Hard News: Dirty Politics
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Sacha, in reply to
not mentioning names
it's anything that can identify them.
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Thanks Sacha and Linger. It's easy to forget that most people have either short memories or little interest in such matters. I'll keep my due care and attention hat handy.
Moving onto a slightly less contentious subject, still relevant to this thread. Colin Craig filed a claim in the North Shore District Court last week seeking "more than $13,000" from Slater Junior's company, Social Media Consultants Ltd for publishing Craig's Ode to Rachel on his blog.
Jordan Williams of Taxpayers Onion infamy is named as a second defendant. And in a move that's bound to keep a few lawyers happy, Craig is also suing Slater personally for defamation in a separate action.
In the papers Craig "identifies himself" as a secret songwriter, poet and fiction author. Is there no end to the man's talent?
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Can they both lose?
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izogi, in reply to
It is just a sideshow. But maybe someone could tell up-and-coming legal dynamo Cameron Slater that New Zealand copyright law doesn't have a concept titled "fair use". (He probably means "fair dealing", which isn't exactly the same as the US fair use thing.)
Slater said the legal action was "just farcical". "That is only what I can fathom. He clearly doesn't understand copyright law, he clearly doesn't understand how media works, he clearly doesn't understand what fair use is.
I have mixed feelings about this thread being used for any and every generic gripe people have about the current government, of which I'm also in part guilty. I think it further confuses the understanding of what the Dirty Politics book was actually about, which went deeper than just governing badly.
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Alfie, in reply to
I have mixed feelings about this thread being used for any and every generic gripe people have about the current government, of which I’m also in part guilty.
Agreed... it can get a little loose, especially (mea culpa) in this thread, but sometimes there's really nowhere else that's quite suitable.
As Slater and Williams both played an integral role in Dirty Politics they deserve a mention here. Political tactics which mimic the modus of the people who starred in the book? They seem to fit here naturally, but I'm certainly open to guidance.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
I have mixed feelings about this thread being used for any and every generic gripe people have about the current government,
Perhaps we just need to have a ‘the usual suspects’ or ‘gripe water’ catch-all thread opened, but I’m not sure if all readers here come through the ‘PA System’ or ‘Cafe’ door, I always look for something recent with passing relevance to comment on – so apologies for thread-jacks in the past in that case.
I’m guessing there will be a ‘Kiwi Tax Haven’ thread along soon…
… I am surprised that John Key was surprised. -
There is a Dirty Politics comparison to be made, though.
Today's "Panama" news is being covered extensively by the NZ media, because it's imported from overseas. That means it's open slather for our own media to cover the substance of the story, the message instead of the messenger.
But if the source was too close to home, there would be far more chucking dust in the eyes: usual suspects with usual attacks on the trouble-making journalists who break the story.
It's one of those double-standard irregular verbs: I blow whistles, you leak, he steals. It's much easier when others (foreigners) do the dirty work for us.
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And just to back that up with relevant link:
Here is the source of the story.
Investigative journalists' NZ representative: one Nicky Hager.
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Sacha, in reply to
mixed feelings about this thread being used for any and every generic gripe
I miss David Slack creating topical threads. If Russell agrees, I'd be happy to do that so long as I don't end up having to moderate em all day when I'm working. Surely some regulars are ready to step up and do some of that for all of us?
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Sacha, in reply to
I'll keep my due care and attention hat handy.
Thanks. It's Russell as publisher who the courts would go after. Let's not inadvertently abuse his hospitality, as it were.
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Philosophical thought for the day: how strongly could the Panama Papers leaks benefit the global social democrat movement (including Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders), in the same way the rise of Daesh has been a boon for global conservatives (particularly of the Trump/Le Pen stripe)?
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Alfie, in reply to
how strongly could the Panama Papers leaks benefit the global social democrat movement…?
That depends on exactly how many prominent people are exposed in various countries over the coming months.
What’s happening in Iceland at the moment is fascinating with the PM, Finance and Interior Ministers all being exposed as money launderers. The PM walked out of an interview today, called Police on a Norwegian crew and has refused to talk to the National broadcaster.
Before this scandal broke the minority Pirate Party held just three of the 63 seats in the Althingi – what a delicious name for a parliament – but polls last month put them at 36% which makes them the most popular political party in Iceland. Their philosophy is to overturn corruption and nepotism and transfer power from the wealthy to the general public of Iceland.
Following the release of the Panama Papers the Pirates have announced that they’re anticipating a snap election. Today’s planned mass protests outside parliament suggest this may not be wishful thinking. One of their MPs said:
I know in my heart this Prime Minister is not going to step down. So the only choice the general public in Iceland have is to stand outside the Parliament house and scream at it – and hope that the people inside will listen.
We could do with some of that passion in New Zealand. It’s time for a damn good scream.
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After initially suggesting that the IRD are too busy to investigate this petty little multi-billion dollar rort, our PM seems to be squirming a little today. He’s now saying the Government “would consider any recommendations to tighten the rules.”
How that plays out obviously depends on who he chooses to make those recommendations and whether any subsequent “consideration” would be made in good faith. One only has to remember the compensation for David Bain and the vindication and subsequent elevation to sainthood of Judith Collins to imagine how such an enquiry might be manipulated to achieve the desired result.
Overnight polling may explain Key’s changed attitude. Speaking to John Campbell yesterday, John Key explained why his government didn’t intend to do anything about New Zealand’s role in the offshore trust / money laundering / tax haven situation.
