As a hard working New Zealander, I find it unacceptable that my tax dollars are being spent on Judith Collins' promotion of her and her husband's private business interests.
In my opinion, taxpayers shouldn't be facilitating government officials to feather their own nests...especially when so many Kiwi families are currently having to make cut backs because of incompetent governance based on out-dated thinking.
Yesterday, Radio NZ reported:
On Wednesday Ms Collins revealed for the first time that when in China last year she had dinner with the owner of a company of which her husband is a director.
She had already been accused of breaching Cabinet rules by visiting the Shanghai office of the company, Oravida, and praising its milk products.
Collin's was in fact publicly promoting the company, promotion that Oravida subsequently thought was worth a considerable donation to the National Party.
In doing so, she hasn't just created a perception of corruption in the publics mind; she has confirmed that she is corrupt and therefore should be sacked immediately! Any competent Prime Minister would act accordingly, and in the least rescind Judith Collins' warrant.
If that wasn't bad enough, National's media lackey's still seem determined to give the so-called Justice Minister a hospital pass, spinning the story to make John Key appear to be in charge of the situation even when he was caught blatantly lying about the details of the debacle.
As much as that is a distasteful example of National MP's lying and abusing their positions of power, it's unfortunately not an isolated incident.
Today, the NZ Herald reported:
A wealthy Auckland businessman was given New Zealand citizenship against official advice after a Government minister lobbied the colleague who made the decision.
Maurice Williamson, the Minister of Building and Construction, and Prime Minister John Key then opened the first stage of a $70 million construction project launched by the Chinese-born developer after he became a citizen.
The following year, one of his companies made a $22,000 donation to the National Party.
Clearly anything is for sale under this current right wing government, even New Zealand citizenship.
The solution here is to remove the Ministers powers to overrule an official decision to decline or approve citizenships. When it’s so apparent that elected officials cannot be trusted, because they are easily corrupted with bribes, then removing their ability to act improperly in the first place seems appropriate.
Again, this isn't an isolated case of corruption being reported on this week.
On Monday, Campbell Live highlighted some previously unheard audio recordings which documented the lead up to the Pike River mining disaster. It is evident from those recordings and other information that a complete lack of proper managerial oversight at the mine caused 29 men to lose their lives.
Despite such a huge loss of life, charges against former CEO of the company Peter Whittall, who is clearly a responsible party, were dropped after he offered $3.41 million in blood money with the understanding that he would be acquitted of all charges.
If these aren't three serious cases of corruption at the highest levels of power, I don't know what is.
