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Public Address
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1654
Island Life: Good on ya, Paula
The Polaroid of John Key's Cabinet is beginning to colour up now. The vague blobs take solid form to reveal….the 10.00 am Monday meeting at your office. Can-Do men and women who love their bullet points. So far, no David Brent; but there are moments when you squint at Nick Smith and believe you see Gareth.
Conor Roberts
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 51
Sometimes I fear there is simply an "information deficit" in this country that allows the kind of shit you talk about to get through.
We are doomed.
Danielle
From: PAS Women's XV Strategic Headquarters
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2249
It may not be true, but if it bloody well ought to be, well, that might do.
Truthiness...
She is our very own Sarah Palin.
OMG. I just said this in the other thread. I wasn't ripping you off, I swear!
Christopher Nimmo
From: Wellington
Since: May 2009
Posts: 47
She was truly vile on Close-Up tonight. In fact, if she practices hard, she may one day be able out-smarm Key.
Alastair Jamieson
From: Auckland
Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 75
I'd been thinking all afternoon that Paula Bennett must be NZ's answer to Sarah Palin, but any wisp of comedic potential the notion might have really doesn't make me feel any better at all about such a grievous abuse of ministerial privilege.
Paul Campbell
From: Dunedin
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1181
My son looking at her on Close Up tonight announced she was wearing a set of curtains
Danielle
From: PAS Women's XV Strategic Headquarters
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2249
Well, it worked for Julie Andrews...
Conor Roberts
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 51
I'd been thinking all afternoon that Paula Bennett must be NZ's answer to Sarah Palin
I can see your income from my PC.
DeepRed
From: The southernmost capital city in the world
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 877
It's a bit like climbing the social ladder - only to pull it up after reaching the top and pouring oil on the walls. And then telling those still down below, "You can climb up with your bare hands if you practice hard enough!"
Paul Litterick
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 902
Paula Bennett is Ceiling Cat.
James Green
From: Dunedin
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 579
Could Robyn Malcolm do a Tina Fey?
Paul Litterick
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 902
@Listener:
Bennett is indignant at the suggestions she is allergic to heavy reports. “It’s just ridiculous – there is absolutely no truth in it whatsoever,” she says, rifling through a few reports on her desk.
“You need the information to make the big decisions at the end of the day. Here’s one on the redundancy support package, you don’t do that in a page with your frick-in’ diagrams. It’s a 16-page document!” Here’s another 15-page report, her weekly briefing from the ministry, and a 22-page report on universities.
That many pages; I guess she won't be following the copyright thread.
Danielle
From: PAS Women's XV Strategic Headquarters
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2249
53 whole pages? Well, colour me impressed.
Russell Brown
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 9060
Moderator
Paula Bennett is Ceiling Cat.
Not many people will understand that, but those who do will think it a very fine joke indeed.
Alastair Jamieson
From: Auckland
Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 75
Paula Bennett is Ceiling Cat.
Not many people will understand that...
I used Google to find out, but my excuse is I don't have a fleet of ministerial advisers to research important stuff for me.
(and yeah, ceiling cat, LOL).
Conor Roberts
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 51
Paula Bennett is Ceiling Cat.
I can has DPBzburger
Kerry Weston
From: Manawatu
Since: Jan 2008
Posts: 494
From the Herald article, Ms Bennett says:
"They're already getting a huge amount of support from the Government.
Bullshit. Is everyone aware that the government keeps child support payments, made by the liable, non-custodial parent that are supposedly for the children? In effect, the cost of the DPB is offset by the govt hanging onto child support monies. bear in mind the rate is around 24% of income in liable payments for two children.
When WFF was brought in, the base rate of DPB was cut by $20 per week - a move masked by the rise paid out to everybody on Family Support. This cut put DPB recipients on the same rate as Unemployment Benefit. No monetary reward for bringing up kids by yourself - your work counts for nothing. As for mother-child bonding - what an outmoded concept*, when professional child care is available.
Make no mistake - they're going to can the DPB. Removing TIA for study that might actually result in a step up the social ladder sends the unmistakable message to women that if they're not in a marriage-type relationship, they are the lowest form of life. Fit only for low-paid service work. As for motherhood - ha! Just a little glitch on the superhighway of proper work.
Half of all kiwi women will be solo parents at some time in their lives. This doesn't affect only a few. All those women gutsy enough to escape shithouse relationships have just been given a message - you don't matter.
