Know your Tory fellow travellers and ideologues: John Bishop, Taxpayers Union, and the NZ Herald

28
27

.

Taxpayers Union website banner

.

On 19 March, I reported on the Board members of the so-called “Taxpayers Union”. With one exception, every single member of the Taxpayers Union Board was a current (or recent) card-carrying member or supporter of the National and/or ACT parties.

Recently, one of the Board members of the so-called “Taxpayers Union” – John Bishop – had a letter-to-the-editor published in Wellington’s Dominion Post;

.

John Bishop_taxpayers Union_21 march 2014_dominion post

.

TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com

Bishop’s ideological rant on performance pay for teachers is stock-standard ACT policy – a Party he was closely associated with between April 2000 and August 2002, as a Constituency Services Manager  for the ACT Parliamentary Office. His role was described as  “developing relationships with key target groups and organising events” – whatever that might mean.

The job was most likely funded through Parliamentary Services. (One hopes that he delivered “value for money”?)

Bishop’s ideological and Party links are nowhere better illustrated than the recent (and on-going) scandal over Judith Collins and the “Oravida stop-over dinner”. When the “Taxpayers Union” finally caved in to pressure to comment on Collins’ trip to China, Bishop wrote with a fair dollop of sophistry;

Being involved in political activity makes it tempting to comment on each and every movement in the political dimension. Early on, the Taxpayers’ Union decided that it would focus on instances of waste and extravagance in central and local government spending, and on cases where spending had clearly not achieved its purpose.

Hence we criticised Tony Marriott of the Christchurch City Council for charging a visit to Hooters’ Bar to his council funded credit card. And we decried Transpower for spending over a million dollars on a swept up cafeteria in its building for staff when there are plenty of cafes within easy walking distance. 

We also decided that, generally speaking, we would not go after what politicians’ poor performance, bad decisions, and questionable judgements unless there were circumstances to justify our intervention. Much of that is partisan debate and we were simply not going to get involved in every public issue, particularly when there were plenty of others making the same points as we would make.

Yes, that makes us look selective in our criticism, but we have taken on Peter Dunne over the cost of passports, and Len Brown over Auckland’s debt burden. We were also quick to point out that Hekia Parata’s inquiry into the Te Kohanga Reo National Trust asked questions about the wrong body, but we have stood back from the row over Judith Collin’s trip to China. 

In the first matter large sums of public money are involved and the misuse of funds is alleged. In the second, the cost of the Collins trip is not large, and her “crime” is not about the misuse of money. It may be a fine distinction, particularly for those who wish to attack us for existing at all, but it is a real one.

Contributors to our blog pages and tip line are constantly urging us to get involved in issues, whether it’s the funding of programmes promoting recreation and sport, the operation of the ACC scheme, the worth of the defence forces, or whatever else is on their minds.  We would love to be able to question policy matters, and to test whether a wide range of policies actually deliver on their objectives and represent value for taxpayers’ money.

It’s early days.  We only launched in October and we are still reliant to a large degree on volunteer time. Because of that we’re focused on exposing instances of clearly bad, mad and wasted spending – until we have built up our resources to do more.  Our record shows that we’re not favouring one party or another. For example, our exposé of the DOC IT cost blowout is precisely why we were established.

Waste and poor spending are our targets, not people and or partisanship.”

Bishop says that “the cost of the Collins trip is not large”.

According to media reports, Judith Collins’ junket to China cost taxpayers $36,000.

Contrast that to Mojo Mathers’ trip to Masterton, to participate in a radio station’s programme for people with disabilities. Cost to taxpayers – an estimated $550, according a NZ Herald story.

Jordan Williams, from the “Taxpayers Union” was scathing on Ms Mathers’ trip;

It’s amazing that she has so little to do with her time to actually travel to a community radio that probably has as many listeners as you can count on your hand.  The only silver lining is that the time spent travelling to go on the station in the middle of nowhere is less time spent dreaming up new ways to spend tax payers money.”

So according to the “Taxpayers Union”,  $36,000 “is not large” – but $550 was worthy of the scorn and wrath of the same, self-proclaimed “champions of the taxpayer”?

Is this what Bishop meant when he asserted; “waste and poor spending are our targets, not people and or partisanship”?

