This is extremely disappointing…
A backlash over tough questions for Dr Ashley Bloomfield
At the 1pm press conference last Saturday, director general of health Ashley Bloomfield fielded a question that provoked a backlash.
“Given the repeated failures of the testing system under your leadership, shouldn’t you take some responsibility and offer your resignation?” a Newshub journalist asked.
The question was being asked on behalf of Newshub’s investigations editor Michael Morrah. He spent the next few days weathering a blizzard of angry tweets and Facebook comments.
One person called him a “public health threat to us all”. Others said he should resign for his own “failure to do his job”.
A running thread in the criticism was that Morrah’s inquiry was unreasonable, given Bloomfield’s record in shepherding the country to 102 days of Covid-19 elimination.
But Morrah wasn’t leaping to a call for vengeance over a single Ministry of Health slip-up. His question came after nearly five months of reporting on the ministry’s shortcomings.
…Michael Morrah’s journalism should be celebrated – not vilified.
While I certainly believe that the ZB Troll Farm over at the NZ Herald have hyperventilated their hysteria over these border issues out of all proportion, Morrah’s journalism was absolutely righteous and the exact type of Journalism NZ urgently needs!
The simple fact is he’s right, the Ministry of Health are deplorable with their open attempts to deflect questions about their competency when attempting to deal with this incredibly complex situation.
Marc Daadler over at Newsroom has done an excellent job explaining the complexity.
The underfunded MoH has been a victim of neoliberal cutbacks for 30 years and when you consider the complexity of what this underfunded behemoth is being asked to attempt, most NZers politically aren’t going to blame the Labour Party, especially when the track and trace regime has effectively quelled this current outbreak.
It can be true that Labour have done and are doing a great job while at the same time the MoH bureaucrats have failed to be as careful with our collective safety as our politicians have assured us of.
This is why a massive debate about the capacity of the State desperately needs to be had this election.
Again, if the latest outbreak is sorted, voters won’t punish Labour for loopholes that haven’t caused the types of destruction they are seeing everywhere else around the planet.
For those on the Left still attacking Morrah, remember how his journalism on the outright corruption and environmental vandalism of the fishing industry is some of the best in NZ.
Morrah’s job is to ask well researched, intelligent questions. Attacking him because some of us don’t like his answers says more about the people attacking him than the quality of his work.
And finally, for the online left activists, if you are referring to Bryce Edwards as a ‘right winger’ or Michael Morrah as a ‘biased journalist’, perhaps you need to have a cup of tea and a bit of a lie down.
Tribalism this feral isn’t helping anyone vote Labour or Green
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Amen. 100% agree. While I disagree with the attempt to de-link Labour from the fuck ups that occurred we really need to celebrate and protect investigative journalism regardless of the politics surrounding this.
Otherwise we cease to have a functional forth estate and working democracy.
Now if we could have a discussion around the lack of accountability at the health select committee. Most open and transparent government ever and all that.
I approve of the current actions are now taken to finally find out about where and how the Covid 19 is spreading in NZ.
(MOH) Ministry of health has finally come out of the shadows now after a long road we all had to drag this errant health agency forward to the 2020 era.
Finally now they are out of the twilight zone of the 1970s Rogernomics era that stripped this agency from being a forward thinking health agency that was challenging multinational chemical companies (Dow Chemical, Monstanto and their ‘five sister toxic companies’ to heel from poisoning our NZ population.
Now Ministry does not even test toxic chemical stored in our adipose (fat) tissues like many other countries do randomly to see how toxic our population actually is.
I was poisoned on a job in Canada in 1992 and by sample of adipose tissue was sent to Accuchem Laboratories in Texas for chemical analysis The results were devastating as I was full of toxins stored in my fat tissues and spent seven years in a detoxification clinic until the levels were low enough to cope with, so we need to use up to date chemical analysis in 2020 not 1970’s toxic exposure times.
Yes lets have a conversation about accountability while under corrupted National shall we?
