The legal botch up by the Government for not having the right legal provisions in place when they announced lockdown is embarrassing but with the consequences of not being locked down equating to the deaths of tens of thousands, New Zealander’s will quickly forgive.
The use of the Public Health Order gave them the legal cover they needed to tidy this up and it is still important that the check and balance to all of this occurs with a review to ensure the i’s are dotted and t’s crossed because you know, we all had our civil rights curtailed and we do kinda need the Government to be on very strong legal grounds when they do that.
Embarrassing but not as politically fatal as Death Cult Capitalist Matthew Hooton is attempting to present it as.
If you want to be angry at something today however, the jaw dropping abuse of our collective good will by rich pricks should make you incandescent with rage…
Coronavirus: Top law firms repay millions in unneeded wage subsidies
Three of the country’s largest law firms have paid back the millions of dollars they claimed in government wage subsidies.
A United States billionaire’s luxury New Zealand lodges have received more than $1.2 million in wage subsidies to support them through the coronavirus pandemic.
Julian Robertson, who Forbes estimates to be worth US$4.4 billion (NZ$7.3b), claimed wage subsidies for 187 staff employed across four tourism and hospitality businesses he owns.
Failed courier firm accused of pocketing wage subsidy
A courier company that received more than $70,000 from the government wage subsidy scheme allegedly used the money for business expenses instead of paying staff.
Kiwi Transport Services Limited went into receivership on April 17 and Damien Grant at Waterstone Insolvency was appointed as receiver by Ignite Finance. Kiwi Transport operated under contract to New Zealand Post.
Grant said Kiwi Transport Services director Nitin Nand spent the majority of the wage subsidy payout on bills and business expenses, while 10 staff had not received anything.
…our collective generosity with these wage subsidies was to ensure vulnerable workers weren’t dumped onto the street, what we saw was the wealthy and ideologically hypocritical stampede towards money that was never supposed to be used or abused by them…
The Taxpayers’ Union, a group which highlights what it sees as wasteful Government spending and argues for lower taxes, has been granted more than $60,000 in taxpayer money as part of the COVID-19 wage subsidy.
…if you want to be angry at someone today, don’t let it be at a Government rushing law during an unprecedented national emergency, let the target of your rage be the wealthy and rich who took money from poorer people that they didn’t need.
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While I think it is enlightening how the government wage subsidy is helping corporate welfare the most, at least those law corporates paid it back.
Unlike some that prey on the boozy livers, bring in underpaid workers here but some liquor stores were apparently deemed essential services….
Coronavirus: Wealthy liquor store barons claim $550k Covid-19 wage subsidy
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/121359471/coronavirus-wealthy-liqour-store-barons-claim-550k-covid19-wage-subsidy
(Maybe like Talleys who seem to get tiny fines even when decapitating workers, having boiler explosions and have multiple deaths, donate well to all the political parties, not to mention no cameras to report overfishing and by catch levels).
It is hard to fathom how some liquor and tobacco industries were deemed essential services so clearly a lot of lobbying in government, and also why were socially harmful industries (both to consumers and their own workers https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/116300102/how-the-liquor-store-industry-is-riddled-with-worker-exploitation?rm=m) allowed to claim the wage subsidy for socially harmful business. Was there that little thought put into the scheme?
Well, Jordan Whatshisname is ever ready to take one for the team isn’t he.
He’s been the winner of the ‘Most Punchable Face’ award for the past decade at least.
Mike Hosking disputes that assertion.
What about me ?
Ahh like when the Laborites stole 25% of The unemployment and sickness benefit to Increase their own wages 35 years ago you mean.
But hey they have given it back for awhile so we should show gratitude to our benevolent Socialist Masters, I dont know about the rest of you but my pitchfork is nice and pointy after sharpening it for so long.
On another more cheerful note I see Crooked Hillary’s foundation is back under investigation for crimes against children, and General Flynn has been exonerated Today.
The worm turns slowly
And the Deep State is alive and well and now operative in NZ! Neo-liberals still infect and affect our public service. Someone has leaked an email from the PM’s office to Beehive staff following release of the Covid-19 papers. Traitorous rat-bags!
Whoa! It looks like someone forgot to put their tinfoil hat on this morning…
Some of the wealthy and those who spend their lives railing against socialism are complaining about a dog up the road peeing on a lamp post while at the same time they’re shitting on us.
Interesting mental picture that
It’ll be interesting to see how Robertson handles timely fraud investigations in the aftermath of C/19. At the moment the Monkeys are all crowded around the Money Puzzle Barrel trying to get their hands in and out without losing any of their own fingers. Let the Name & Shame begin!
Yes and Hosking goes into that category. The reality is that even if there were no deaths and our country was running smoothly, he would still moan because we have a Labour government. He is ideology right wing driven. Whether you are right or left leaning, you should be open for debate. Hosking has histrionic disorder so at least has an excuse. Others would just call him a cock, not the useful thing but the thing that just sits there doing nothing and pretty much useless.
bert – “Others would just call him a cock”. False equivalence. Les coqs sont magnifique. Try another c word and let Marama know that her linguistic efforts were not en vane – oops – in vain.
Profit driven capitalists, committing fraud during a time of a deadly pandemic, taking public cash they are not entitled to, to enrich themselves, is far worse than government taking action to legally or illegally save lives. It is criminal behaviour, of the worst possible kind!
Speaking of dodgy and illegal, where we at with Jamie Lee Ross and Bridges dodgy Chinese donations and won’t Maureen Pugh and David Carter be pleased to see the end of Bridges.
Bert I have told you before you are not doing yourself any favour listening to Hoskings . He may run down this government but I do not know anyone in my circle of friends who likes him and he certainly does not speak for any of those that lean towards National. Look forward to some interesting exchange of views over the next 5 months and may the best man or woman in your case win the day. Which ever way it goes I hope it is a decisive win with no input from Winston. We cannot go forward with no true direction.
Apart from your views on Winston Trevor, nice post.
Interesting comment by Sir Roger Douglas in a article in Stuff 5/5/20 said “ There is never one more socialist than a wealthy capitalist in a time of crisis “ !
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