"Fisheries Minister Shane Jones overrode official advice a $50,000 fine for leaking footage from fishing boat cameras - five times the penalty under the Privacy Act - would be 'unreasonable'."
#RussellPalmer, Political Reporter, #RNZ, 2026
Overriding official advice to pass deeply corrupt policy into law seems to be a hobby for NatACT First. It's like they're trying to fill a bingo card, by ignoring advice from every government department.
"As for the government, the plan is now clearer, and they're spending less than ... might have been expected under Labour."
#RussellPalmer, 2026
https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=a06dda4a-e2dd-410a-8afc-bf71d5cfa749
I'm sorry, what?
Hasn't your colleague at TVNZ, Jack Tame, reported figures that show NatACT First spending and borrowing *more* than Labour, while *not* governing through a disease pandemic?! Instead giving away huge wads of public money to landlords, corporations, and white elephant projects
"The Regulatory Standards Bill has passed with the backing of the coalition parties.
National and New Zealand First agreed to pass the bill into law as part of their coalition agreements with ACT.
The bill has faced fierce pushback from the public, with more than 98 percent of public submissions opposed."
#RussellPalmer, 2025
Parliamentary supremacy at its most antidemocratic. In 2026 I will vote for a party that makes scrapping it a bottom line.
"A bill to make road tolling easier and shift Road User Charges (RUCs) towards a digital tracking system has been introduced to Parliament."
#RussellPalmer, 2025
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/578768/bill-to-expand-road-user-charges-introduced
This is a horrific violation of basic rights to privacy and freedom of movement. The 1990s National govt was trying to corporatise our public road network when they got voted out in 1999. We need to kick this lot to the kerb too. If Labour won't commit to undoing this, the Greens need to make it a bottom line.
"The government this month announced its plans to change pig welfare regulations including around the use of the crates ...
Documents have shown the government's own animal welfare experts disagreed with the approach taken, which were developed after eight meetings with NZ Pork."
#RussellPalmer, 2025
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577252/no-consultation-on-pig-welfare-regulation-changes-spca
"Foreign Minister Winston Peters has delivered a speech in the Oxford Union Debate, arguing the courts undermine democracy."
#RussellPalmer, 2025
Well of course he did. Can't wait to hear his speeches on why operational independence, freedom of the press, civil liberties, human rights, and free and fair elections undermine democracy too. Since they too interfere with the government's ability to dictate outcomes without checks and balances on their power.
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Strypey