Not sure I agree Martyn after witnessing his comments on The Nation this morning. He brushed off questions on Nationals border policies, so eager was he to attack the government and Bloomfield. What occurred to me at the time was that I’d be very interested to know Morrah’s political leanings. His response sounded very similar to one Mike Hosking.
So why was Dr Reti so reluctant to not disclose the name of the expert epidermatologist who has contributed to nationals border control policy? Dr Reti would/could not give the persons name. What are National hiding or are they just making ad hoc policy on the hoof? Where was Morrah on this? This is a question around the politics of border control and needed an answer.
Sorry Martyn but I disagree this time, Morrah comes across as someone with a political agenda, not an investigative journalist.
” Sorry Martyn but I disagree this time, Morrah comes across as someone with a political agenda, not an investigative journalist ”
And that is the problem we have in our media.
If we are going to have right wing bias and clearly we do then what about some left wing perspective just level the playing field.
Now most left wing comment has been driven out including the so called ” red radio that never really was they just reported non biased content!! then why can’t we have an alternative opinion after all not all New Zealanders are right wing.
As for Edwards i have never heard him argue in favour of any left wing position as his negative criticism is always aimed at anything that is not a right wing.
The MSM will not as a matter of principle have anyone arguing an alternative to the status quo with the exception of Laila Harre in very small doses.
It’s a pity Key did not get the same scrutiny when he was in power.
And remember the pathetic journalism in the aftermath of the Pike River disaster and the complete absence of any form of critical journalism, (apart from John Campbell), on the train- wreck decision making regarding the Christchurch rebuild. Where was Morrah’s earnest journalism then ?
Did any journalist ever ask Key, English or Brownlee for their resignations…nope !!
Then of course their was the dearth of journalism after the rupturing of the main aviation fuel line pipe at Ruakaka under Collins’s watch in the last Government….not one journalist could find the property owner or the the digger driver!! …funny that.
I agree. Properly researched searching questions are invaluable to ensure transparency and are essential in maintaining a democratic society.
It’s the inconsistency of N.Z journalists that i have a problem with, so maybe some of them need to move on to another career if they don’t want do their job properly all of the time.
Oh Key was running media as it is now corrupt.
I disagree, Martyn. There is a way to ask questions and a proper way to dig and get answers. This media shoot their mouths off about ‘absolute failures, debacles,shambles,etc,etc” They carry on like the Government totally failed and thousands of people are now dying. Sir Brain Roche said it best when he said we have done very well, but there are some problems to sort out. The NZ media attack immediately with no respect or an attempt to show the other side of the coin – the good stuff. TV3 Newshub now runs ads where Seymour says the Government are ‘clowns’ and Collins saying how she will be happy to be PM. This is unbiased journalism? And what’s with the calling for resignations thing? With National, you can fuck up all the time, no problem, but Labour – fuck up and the media hounds are calling for your resignation. Fucking pack of jackals!
I agree. The general questioning is fair. The mistakes by the government were there. And the questioning helped to improve the boarder controls. The error was asking for a resignation of someone who has – by any measure – helped NZ to a world’s best practise status, it’s poor. It’s poor journalism because it is of the clickbait /catch a scalp if you can variety. It’s poor because Mr Bloomfield is not a politician but a citizen who is attempting to deal with the greatest health crisis in 100 years. So some very good journalism, and very bad IMO.
Yes, it’s not Ashley Bloomfields fault that every government since 1984 has unde’rfunded the health system, he’s just the poor schmuck trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear in 2020.
I personally think Morah deserves a flea in his ear over this because it’s just sensationalism when you shoot the messenger and don’t explain why the health system is struggling. Of course to do that he’d have to front up and admit that kiwi journalism has failed in its duty to point this stuff out over the last 35 years and that the organisation he works for is culpable in that.
Then again if he hadn’t drunk the kool-aid he would never have survived in the commercial media and wouldn’t have been there to do the good work he has done. So y’know, swings and roundabouts.
