Latest unbelievable Costello and Mckee revelations
Honestly, why the hell does Costello and Mckee need to do to get sacked?
The latest revelation on Mckee…
In the pocket of the gun lobby? Firearms Minister’s messages revealed
- Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee used to be the spokeswoman for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (Colfo). Now she’s responsible for firearms law reform.
- Her office’s written messages with Colfo include disparaging remarks about Police Association president Chris Cahill, an invitation for Colfo to fill the minister’s diary, and sending Colfo ministerial releases in advance.
- The Police Association, Gun Control NZ and Labour say McKee is too close to the gun lobby. McKee says she needs to hear from those directly impacted by firearms legislation.
It’s no surprise that Firearms Minister Nicole McKee remains close to the firearms community she used to represent. But how close is too close?
Correspondence released to the Herald under the Official Information Act shows she has kept her written communication with representatives of the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners (Colfo) to a minimum, though there’s been a steady stream of contact with her office.
This includes exchanges criticising Police Association president Chris Cahill, co-ordinating media releases, and even inviting Colfo to fill the minister’s diary with events.
These have prompted Cahill, Gun Control NZ, and the Opposition to claim McKee is in the gun lobby’s pocket, and question whether she can be trusted to be impartial.
…the latest on Costello…
Chief Ombudsman criticises Costello over withholding tobacco documents
Casey Costello has again been reprimanded by the Chief Ombudsman for her handling of a mystery document containing tobacco-industry friendly ideas, which she passed to health officials to develop policy.
In December, the associate health minister gave health officials the document, which claimed “nicotine is as harmful as caffeine” and argued Labour’s smokefree generation policy was “nanny state nonsense”.
The document also argued strongly for tobacco tax cuts – a policy which has now been implemented by Costello.
But the New Zealand First minister maintains she does not know who wrote the document or even how it came to be on her desk.
Now Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has released a new investigation into Costello’s handling of the document.
He says he is “concerned the associate minister was unable to produce any records about the provenance of the notes” and has “taken the rare step of notifying the chief archivist about the record keeping issues in this case”.
…if only this Government cared about the environment, the homeless, beneficiaries, renters and Māori the way they do about guns and cigarettes.
This is what we are now, this is what we have mutated into.
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She is corrupt and must be sacked.
If it’s good enough for Labour to sack corrupt ministers then the same should apply for the CoC.
At least Labour sack their wayward ministers and officials – the same level of integrity clearly doesn’t apply to Winston First officials or ACT ones – more quality government from the Coalition of Calamity (CoC)
It seems certain that the CoC will not be making any moves to liberalise cannabis laws in the near future. Luxon is too christian conservative, and the only angle he would be interested in, would be that of gang defunding. The younger more liberal Nicola Willis, might be interested in the whole fiscal aspect of getting her hands on the excise.
And even though Seymour is supposedly the most libertarian, and personal cannabis use is a libertarian dream issue to lobby for, his track record is no better than an ostrich sticking its head in the sand. During the previous cannabis referendum, Seymour had the perfect opportunity to unite with Swarbrick, in one of the few areas that Act and the Greens could agree. But chickenshit Seymour couldn’t run away fast enough.
And as for NZfirst, they are completely captured by their Fishing, Racing, and Tobacco industry donor dollars. Costello is a virtual spokesperson for big tobacco. She certainly won’t want a regulated market for that nasty terrible super addictive substance called cannabis, being in competition with her favored pure and natural tobacco. According to Nzfirst, nicotine is as safe as caffeine.
Hipkins must be tempted, to make cannabis an election mandate issue instead of wealth tax. Because it could suck some of the libertarian vote away from Act, that no other policy position would be able to. It would also get more people voting who normally wouldn’t, particularly youth. And support for the issue is always under observed, as more people would publicly be against liberalising, but privately be okay with it. Which is the opposite of wealth tax, where more people would publicly be in favour, but privately against. And it is in private that voters cast their vote. And from Hipkin’s viewpoint, he should be throwing the kitchen sink at the next election, since it’s historically unlikely, to vote out single term NZ govt’s. In Norm’s words, it’s time.
Two of the most disgusting people ever elected to parliament in NZ EVER .Luxon clearly has no strength as he was quick to dump his own but is scared shitless that the wanker Seymour will throw his toys and they will all out of the gravy pot and turning up for the benefit.
Absolute clown show.
Luxon is a coward and will do anything to stay in power, he has already sold his soul to the maga idiots.
That’s why Luxon is too scared to go on Q&A. He’s supposedly in charge of this.
All this shit about some useless Wellington Mayor and what she said about her own f’ing car, while these two lie through their teeth as MPs about much bigger issues.
Yet the mainstream media say nothing about any of this, Labour MPs were crucified for every little wrong step. Labour should have been like this Govt and just refuse to talk to Media or reply to questions, it’s certainly working for Luxon and Co. The least transparent govt ever
Yep labour fucked up .They should have bulldozed through the CG Tax and the like .And they should have spent billions on attacking child poverty and rolled out lunches in every school and breakfast as well where needed .The tax rates should have been changed back to the same rates as 1960 where low income earners paid no tax and high earners paid 60% .No doubt you are all screaming at that suggestion ,but that was when NZ was at its best building houses ,hospitals ,schools .power generation and lines and people actually cared about each other and communities rallied around in times of need .They should have spent more billions rehabing people while in prison with extensive support upon leaving for the next two years so they had more chance of being a repeat client of that jail .And instead of saving all the businesses that are now closing in record levels they should have just supported the staff .Clearly they saved way too many lives if we are to beleive the river of filth who were major benefactors of those life saving efforts because they were protected by the 95% who got on board .They could have saved billions and invested in funeral homes to recoup more money .
I agree with you Gordon when you suggest the tax system needs massive review and change. Maybe not 60% but certainly higher than the current top rate of 39%.
GST needs to be reduced back to 10% and this could be paid for by BOTH wealth and capital gains taxation. The fact one is not currently taxed on capital gains is very hard to fathom. Investors look at the options and, of course, are compelled to invest in property – with high returns and zero tax when cashing up. It is not a wonder that there is a lack of investment into productive capital in NZ as the return on investment is nowhere near that of property investment – especially given the lack of CGT (I suspect even if there were a modest CGT than property returns would still be high).
There is no way that a country seeking growth will achieve this via non-productive capital investment into housing. There is zero financial justification for except for the fact CGT and Wealth taxes would impact on the higher income people – for a change!
I read an interesting piece on building houses yesterday .As the price of land is now way too high the banks are starting to baulk at lending to build new because they are $200 k over priced .I saw sections being released in Te Awamutu starting at $500k for 400sqm which makes the resulting house over $1 million by the time it is finished .Thats bloody insane .
Labour had an opportunity to make some truly transformative change in NZ 2020-2023 however they just sat on their hands, being too scared to change anything (National Lite). Chippy made a bad Captain’s Call overriding Parker’s proposed Tax Changes. Labour really need to get their S**t Together if they are going to challenge the COC in 2026 or 2029. Sitting on their hands and twiddling their thumbs is not going to cut the mustard.
Why go after the gangs , these guys are the Gangstas!! Gangstas Paradise NZ.