Hidden Agendas

There were plenty of accusations of "secret agendas" from the Labour Party centred at the National Party before they were devastated at the 2008 general election (Political Animal was one of few who picked a landslide well before the election) but after more than 3 months of National at the helm the only secret agendas now being revealed are those that Labour kept from its supporters and New Zealand voters.

Billions of dollars of bribes were promised by Labour to buy the 2008 election but the thing is very few of them were actually funded.

There were shortfalls in their student loan re-gig, the insulation of homes, health, police, roading and the grandaddy of them all the 2 billion plus hole in the ACC accounts.

While at the same time promising to extend and upgrade ACC cover and keep premiums low Labour were aware of these shortfalls but kept promising anyway-it was one of their main election planks.

Not only that, Michael Cullen and ACC Minister Maryan Street were obliged to let New Zealanders and the incoming Government know about the shortfall under financial disclosure law-law was something they had little disregard for in their 9 year reign of terror so that is no surprise.

So Labour lied to the people, covered up vital financial information they were obliged to report and went into the election under false pretences.

They should be at least ashamed and apologetic but instead they continue their arrogant, petty, two faced high handed ways that lost them the election.

Hon PHIL HEATLEY: ...Interestingly, the same Minister who fiddled the books in State housing fiddled the books at the Accident Compensation Corporation.

Hon Maryan Street: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I consider that reference to be unparliamentary. I take offence to it and I ask that you ask that member to withdraw and apologise. Parliamentary debate March 5 2008

She did fiddle the books but all she cares about is a non-existent reputation.

The whole saga reminds one of that old chestnut that goes something like this, those that point their fingers in accusation are often the ones who have something to hide.

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c Political Animal 2009

Not that there is anything wrong with it

This video is from the 2007 "Big Gay Out". In it Ms Clark espouses, gay,lesbian and "trans gender rights" and waxes lyrical about Civil Unions and the right of these kind of people to have their relationships "recognised by the State".

In itself there is nothing wrong at all with this or as Seinfeld would say "not that there is anything wrong with that".

Having said that there is no media available; audio, video or written transcript of Ms Clark espousing the rights of the Nuclear family; Husband, wife, house and kids, you know, those families who pay the bulk of the taxes that support the nations wheels of commerce, Government expenditure and all the various social(list) programs that Ms Clark and her merry bunch like to roll out under the banner of "diversity".

There is reference to Labour's "rainbow caucus" wing and Labour's Gay movement in the party having an impact on legislation. I have never seen Ms Clark so excited about a sector of the community before, her openly gay members; Tim Barnett, Chris Carter, Maryan Street and Charles Chavel and others not outed yet in the Labour Party are used as examples of eminently upstanding individuals in a "strong rainbow group".

My point is Ms Clark has never been so excited about mum, dad and the nuclear family-where she gets mostly of the taxes from-and in fact seems to take every opportunity to attack those families.

From the anti smacking laws, to Working for families welfare, where working families are spending less time together because they have to spend more time at work funding WFF and other anti family social(list) meddling, there is little enthusiasm for the goose that lays the golden egg.

What New Zealand needs, rather than Ms Clark's main focus on extreme minorities (not that there is anything wrong with it) is a focus and emphasis back on the family and therefore extricating ourselves from the ever decreasing moral cesspool that we have found ourselves swimming in.


c Political Animal 2008

Labour backs ACC rorts

The Labour Party Blog, The Standard, has today come out and supported ACC staff using taxpayer money to get face lifts and pet grooming done for themselves.

...makes great economic sense. At a cost of just 0.005% of ACC’s total salary bill the activa contribution has led to improved productivity, less sick leave and improved staff retention, leading to a more stable and effective workforce.

Now, call me a dumb ass, but how do botox injections, pet grooming, day spas, and face lifts "improve productivity", and lead to a "more stable and effective workforce"?

Clearly they don't, and the folks at The Standard who leaked the audio tape from the National Party conference last weekend, will clearly support any sort of State agency, even if it is as corrupt an inefficient as ACC clearly is, just because it is in Labour's central mantra to back these large money wasting schemes because they are State run.

Clearly another case of philosophy triumphing over common sense.

But Maryan Street's backed ACC in Parliament yesterday:

Hon MARYAN STREET: I presume it is a case of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) practising what it preaches, in that it is trying to prevent injury. I commend it for that.

The back up coming from the Labour Party Blog, The Standard, today will backfire in Labour's face as it did with Street's backing of Housing welfare staff luxuriating at a 5 star resort last year.

When will they learn that kiwis have had a gutsful.

Gag me with a spoon, before socialism does.

Related Political Animal reading

ACC staff spending on day spas and pet care

c Political Animal 2008

ACC staff spending on day spas and petcare

In the wake of the Accident Compensation Corporation failing to look after the British Scientist who lost all her limbs at a work place accident in New Zealand last year and the Labour Government that passed legislation earlier on this decade to limit maximum payouts under ACC to NZ$100,000.00, come revelations today of extreme wasteful spending by the beleaguered, inefficient and expensive public "insurance" government department.

In Parliament today Pansy Wong asked a series of questions and they were answered by the Minister for ACC, well known for condoning overspending by government departments:

Pansy Wong: How does giving staff $250 each per year to spend through the activa card on activities like manicures and day spas promote a more active lifestyle and keep staff fit and well for work?

Hon MARYAN STREET: I presume it is a case of the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) practising what it preaches, in that it is trying to prevent injury. I commend it for that. It is in fact an operational matter that is under the jurisdiction of the chief executive officer. But I suppose it is good to hear the National Party spokeswoman on accident compensation actually saying something about the portfolio at least once every 6 months, given that she was not able to—or not allowed to—say anything about National’s policy when it was released.

Manicures and day spas part of "preventing injury"? I think not.

Pansy Wong: Does the Minister believe that the active and healthy lifestyle of ACC staff is promoted by spending $250 for each person per year on animal care, including pet grooming?

Hon MARYAN STREET: I have no idea what that has to do with the health and safety of ACC staff, but I am happy to look into that for the member.

What part of an employers responsibility is it to look after employees pets?

Pansy Wong: Can the Minister assure the House that ACC staff are not spending $750,000 worth of taxpayers’ money on Botox, facelifts, and other cosmetic treatments that are services provided for through the activa cards, or does she think that this is an acceptable use of ACC funds?

Hon MARYAN STREET: In respect of the first part of the question, I think I can assure the House of that. But I will check that with the chair of the board, given the member’s obvious concern about the expenditure of ACC money.

If this is a fact then it is a scandal.

Nothing on TV news this evening or in the newspapers.

This sort of corrupt practice, the spending of taxpayer money on things that individuals should be paying for themselves, in the face of a recession and high taxes, is a very good reason why this government department should be subject to competition at the very least.

Personally I think it should be sold.

The bleating from the left about the ACC being fair, efficient and a wonderful State apparatus is clearly quite wrong in the face of the above and more the public dont know about.

The Minister clearly has little trouble with wasteful spending machinations at ACC because it is a State department and it is taxpayer money they are wasting and that clearly doesn't matter when it comes to this Minister and the Labour Party.

Related Links

Full transcript of Pansy Wong's question

c Political Animal 2008