This. Tova O’Brien has the same issues. It’s not necessarily the questions being asked, it’s the manner in which they’re asked. The adversarial, confrontational style immediately puts the person being interviewed on the defensive and seems designed to perpetuate outrage, scandal and clicks. Ask Bloomfield and Ardern probing, pertinent, difficult questions, by all means. Just don’t be a dick about it. Usually, when a politician or public servant is being evasive, disingenuous, outright dishonest, or simply doesn’t want to answer the question, that’s made blisteringly apparent for all to see and they end up hoist with their own petard. (Listening to interviews with Shane Jones and Judith Collins over the past weeks has demonstrated this in spades.) Acting like a snarky toddler desperate for ‘gotchas’ doesn’t enlighten the public or do journalism any favours whatsoever.
I don’t agree at all.
Some of the facets of journalistic professionalism are balance, and attention to the public interest.
When Morrah called for Bloomfield’s resignation he greatly exceeded the bounds of professional conduct. Morrah is frankly a casual when it comes to epidemiology, and by all appearances that also applies to his journalism. The public interest argument runs no better – had Morrah succeeded in his ill-natured call for resignation, who did Morrah mean should take Bloomfield’s place? Himself? Dr Reti? The proposition was and is reckless, absurd, and offensive.
I am appalled by Morrah – a useless, biased, noisy waste of space – and a constant profoundly negative influence on civic discourse. Were I the government, this p.o.s. and people asking questions on his behalf would be obliged to submit their questions in writing – to prevent them creating little dramas to boost their deservedly flagging ratings.
The public interest is not served by his needy melodrama.
Michael is a proper journalist. Not a news Influencer with a ‘hot take’ that we’re meant to take seriously and swallow their version of (suspect) truth as some kind of valued opinion.
I wonder when the first case of “Shoot the messenger” occurred. Undoubtedly it was long before the Marathon story from Greece. Probably about 20,000 years ago, when people first began to shift from hunter-gatherer to settled agriculture and empire, and when egos started to get bloated.
Nowadays it has become a standard-setting response to unwanted news, along with “No it’s not” as per Monty Python skits.
Awaiting the massive clean-out that will come when the corporatised, for-profit system collapses. Not long to wait now.
Sooner the better come change the corrupt world please.
Amene!
The reality is, the business prone ‘lets open the borders to foreign students’ lets ‘relax the borders for business’ National party /ACT party supporter bureaucrat underlings in these govt agencies / depts know all too well what a political storm they can create by non compliance and tardiness.
And that is one of the biggest and most logical reasons for failure. Labour must take responsibility for not weeding out these non compliant’s. They are not just anathema to Labour, – but a direct health risk to New Zealanders.
They are literally murderous individuals in their perverted political attempts to pervert the protocols needed to prevent the spread of this pandemic in our community.
Prolonged, sustained non compliance should be met with large fines and prison sentences. Quoting Nationals favorite adage,- ‘lets get tough on crime’. Then lets just see how fast we get action and transparency among these shady 5th columnist dealers. I dare say we will see 100% efficiency in our borders and managed isolation units within days.
agreed 100%
@ MB. I agree with you. And good on you for bringing [it] up.
People who fail to understand the broader ramifications should stay away from sharp objects and let someone else set the mouse traps.
Do we get a chocolate fish if we can pick which alleged journalist asked this “question” ?
“Given the repeated failures of the testing system under your leadership, shouldn’t you take some responsibility and offer your resignation?” a Newshub journalist asked.
Only one alleged journalist would ask such a reprehensible question that is in fact light years from being an actual question.
It is three things.
The first is yet another example of the despicable Tova O’Brien attempting to claim another high ranking scalp of a person at the sharp end of our pandemic handling.
Secondly, it is O’Brien pursuing click bait for her editor who will full endorse her anti Government stance. O’Brien is treasonous and contemptible. An enemy of NZ.
Thirdly, it is yet another example of O’Brien and her ilk running interference against the Government in an election campaign on behalf of the National Party.