There is little doubt that Bishop and his fellow Board members in the “Taxpayers Union” are little more than a front organisation for the National/ACT parties.

For the media to constantly refer to this group for commentary on issues – on the pretext that the “Taxpayers Union” is some kind of  credible, non-partisan, neutral source – is ludicrous and deceiving the public.

Going further, by not explaining and disclosing the “Taxpayers Union’s” ties to National and ACT, the media reinforces suspicions or perceptions that it has become a captured tool; a mouthpiece for the Key government.

It is time that the mainstream media reconsidered it’s policy to seek comment from the “Taxpayers Union” on any and all issues.  The “Taxpayers Union” has demonstrated by it’s highly politicised membership and it’s failure at  any measure of non-partisanship, that it cannot be trusted to deliver unbiased commentary.

This group is simply no longer credible.

When journalists fail to report the “Union’s” close links to National and ACT, the media is complicit in this dishonest charade.

.


 

.

References

Taxpayers Union: Who we are

Finda.co.nz: John Bishop Communicator

ACT Party: Confidence and Supply Agreement with ACT New Zealand

Johnbishop.co.nz: Bill English – Minister of Infrastructure

Advisoryboards.co.nz:  Curriculum Vitae: John Bishop – Advisory Boards NZ

Taxpayers Union: John Bishop on Judith Collins

TVNZ: Judith Collins faces third week of questioning over Chinese trip

NZ Herald: Green MP’s 800km taxpayer-funded trip questioned

Previous Related Blogposts

A Query to the Taxpayers Union

A Query to the Taxpayers Union – ***UP DATE ***

Doing ‘the business’ with John Key – Here’s How (Part # Rua)

Other Blogs

The Dim Post: Slightly more thoughts on the Taxpayers’ Union

The Daily Blog – Chris Trotter: Dispelling The Negatives: Judith Collins refuses to cry over spilt milk

 

.


 

.

1496189_1409071792672271_1235209203_o

Above image acknowledgment: Francis Owen

.

.

= fs =

28 COMMENTS

  1. “When journalists fail to report the “Union’s” close links to National and ACT, the media is complicit in this dishonest charade.”

    Don’t worry Frank. There’s this chap called Cameron Slater who runs this blog called Whale Oil who’s right into the MSM being up front, honest and (especially the Herald) diligent in reporting the news and the stories behind the news. He’ll be into this boots and all.
    The Cook Strait bridge is going ahead, the Nats are upping the age of NZ Superannuation to 78 and the Blues will win the Super 15 too!

  2. This group is simply no longer credible.

    I’d argue it never was credible. From day one it’s been quite obviously a Nat/ACT ginger group, and we should feel fully entitled to make assumptions about journalists who report the group’s statements without including that highly relevant fact.

    • From day one it’s been quite obviously a Nat/ACT ginger group, and we should feel fully entitled to make assumptions about journalists who report the group’s statements without including that highly relevant fact.

      Nailed it.

      There will be a follow-up on this story; a complaint has been laid with the Press Council.

      Stay tuned, folks.

  3. The Hollow Men covers groups like this, explaining how they ate set up to get around election spending rules. The one I think is more dangerous is the New Zealand Initiative, nee Business Roundtable. Opinion pieces in the papers regularly, no examination of its origins or who is putting up the money.

  4. “The media reinforces suspicions or perceptions that it has become a captured tool; a mouthpiece for the Key government.”
    Espiner, Hosking, Henry, Ralston, Wood, Christie…..all tools and puppets captured a long time ago.
    The media is also a front organisation for right wing interests in this country’s they serve the 1%.

      • Just because there’s a fairly large minority that vote for National doesn’t mean that National is working for anyone other than the 1%:

        After sifting through nearly 1,800 US policies enacted in that period and comparing them to the expressed preferences of average Americans (50th percentile of income), affluent Americans (90th percentile) and large special interests groups, researchers concluded that the United States is dominated by its economic elite.

        The same will be true of NZ – especially under National.

        • Actually you have no evidence whatsoever that National is working for the 1%, whoever that even is. The fact that 65% of NZ’ers support the direction the country is going in makes a complete nonsense of your post.

          • Actually you have no evidence whatsoever that National is working for the 1%, whoever that even is.

            The sale of our generating assets against our will is proof that National are working for the 1%.

