap? I don't want to comment on the particular approach adopted by the Standard.
Both Labour and National will compete for top spot in the tough-on-crime stakes; that's a sad fact we'll all probably lament. But, whatever it's provenance, the Families Commission is part of the current government's response to family violence and National will not continue it. I know that National members care as much as anyone about family violence, I don't need to interview them to know this, however what will they actually do to try to reduce it? I'm not maligning them, I'm simply asking.
-
At the risk of getting side-tracked, Craig commented:
Oh, and nice to see The Standard have found a way to Blame National.
I don't think that's fair. I thought the piece fairly drew attention to the important role of the Families Commission and to the campaign to reduce violence against women. I agree it went a bit further too but many others, including Russell, have noted the unfortunate timing of National's annoucement to get rid of the Commission. That being the case, it's perfectly reasonable that someone would challenge National on how they'd work to reduce crimes against women before they're committed (I'm well aware of their views about criminal penalties).
-
Sara Bee;
I'm disappointed but not all that surprised by hear your story. I've been to lots of rugby matches and almost all of were free of this kind of harassment. A couple however, were not. I've seen this kind of shit and it pisses me off enormously ~ the old Lancaster Park was the worst IMO. I can take my wife and kids other sports, netball for instance, and almost guarantee no hassles, sadly not the case for rugby or for cricket - there's parts of the SCG I'd never sit - and the common denominator is booze.
-
Canberra is the worst capital city in Australia and frankly, that's saying something. I recently had some work options there and in NZ. My sister-in-law suggested going to Canberra was the best option; "at least you'll still be in Australia". What was the point however? Flat, sterile and over-flowing with diplomats, the military and, until recently, Liberals!