Toxic Tova is part of the left side of the MSM – she’s all yours – enjoy.
IMHO the Bloomfield Border Botch-ups Scandal has as much substance as the “Jacinda Sex Abuse Cover-up Scandal”, with all the usual suspects kicking it off and the rest then piling on for the hell of it. One them should write a recipe book, “How to cook up a political scandal in ten easy steps”, add flavour of your choice.
Agree, lots of hot air, little substance, and the stupidity of demanding the head our most competent healt official beggars belief.
No media in NZ is worth listening to as they are all corrupt.
Bert you should know national are telling porkies they consulted NOBODY. They are making up shit as they go along as desperate politician do. And we can’t wait a year for them to get their so called new agency up and running. As for Morrah he is a c.. t and his comments show he knows nothing about the mood of our country or about anxiety and how many people need certainty and to feel safe and to have faith and trust in our leaders and our experts. His comments are undermining all of that and his verbal attacks on our experts are certainly not helpful nor are they about the well being of the majority of NZers. And for him and some of those other tossers to say this is good journalism by whose standards? As far as I am concerned we don’t have good fair impartial journalism in our country and we haven’t for a long time.
Covid Is Pa, Morrahs body language said it all, he even acknowledged that people thought his questioning of Bloomfield was nasty. The fact Morrah squirmed in his chair in eager anticipation, his face contorted in so may ways when the other Nation hub opinionist stated the Government had done well in controlling the virus said it all. Nothing on Nationals border plan though.
Right Martyn,
So, where exactly were all these champions of the public interest when the systems Bloomfield was relying on for his information, the DHB’s etc, were being constantly restructured and run into the ground?
Where was this gold standard journalism when National was turning this country into a fascist neoliberal hell hole?
Were they asking the tough questions when our hospitals ad ppe reserves were being run into the f’n ground? Or were they talking up the tax cut bribes and John Keys Nactional govt?
No they were literally licking the boots of the man they dubbed Teflon John. So they’re suddenly all hard line and calling for heads to roll at the drop of a hat, now that Labour are in, how convenient, as Ardern Bloomfield and co deal with preventing NZ from suffering the ill effects of a pandemic that we are completely incapable of dealing with thanks to the negligence and vandalism of a party these so called journalists acted as practically an arm of Nationals PR team for.
I fail to see that their are actually any great failings labour or Bloomfield are directly responsible what so ever. Tests being compulsory was something national voted against ffs.
And the fact remains, these are not ordinary times. The last thing this country needs or wants, and this is not a matter of debate, is to lose another talented minister because of a bloody media beat up ’caused by a bunch of self serving narcissistic, careerist wannabe celebrity journalists and their stupid, bloody unasked for opinions.
Having Bloomfield resign is a FUCKING STUPID IDEA, and everyone knows it.
So if Morrah or Tova or any of the rest of them insist on asking bloody stupid questions half the time, and then claiming the right to ask for resignations when their is even the hint of a stuff up, then backlashes they will get.
We have seen a country slide into an ant-democratic corporate media run fascist state over a near decade of a corrupt National Party.
It is only by the skin of our teeth that we have competent, honourable people in Govt at all, and that is no thanks to the corporate media in this country. So if you’d been paying attention Martyn, as would have expected you had, then if people are seeing through that media, and they are facing a backlash, then I’m all for it.
The media have no one to blame for their loss of credibility but themselves, and having grown up with an old school journalist in my family, their recent penchant for giving their bloody opinions and asking worthless sensationalist questions in a time of national crisis is not helping.
Unfortunately this also means they have blown their credibility to an extent that they no longer have the authority to discredit all of the covidiot conspiracy theory doing the rounds either.
Here’s the point, quit the sensationalist “heads must roll” at the drop of a hat rhetoric, and ffs, save us from your goddamn opinions, you’re a journalist, you are supposed to be impartial, do your fukn job and get someone elses opinion to cover that angle if you must, some one whose opinion is relevant.
