Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Privacy and the Public Interest

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  • Andrew Geddis,

    Prediction: Slater will be successful in getting an injunction against "Rawshark", which I assume he'll then completely ignore. But he won't get one against the media organisations, because they're not going to print all the private trashy stuff, only the important political stuff.

    Full disclosure: I am an idiot who may have no better a track record than a coin being spun.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2007 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Cameron Slater is now ... being prosecuted for breaching the privacy of businessman Matt Blomfield

    You cannot be prosecuted for breaching privacy, and Cameron Slater isn't being prosecuted for it.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Andrew Geddis, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    You cannot be prosecuted for breaching privacy, and Cameron Slater isn't being prosecuted for it.

    Graeme's right. He's being crucified on a cross of namby pamby liberal angst.

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2007 • 206 posts Report Reply

  • Stephen Judd,

    But this thing isn’t going to stop on September 20.

    On the one hand, amazing prospects for Question Time. On the other hand, the current Speaker. Hmmm.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Boden,

    The granting of the gag order will (IMO) be the coup de grâce for democracy in New Zealand... if there was anything left of it prior to that.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 97 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    Cameron Slater is now ... being prosecuted for breaching the privacy of businessman Matt Blomfield

    You cannot be prosecuted for breaching privacy, and Cameron Slater isn't being prosecuted for it.

    Oh, damn, I remember you commenting on the story at the time. So if it's not what the story says, what is he being prosecuted for?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Shaun Lott,

    He is due the protection he would deny to others.

    Well isn't that the truth!

    Waitakere • Since Aug 2009 • 113 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Andrew Geddis,

    Prediction: Slater will be successful in getting an injunction against "Rawshark".

    That is my prediction too.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Russell Brown,

    So if it’s not what the story says, what is he being prosecuted for?

    He is not being prosecuted. He is being sued.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    So if it’s not what the story says, what is he being prosecuted for?

    He is not being prosecuted. He is being sued.

    Jolly good. I've already changed the reference to "an action" rather than a prosecution, so I think I'll stick with that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Graeme Edgeler,

    Prediction: Slater will be successful in getting an injunction against “Rawshark”.

    That is my prediction too.

    If Rawshark is to be served, I so want it to be via Twitter.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • izogi,

    There is simply too much here for it all to just melt away – and it won’t, if for no other reason than that we need to find ways for what has already been revealed to not happen again.

    Hah, shows what you know.

    In this morning's live chat on Stuff, Bill English assured us that "the issues relevant to the conduct of good government have been addressed by the Prime Minister".

    Problem solved!

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • dcnbwz,

    What concerns me most Russell, is that once again the major issues like the concerted attack on our democracy from the far right and corporate interests over the last 8 or so years, to the illegality of actions by ministers and the prime minister's office are being drowned out in a sea of attempted diversions.

    "It's a left wing smear campaign", "Look, a tax cut!", cries of foul from the very person who himself deals in stolen and underhand material etc etc and the mainstream media focus on this rather than the fact that we have a corrupt government, right from the very top! And it seems they're getting away with it!!

    I tend to start becoming inarticulate with rage and helplessness at this point, the latest polls are a case in point. No examination of actual policy, no highlighting the poverty and despair of people out there, the hijacking of the education system, asset sales that didn't need to be cut, etc etc - just a focus presidential style on an irrelevant debate. Look at the nice man Mr key, he's back.

    We need a constitution. We need a code of ethics enforceable by law for the so called representatives to have to adhere to. We need representation by people in our society, not career politicians fasttracked through a corporate path into high ranking positions. We need a media to stand up and actually do some investigation, to hold power to account (present company and a few other blogs excepted of course!). And most of all, we need accountablity!

    Look at Campbell live last night to see just how much Christchurch has been abandoned.

    We need this government and it's backers held to account. They have no doubt broken laws......but they have also broken our democracy.

    uk • Since Sep 2009 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to dcnbwz,

    they have also broken our democracy

    this

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to dcnbwz,

    What concerns me most Russell, is that once again the major issues like the concerted attack on our democracy from the far right and corporate interests over the last 8 or so years, to the illegality of actions by ministers and the prime minister's office are being drowned out in a sea of attempted diversions.

