Important Information or Government Propaganda?
Regular readers will not be surprised that I am a fan of National MP Judith Collins.
Today I have watched in amusement as the Steve Maharey, scolded Judith Collins to put up or shut up over her claim yesterday that the Families Commission is electioneering on behalf of the Government.
Steve Maharey said ,"I seriously wonder whether Ms Collins has bothered to read any of the material produced by the Families Commission, or indeed anything relevant to her portfolio."
Talk about a red rag to a bull - Judith Collins response was brilliant and ever so slightly vitriolic. She put out a press release "Smarmy Steve Maharey loses the plot" and challenges Steve Maharey to reveal why Claire Austin left the Families Commission after three months, how big was her reported golden handshake, and what was the commission is spending on travel and accommodation.
But underlying all of this is the amount of money spent promoting Government schemes to the public - $17 million on promoting Working for Familes, $750,000 promoting the Families Commission, and the on-going spending promoting Primary Health Organisations. I understand the government informing us that changes are being made in health, education, etc but I can't comprehend why three years after PHO's were started we still get advertisements telling about how great they are! You do have to wonder if all the advertising in an election year is just a little too coincidental.
Of course, the only way to change this would be to get the politicians to change the rules and that's like asking burglars about where the police patrols should be.
One last thing, Judith Collins finishes off the press release with this great quote about why she won't go to the auditor general - "It is also hard to take seriously Mr Maharey's invitation for me to complain to the auditor-general. I actually [complained successfully] against Helen Clark over a desk calendar and she still hasn't paid back the money."
Today I have watched in amusement as the Steve Maharey, scolded Judith Collins to put up or shut up over her claim yesterday that the Families Commission is electioneering on behalf of the Government.
Steve Maharey said ,"I seriously wonder whether Ms Collins has bothered to read any of the material produced by the Families Commission, or indeed anything relevant to her portfolio."
Talk about a red rag to a bull - Judith Collins response was brilliant and ever so slightly vitriolic. She put out a press release "Smarmy Steve Maharey loses the plot" and challenges Steve Maharey to reveal why Claire Austin left the Families Commission after three months, how big was her reported golden handshake, and what was the commission is spending on travel and accommodation.
But underlying all of this is the amount of money spent promoting Government schemes to the public - $17 million on promoting Working for Familes, $750,000 promoting the Families Commission, and the on-going spending promoting Primary Health Organisations. I understand the government informing us that changes are being made in health, education, etc but I can't comprehend why three years after PHO's were started we still get advertisements telling about how great they are! You do have to wonder if all the advertising in an election year is just a little too coincidental.
Of course, the only way to change this would be to get the politicians to change the rules and that's like asking burglars about where the police patrols should be.
One last thing, Judith Collins finishes off the press release with this great quote about why she won't go to the auditor general - "It is also hard to take seriously Mr Maharey's invitation for me to complain to the auditor-general. I actually [complained successfully] against Helen Clark over a desk calendar and she still hasn't paid back the money."
posted by Michael at
7:38 PM
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