Which is to say not the hysterical pronouncements of some bloody journalist. Cover the facts, canvas the opinions, we don’t give a toss what you think, just do your damn job.
Thanks, the NZ public, during a National Emergency.
Cheers.
. . .
Since when did calling for resignations become generally accepted practice in journalism?
Quoting opposition calls for resignation, sure.
Even those calls used to be reserved for significant errors of judgement, not every single time someone in government made a mistake, or even a series of mistakes in a related field. Yes, there have been a series of mistakes, yes they are potentially serious, and yes, government has been needlessly even dangerously secretive about measures taken around COVID. But there have been no deaths, few serious enough for ICUs, and infections within the dozens, not hundreds or thousands.
By taking it upon themselves to ask the “resign” question, News”hub” journalists risk being seen as having ‘sexed up’ the story, crossing the line from observers to participants. This further diminishes the reputation of news media, and its claims to independence.
Neither is to be celebrated.
. . .
Well stated. Hosking this morning asked viewers on his show in relation to the level 3 lockdown in Auckland…” why arent you angry about this?
I suppose that’s why Hosking can only ever be described as a shock jock.
Perhaps even a shock slock jock!
Questions have to be asked, information should be available.
What I don’t like is the New Zealand 2020 automatic go to position: “Shouldn’t you take some responsibility and offer your resignation?
What is ‘talking responsibility?’ Someone choosing from somewhere along the line what to do – saying, “That didn’t go as we planned or wanted, we shouldn’t have done it that way?” Or from right down the other end where the non-performer simply pulls out a kris in front of the media and commits hari-kari? The latter might appease some journalists but of course wouldn’t be enough for some in the public.
What is ‘offering your resignation?’ For any situation where planning or performance is been perceived by anyone as being awry, the person packs their bag?
If the Morrah question was reasonable what was a reasonable answer? An answer that is the truth or an answer that will be accepted? A quality answer is one which enables a particular outlet to use the words like ‘shock! scandal! or slams!’ ? Which gives scope for them to carry it out over days?
If Bloomfield, loosened his tie, leaned on the lectern and said, “Look, in a most complex situation, we’re trying make a system work – a system chronically underfunded by neoliberal cutbacks for 30 years.
There are some stuff ups because we do not have the wherewithal to do the job perfectly. Since we were incapable of doing things to the high levels you want and we want, everyone in the Ministry is resigning as of 5.00pm this afternoon.” Once again the reactions would be saying that was extreme to the Judith Collins’ mob saying, “About time. We have people who will do everything perfectly.
You just know though some of the media would lead with complaints about Bloomfield’s dishevelled appearance and standard of dress because of the loose tie, or his sloppy stature, leaning on the lectern.
Maybe along with daily death notices the main newspapers could have columns of ‘Resignations Today’ listing all those who had stuffed up in any way in their job.
“Given the repeated failures of the testing system under your leadership, shouldn’t you take some responsibility and offer your resignation?” a Newshub journalist asked.
The question was being asked on behalf of Newshub’s investigations editor Michael Morrah. He spent the next few days weathering a blizzard of angry tweets and Facebook comments.
Doltish. Given the difficulties Covid-19 has raised, the unknown territory, the fact that we have the fabric of our society and government weakened by neolib craze for efficiency and, they say, ‘smaller government’ meaning pretty little government at all, this question is not useful media interrogation. It is the equivalent of doltish Opposition speakers wasting our investment in Parliament with that negative question about does the PM have confidence in such and such a Minister. It actually is a very neolib approach, maliciously courting chaos.
Well thought out and succinct response to the aforementioned question.
Which is a sad inditement of Newshub’s investigations editor Michael Morrah.
Oh well , time to cheer up, then.
Marie’s Wedding
https://youtu.be/YxI5MBCPJoA?t=5
That was beautiful WK. Possibly Irish great name. Here’s the more well known version
that the audience cam sing and clap with. The High Kings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y1EOWBr78E
My mum had it in vinyl, aeons ago (I’d forgotten till now – damn I miss her).