*sarcasm
Tom Semmens
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1094
She is our very own Sarah Palin.
I was wondering if in fact Paula Bennett and Christine Rankin were one and the same alien shapeshifter, but this is better.
Hilary Stace
From: Wgtn
Since: Jun 2008
Posts: 756
In reply to John Campbell's questioning tonight about her own use of the TIA to get a degree in the 1990s, she replied that it was much harder then, she had to start her own university creche.
Grant McDougall
From: Dunedin
Since: Dec 2006
Posts: 305
John Key was, as expected, sticking up for her in the media today.
But I hope - probably naively I know - that he was backing her in public, but actually putting a flea in her ear privately, telling her to stop making a fool of herself (even more...).
Gareth Ward
From: Auckland, NZ
Since: Mar 2007
Posts: 1379
My son looking at her on Close Up tonight announced she was wearing a set of curtains
I look forward to reading your's sons teacher reports and medical records in the Herald tomorrow. It will "round out his story"
Tony Parker
From: Napier
Since: Nov 2008
Posts: 163
In reply to John Campbell's questioning tonight about her own use of the TIA to get a degree in the 1990s, she replied that it was much harder then, she had to start her own university creche.
This is what really annoyed me about her Close Up interview. She basically sidestepped most questions by giving an answer that bore little relation to the question. I suppose it's what politicians do I guess.
This whole episode and the recent budget just reinforce for me the contempt this government is showing for public education. If you're an independent school here's loads of dosh. If you want to better yourself with nightclasses or study as a solo parent/adult lets' take the money away. And it's going to get worse as they set their sights on the staffing budget of public schools as signalled in the budget.
Hilary Stace
From: Wgtn
Since: Jun 2008
Posts: 756
This whole episode and the recent budget just reinforce for me the contempt this government is showing for public education.
Apparently in reply to a question in parliament today the Minister of Education opened up the whole education system to potential privatisation.
Tom Semmens
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1094
With any luck, some lawyers willing to work for free will be in touch with these women, since things look bleak for the minister.
And of course, since this is something that is open in law to compensation, they could getting their funding after all - just from an entirely unexpected source.
Tony Parker
From: Napier
Since: Nov 2008
Posts: 163
Apparently in reply to a question in parliament today the Minister of Education opened up the whole education system to potential privatisation.
Fucking wonderful. 9 years of relative peace in the education sector allowing us to teach and now as I work towards retirement it all turns to shit.
On another note-I wonder if westy Bennett got tickets for AC/DC today???
steven crawford
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1976
Apparently in reply to a question in parliament today the Minister of Education opened up the whole education system to potential privatisation.
So the privet sector is going to magic up plenty of teaching staff, after the present government has sent teachers training collages down the crappers.
Its also unusual that two solo parents, that are training as a nurse and an early childhood education teacher are being dumped on for arguing for support with there training. These are both professionals that are arguable very important, and in short supply. Paula Bennett doesn't appear particularly bright.
Peter Ashby
From: Dundee, Scotland
Since: May 2007
Posts: 373
What Uni did Paula go to? Our kids went to the most excellent one at Otago run by the Students Association from '87. What's the betting there was one, but is was not deemed 'suitable' by La Bennett who went freelance?
3410
From: Auckland
Since: Jan 2007
Posts: 1317
What Uni did Paula go to?
Massey at Albany
Sofie Bribiesca
From: here and there.
Since: Nov 2007
Posts: 2240
ceiling cat and the sky fairies Here is her details Peter.
Joshua Arbury
From: Auckland
Since: May 2009
Posts: 138
Surely the issue is the precedent that this sets.
"Criticise us and we'll release all your personal details... !"
Pretty scary actually. I'm divided over whether it's best for Bennett to stay as minister though - as it's almost guaranteed that she'll continue to do screw-ups like this.
Kyle Matthews
From: Dunedin
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 4401
What Uni did Paula go to? Our kids went to the most excellent one at Otago run by the Students Association from '87. What's the betting there was one, but is was not deemed 'suitable' by La Bennett who went freelance?
Paula was Massey-Albany President in the mid-90s.
I didn't know her well, but I'm dubious about the 'incompetence' line or the 'malicious' line. This feels like a newbie Minister mistake to me. But a pretty bad one.
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