    That bugs me too. The "everyone does it" and the "left has its own attack bloggers" lines give me the shits.

    No, this isn't how everyone does it. That's a myth. And the failure to acknowledge that what has been uncovered here is unprecedented and unacceptable is dishonest, delusional, or both.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Unfortunately, sociopathic liars tend to lie when they're caught out.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • izogi, in reply to Russell Brown,

    No, this isn’t how everyone does it. That’s a myth.

    It also shouldn’t be relevant whether or not “everyone does it”. Myth or not, the critical thing here is how anyone can do it and continue getting away with it until some loser who’s careless with his email gets hacked.

    Maybe I’ve missed it, but I’ve yet to see any commitment, or even an outline of what any political party proposes to do for increasing politically neutral accountability and oversight in Ministerial offices, including the PM’s office.

    Wellington • Since Jan 2007 • 1142 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __, in reply to izogi,

    outline of what any political party proposes to do for increasing politically neutral accountability and oversight in Ministerial offices, including the PM's office.

    It didn't used to be needed .

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • Michael Meyers, in reply to Russell Brown,

    the "left has its own attack bloggers"

    Part of the reason I come here is because of the interesting posts but also because of the interesting comments. Whenever I have tried looking as Whale Oil, or Kiwiblog, the content is bad enough but the constant ad hominem comments just get really tiresome and add nothing to the discussion.

    The left wing blogs are nothing like the nastiness on the right.

    No idea what's going to happen with this court case. Every day since Dirty Politics has been interesting for a different reason (and it was only three weeks ago). Even if there is an injunction, it's not going to stop the madness.

    Wellington • Since May 2014 • 56 posts Report Reply

  • Milad Rafiei, in reply to dcnbwz,

    You said dcnbwz. It's so sad and annoying. What bothers me the most is that fair amount people don't seem to care either.

    Auckland • Since Sep 2014 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    National will probably win a third term this month, but there is a huge taint in all this. There is simply too much here for it all to just melt away -- and it won't, if for no other reason than that we need to find ways for what has already been revealed to not happen again.

    Isn't it a bit early to call the election? I see the polls this morning and appreciate why, but there's almost three weeks left in which a lot can happen. Regardless, post-election, I entirely agree with you that this shit has to be cleaned up as a matter or urgency. That said, I can't quite imagine what changes - rules and regulations in the Cabinet Manual presumably - could mitigate against this kind of maladministration when the PM can simply refuse to see it.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • dcnbwz,

    There are large aspects of aggressive corporate methods in the way this country has been run that have no place in a civil society. Arguably no place in business either.

    To constantly attack the poor and unspoken for is disgusting. The naked greed and nepotism on show equally so. Unfortunately the discourse has gone so far one way that even a rational argument is seen as being "communist", "conspiracy theorist" and or "red". How these abusive politics can be combated, well, I just don't know.

    But this is far too important now for nothing to be done. So how can we start getting the so called msm to start behaving like journalists? And how can we ensure that these crimes don't go unanswered?

    uk • Since Sep 2009 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Bruce Ward,

    Perhaps part of the problem is indicated by the Fairfax papers this morning responding to the Stuff poll. Headlines subtly indicating that people need not get out to vote because, as Tracy Watkins item on the Stuff website states, it is "All over bar the shouting".
    We know who is favoured by low turnout, don't we. Don't we?
    There couldn't/wouldn't be implicit support for a particular party from the MSM could there?

    Nelson • Since Jul 2011 • 33 posts Report Reply

  • Keir Leslie,

    If we had stricter lobbying rules a lot of what Slater did when acting under pay would likely have had to have been made public, which would have defeated the purpose.

    I also think that we need to ditch the idea that Ministers are responsible to the Prime Minister and emphasise responsibility to the House. Not that it's a panacea, but in an MMP environment it might mean more meaningful scrutiny.

    Since Jul 2008 • 1452 posts Report Reply

  • Angela Hart, in reply to Bruce Ward,

    Headlines subtly indicating that people need not get out to vote because, as

    just like last time

    Christchurch • Since Apr 2014 • 614 posts Report Reply

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