Van & the Chieftains, Irish Heartbeat
Wild Katipo: “Marie’s Wedding”
Mairi’s Wedding: it’s the Lewis Bridal Song. So not Irish, at least not proximately.
Alternative spelling is Mhairi: pronounced Varee, more or less.
That question wasn’t journalism but an outright attack designed to bring about mistrust in the government..
Journalism would have been pointing out some weaknesses and then asking what he was doing about them.
What’s with all the standard refugees flooding the place? is the greatest leftwing gatekeeper to busy flying to Singapore again? got told twice today from some fucken nobodies who can’t read.
Dead right? What is the role of journalism? To create mistrust? To get to the bottom of things? To help people understand how and why things work or not?
Public hangings and ritual slayings seem to be what it is largely about. When media people work in with cahoots with politicians it is perfect for what they want. e.g Duncan Garner and Judith Collins lately.
The team of 5 million, nah not so much!
This regular calls from the media for resignations, responsibility and for heads to roll shows a culture of vengeance and reprisal that has no place in any society. These calls are usually made by people with deep underlying personal issues, insecurities and unresolved emotions which they then project onto others. They find gratification in demeaning others and doing it in public plays to their need for public vengeance. Counselling would help them to resolve these issues and their bullying behavior should not be tolerate or entertained.
Professional journalists will focus on the issues and wont make it personal. Performance issues is a matter for their line managers, as in Bloomfield’s case, the SCC and his Minister. Journalists have come to believe that their bloated opinions matter, but in the era of fake news, its worth a chuckle at best. The Nation and Q&A panels excellent examples of imbeciles
spouting nonsense at best. Journalist should try and stick to the facts and keep their opinions to themselves and the world will be a better place.
The culture of vengeance is also on display by people objecting to the “be kind” message. The message speaks to their conscience and make them feel guilty about their retributive behavior. Well it is at least positive that it has an impact and make them rethink their behavior.
A team spirit is necessary to beat Covid, negativity and reprisals break down and dont build. It is sad that a few will divide and sow division for the sake of power. Focusing on the positive and resolving issues as a team in a cooperative spirit will endure, if not we Covid will win.
Exactly.
Morrah is employed to attract attention to his employer’s radio station, (it happens to help sell advertising).
His behaviour is that of a loud mouthed showoff play ground bully. Behaviour shared by many media denizens.
I heard Morrah’s interview on RNZ thsi am.
His defense is unjustifiable. What was Bloomfield’s response supposed to be?
Morrah was looking for another “journalistic Gotcha!”.
Morrahs self serving views of Bloomfield’s sanctification are total and utter fabrication.
Where is his evidence? Sounded like envy, actually.
Morrah’s claim that taxpayers money is being used is not a justification. That mistakes have been made in a planetary pandemic is patently obvious across the world.
What money is government supposed to use in crises?
Media loves wallowing in the sewer.
It appears that media types have he same self serving arrogant views of themselves as many of our politicians do.
We are in the middle of a planetary pandemic which NZ has dealt with very well.
Maybe media practitioners need to earn some humility.
Morrahs question was a direct public attack on a defenseless person.
Morrah is disgusting and hypocritical.
Bomber if that is your version of a “journalist” you are welcome to him. and his employer.
Morrah is an arrogant bastard suited to Tabloid journalism–which sodding Newshub certainly is. Sure, ask the hard questions, do the research, get it right, and challenge authority–but he really enjoys the part where he gets to be rude to people who are more obliged to “keep it seemly” and not kick him in the nuts back.
He was all softly softly on RNZ Mediawatch, towards those on Talkback, and other National “mouth for hire” pundits using his work to trash the Govt. Covid response from start to finish. The guy is taking the piss with his “delegated questions” and certainly does not need more accolades from the likes of TDB in addition to the ones he awards himself.
Bang on.
