Posts by Idiot Savant
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Yes I saw that too.I am glad JC said it was stingy in light of the private schools getting 35 mil, and this was only 2.5 to keep the status quo and only 33 mil to bring all other schools in line with these about to be cut.
It certainly shows the government's priorities, doesn't it? Money for the rich, but not for those in genuine need...
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I think the separation between operational responsibilities and policy ones is important.
As do I. And we might just get such a system as a result of Bennett's abuse.
(The other alternative is to keep access within the office, but impose a reporting requirement, requiring the Minister to say in each case why she needed information and what would be done with it; that way there is an audit trail nd abusive Ministers can be held to account).
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Why on earth would she want/need this?
To deal with frequent requests from other MPs that they investigate the case of some constituent or another.
There's a legitimate purpose for MSD staffers in her office having access. The problem is that when the Minister demands information, it may not always be clear what it is to be used for, and it may be very difficult for a seconded public servant to refuse an improper and abusive request.
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At least English class is based on centuries of who one's pater was, what school they went to, etc. In NZ it's based on nothing more than "I've got a big income", which is often as much about luck as it is hard work and intelligence.
That's an interest contrast you're drawing there.
So, is having the right parents a matter of luck, or hard work and intelligence?
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I've sent an email to the contact address asking about it
Ditto.
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3410: interesting. It's the page everyone was pointing at yesterday, containing guidelines for Ministers and apparently consulted by Bennett. There's a cached version here.
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Anita has a better disclaimer here.
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Bennett's office now seems to be trying to avoid OIA requests for her supposed "advice"...
Speaking of which, I suggest adding this to anything you send to her:
this communication should not be interpreted as consent, either express or implied, to any disclosure of personal information held by MSD or any other government agency by the Minister or any other Minister.
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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.
22 pages? Be still my beating heart. That's a short Cabinet paper. How does she cope with the real stuff?
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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!"
...just before dropping a lit cigarette...
Its a veritable bonfie of opportunity. But that's fine - Paula has hers, and screw everyone else.