Key claims that the industry was worth around $24m to NZ every year in “fees, tax and GST”. As the offshore “investors” are not required to pay either tax or GST in NZ, one can only presume that’s the take for the small group of lawyers, accountants and psuedo-directors who administer these schemes.
Which begs the question, if these people make a good living helping the world’s elite to avoid their tax liabilities, how likely is it that they aren’t taking advantage of similar schemes to minimise their own tax?
And if so, what is the net benefit, if any, to the New Zealand taxpayer?
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intimidation nation...
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/78588657/dirty-politics-author-nicky-hager-takes-further-legal-action-against-policeIn a statement on Tuesday, Hager announced he had filed further High Court proceedings after police released documents to him in February under the Privacy Act, revealing they had obtained his travel information from airlines.
The statement said police asked airlines who Hager was travelling with, where and when he was travelling, and how the flights were being paid for, all to "identify Mr Hager's confidential informants". -
Steve Barnes, in reply to
What’s happening in Iceland at the moment is fascinating with the PM, Finance and Interior Ministers all being exposed as money launderers.
My first thought on that was "Those are the guys that dumped on the banks in the aftermath of the GFC, fucking bankers getting their own back". That may still turn out to be part of the story, I do hope so but either way I think this could be a win for the little guys.
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Alfie, in reply to
My first thought on that was “Those are the guys that dumped on the banks in the aftermath of the GFC, fucking bankers getting their own back”.
In the PM's case it may be even dirtier than that Steve.
...Gunnlaugsson once owned – and his wife still owns – an offshore investment company with multimillion-pound claims on Iceland’s failed banks.
I've yet to find a decent analysis of the implications of that statement, but it looks like the (as of today) former PM may have been playing both sides of the game.
There have been some farcical goings-on in Iceland over the past 24 hours. Yesterday the PM asked the President to dissolve parliament, but he refused because the PM had failed to consult his own colleagues. Then the PM resigned, but his party is still running the show. Other officials are falling on their swords. It's all a bit Monty Pythonesque.
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As it's a quiet day, here's a couple of relevant links.
The Atlantic - What is Mossack Fonseca
There are around 80 known tax havens in the world, and New Zealand is one of them. Michelle Madsen writing in the Independent talks about her 2013 investigation into the shady Panamanian law firm at the heart of this leak and provides an idea of the scale of the problem and how tax havens work for the world's elite.
Mossack Fonseca may be the world’s fourth largest offshore law firm, but it’s the tip of the iceberg. It’s just one law firm, in one tax haven. Just think what the others are hiding.
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Key is still defending his government's position on NZ's role as a tax haven, providing much needed shelter to the impoverished one per cent. In parliament today Grant Robertson referred to a statement Key made in 2005 when he was a mere National Party finance spokesman.
Key said he'd like New Zealand to become the "Jersey of the South Pacific" and articulated his desire to develop our offshore banking industry. Until today, he was happy to wax lyrical on the benefits of economies which are built on "offshore trusts". It's only the poorly informed who refer to them as tax havens, y'know.
Isaac Davison sums up Key's earlier statements in the Herald.
Key's comments in parliament today suggest that he views the damage currently being inflicted on NZ's international reputation by the Panama Papers as little more than collateral damage. Part of the price your country has to pay when its leader's surreptitious motive is looking after his wealthy buddies.
Whether he sees our country as the "Jersey of the South Pacific" or the "Switzerland of the southern hemisphere", Key's former role in the money markets still dominates his thinking. Of course he can imagine a future NZ which idolises unproductive middle men whose only role is to prevent the fair distribution of wealth.
Key's constant striving to be part of the Davos crowd is becoming increasingly embarrassing. New Zealand deserves better than this.
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Ian Dalziel, in reply to
New Zealand deserves better than this
I tire of his constant avoiding the present and revisiting the past - case in point over the current tax laws - rather than address the problem that has arisen, he does his shouty Question Time routine about how the laws were introduced by Labour - That was then, this now - no one asked for a history lesson - he is leader of the incumbent Government, a problem has developed with a law that he has to administer, just get on with it instead of wasting time with bluster and childlike pointless point scoring!
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The real political issue here is the immorality of reducing the tax take with such shady banking havens and then trumpeting the fact that there is no money for much needed social services and infrastructure, because the govt hasn’t collected enough tax. You can’t have it both ways.
Why are secret islands of tax avoidance allowed to happen?,” because they is secret guv.”
As a banker he should own up to this undemocratic behaviour not smirk at its existence. Jesus, if the common person hides their tax contribution they are vilified and fined,
Dubious secret banks are just a special secret gift part of being wealthy to fatcat bootlickers like enabler John.
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Angela Hart, in reply to
if the common person hides their tax contribution they are vilified and fined,
the 1% ruling class are evidently superior to the 90%serfs and not subject to the laws the rest of us must obey. Wake up those serfs who have voting rights! I was unreasonably heartened by scenes of Icelanders outside their parliament making clear their anger at this betrayal. And their protest got results.
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Next time the farmers bitch about their dairy returns we can blame part of it on the dollar being pushed up by the flood of black money moving in and out of secret trusts.
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Nice piece on the Panama Papers by Raybon Kan.
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Fascinating insight on the subject by Michael Field
http://thespinoff.co.nz/07-04-2016/me-and-jurgen-mossack-how-kiwi-journalist-revealed-mossack-fonsecas-dodgy-pacific-deals/ -
Alfie, in reply to
That's a damn fine story from Michael Field.
Naturally the two Tobys have come up with an excellent column on NZ's role as a tax haven -- well worth a look just for the great animation sequence of Michael Woodhouse.
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