A journalist did his job!
Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor
Martyn: “Morrah’s journalism was absolutely righteous and the exact type of Journalism NZ urgently needs!
The simple fact is he’s right….”
I completely agree. He’s a journalist, doing what journalists are supposed to do: investigating situations such as this one, and calling things as he finds them.
I’d add that, even were he wrong about some of it, he’s still entitled to ask questions. Last I looked, we still have free speech here, efforts to crimp it by the woke left notwithstanding.
I’m astonished at some of the comments here. I don’t doubt for one minute that, were the current government a National-led administration, as we had before the 2017 election (with the unlamented former Dear Leader), these same commenters would be applauding Morrah’s work.
“…the Ministry of Health are deplorable with their open attempts to deflect questions about their competency when attempting to deal with this incredibly complex situation.”
I used to work in the health sector. In fairness to the MoH, and as that Newsroom piece points out, it simply isn’t configured to take on a command-and-control job, and for heaven’s sake, the government ought to have known that. That sort of thing has been devolved to the DHBs.
Back in the day, when it was the Department of Health (head office in Wellington), it would likely have had the staff and expertise to take on that sort of job. Not now. It does policy. A fortiori, people ought to be glad that it’s Ashley Bloomfield fronting the MoH, and not his predecessor. Sometimes the stars align, and this is one of those times.
With regard to the health sector’s capacity, there has been systematic underfunding over many years, going right back to before I left in the early 1990s. That includes the public health sector.
At the risk of being accused of special pleading, I’d argue that the extent of underfunding has been criminal, and every administration since the 1980s at least must accept an equal share of the blame. We are where we are because capacity has been allowed to erode away. It has been only blind luck – that this is an island nation a helluva long way from anywhere, with a small population – which has kept cases and deaths as low as they are.
No thanks to the gummint, which – from what we’ve been told – is allowing people into the country, supposedly for economic reasons. Rather a lot of them come from Hollywood, we’ve heard. Closed borders, my foot!
Though it’s worth pointing out that Queensland figures are also very low: 6 deaths, last I looked about a week ago. And anyone who’s been there knows that it’s full of old people, from the Sunshine coast right down to Tweed.
With regard to the testing of border staff, people need to remember that the test is quite invasive: sticking swabs up the nasal passages, which aren’t designed for that sort of thing. In the hands of the not-very-expert, there’s a risk of damage. We know of someone who needed a corrective procedure, as a consequence of a botched test. There’ll be others, doubtless.
There’s still disagreement over whether asymptomatic people can shed enough virus to infect others. One would need to be very sure of the science before asking staff to undergo the frequency of testing which is being suggested. Especially given the risk of unintended damage.
Morrah is a self serving egotist, and don’t his employers love it.
Peter Sim: “Morrah is a self serving egotist…”
I’d normally be the last to defend NZ journalists, whose knowledge of history, science and international politics would fit on the back of a postage stamp. As Michael Field once pointed out, we have no foreign affairs specialists among our journalists here; have not had any in my considerable lifetime.
However. We do have investigative journalists who do a good job on local issues. We should be damned grateful for them. Morrah is one such.
Have you actually read the links in Martyn’s post? You surely need to. As Martyn has said, Morrah is right.
The general tenor of comments here is beginning to sound like they’ve been made by citizens of those authoritarian states, of which many of you are very critical. How dare you question Dear Leader! is essentially what’s being said. Morrah’s completely within his remit calling out the government for its various cock-ups and snafus. At the risk of being repetitive, I say again: it’s his JOB.
Christ….you may wish to live in a one-party state: I sure as hell do not. I doubt that anybody much of my generation would be too keen on that. Wake up to yourselves! Don’t just kiss goodbye to civil liberties – like free speech and freedom of movement – without a bloody good fight.
I say that you’re a terrible reporter. That’s what I say. I think it’s a very nasty question and I think it’s a very bad signal that you’re putting out to the American people.
Ooops. Wrong fake news.
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