      • IV is at it again. He is claiming the result of media manipulation, of media spin, of not reporting anything of substance, and otherwise selectively reporting positive news about Key and his government, and otherwise just bad, negative things about Cunliffe and Labour, and Greens also, that is proof of “informed” people making “informed” decisions.

        I remember Hitler was getting very great poll results also, so does the chap in charge in North Korea now, where the media praises him day in day out.

  5. Interesting too that Bishop is calling teachers out on poor performance, questioning why…

    “of all the occupations and professions they alone should be exempt from performance measures.”

    …but the tax-payers Union doesn’t see the need to apply the same to politicians…

    “We also decided that, generally speaking, we would not go after what politicians’ poor performance, bad decisions, and questionable judgements unless there were circumstances to justify our intervention.”

  6. New Roy Morgan poll is out.

    Labour on 28%, Green on 11%, National on 48%.

    No one takes you hard left freaks seriously anymore. It’s reflected in both the landline polls u decry and Roy Morgan’s mobile poll too.

    Looking forward to 3 more years of sound, credible, centrist govt under Key.

    • Off your meds again Markymark??

      Funny how you and IntrinsicRWNJ haven’t commented on anything that Frank MascKasy has written about? Why is that?

    • No, what has happened is that sheeples no longer know what right and left mean, mistaking everything they don’t like for left. I guess you too have been sheepled

  7. I have no issue with such a group such as the taxpayers union so long as they are balanced fair and consistent. But it seems that they only report on people connected with the Labour/Greens ie left leaning parties such as the fuss made over Mojo Mathers YET completely ignore and turn a blind eye to all the taxpayer funded junkets by MPs (including our Prime Minister), officials, and supporters of the Act/National parties. Then again balance and fairness are rare commodities today

    • Well of course they’re supporting a rubbish government – the Gnat’s policies don’t work, and they’re riddled with corruption. So balance, fairness and truth are their enemies too. Propaganda is all they have left.

    • It’s called freedom of expression. The Taxpayers Union have no more imperative to be balanced that the trade unions.

  8. The most glaring examples of people being paid irrespective of their performance are found in CEO packages, including those paid by the government, such as university Vice Chancellors. Once these fools get on the gravy train, their pay only ever goes up until their hubris gets them and the odd one ends up behind bars. Since the morons of the tax avoiders’ union want to join this particular club, I can’t see them ever complaining.

  9. Well written Frank! I’ve written to several newspaper editors asking why they haven’t disclosed the pedigree of the ‘Taxpayers Union’? Using this group as a source while not informing the public that they are NACT members is an affront to our intelligence.

    • Every time a trade union representative speaks, is there a media warning that they are associated with the Labour Party? Did all of the TVNZ employees who are now prospective Labour Party candidates declare that fact before appearing on TV?

      • Or, how about the article on the living wage on stuff this morning? Why didn’t the author disclose she is a Green Party worker?

  10. “No one takes you hard left freaks seriously anymore”

    MARKYMARK – why would you go to the trouble of posting on this blog if you don’t take the majority of its contributors opinions seriously?

    Answer = because you’re shit scared that your right wing corporate arse kissing govt’s reign of terror is about to end, and you are right to be afraid !

    There is only one poll that matters, and that’s on S20, so take your hand off it, Marky!

  11. No one takes you hard left freaks seriously anymore”

    MARKYMARK – why would you go to the trouble of posting on this blog if you don’t take the majority of its contributors opinions seriously?

    Answer = because you’re shit scared that your right wing corporate arse kissing govt’s reign of terror is about to end, and you are right to be afraid !

    There is only one poll that matters, and that’s on S20, so take your hand off it, Marky!

  12. “We also decided that, generally speaking, we would not go after what politicians’ poor performance, bad decisions, and questionable judgements unless there were circumstances to justify our intervention.”

    Sophisticated “bull sit” that letter to the editor of the DP is.

    Yes, the political bias, of the supposedly “independent” and not politically aligned “Taxpayer’s Union”, has been evident from day one. I hear them mentioned and referred to often by the right leaning radio commentators, hosts and moderators, who allow them to give their “comments” to issues of the day.

    And yes, Mojo Mathers was treated like a sinner that should go to hell, while they took ages to say anything now on Judith Collins.

    Thanks for exposing more of this, Frank, keep up the good work!

Comments are closed.