Curran should beware reshuffle
IT’S not surprising Carol Hirschfeld ‘‘resigned’’ (presumably the alternative to summary dismissal) from Radio NZ, after repeatedly lying to her bosses about her December 5 meeting with Broadcasting Minister Clare Curran, so they unintentionally misled a parliamentary committee.
That was not her only fault: the necessary independence of the media from political influence, and governmentRNZ protocols, made the meeting foolish, to say the least. But it was the lying which did for her.
As National Party leader Simon Bridges has said questions remain about Ms Curran’s part in this drama. Replying to a December 6 parliamentary written question about meetings with RNZ staff or board members since December 1, including names and dates, she did not include this meeting, explaining later she considered it to be ‘‘informal’’ and did not know it should have been declared. Really?
The Prime Minister described her action as ‘‘naive’’. That is possibly an acceptable description of her action in setting up the meeting (was she seeking ammunition to undermine RNZ’s reluctance to implement Labour’s planned RNZ TV channel?), although her briefing as an incoming minister would have made clear the proper lines of communication with RNZ. It is inadequate in relation to December’s written question.
The question began ‘‘Has the minister met with board members or staff of TVNZ or RNZ since 1 December 2017?’’. That is pretty straightforward. Her answer was not. If she cannot understand such a simple question should she be an MP, let alone a cabinet minister? If she did, she deliberately misled Parliament — a serious offence.
She corrected her written answer later, adding the Hirschfeld meeting to the list, describing it as ‘‘informal’’, despite it being initiated by her, and, after text toandfro, diarised.
Then she at least appeared to suggest the RNZ chairman should correct the record by writing to the committee, rather than in person — was that to avoid him being questioned further?
She has apologised to the Prime Minister, and has not been sacked. One wonders, though, what will happen in the first Cabinet reshuffle, now that (to be kind) she has shown such stupidity. And how can she remain Associate Minister of State Services (Open Government) with a straight face?
One hundred and five written questions were submitted to Ms Curran by National MPs between December 1 and 19 in relation to her ministerial responsibilities. Most asked for lists of events, meetings, advice, individual briefings, advisory and lobbying documents, names, and dates. The work required in the ministries to provide this detailed information, of doubtful value, must be immense, and must consume resources that should be devoted to productive work.
Is this responsible politics?
The National Party says New
Zealand is an international laughing stock, because it has not imitated Britain and other countries in ritually expelling, over the Salisbury nerve agent incident, Russian diplomats who are spies, as the SIS says it cannot identify any.
Three questions come to mind. If those countries knew the diplomats were spies, why had they not expelled them earlier?
Is Russia likely to waste diplomat spies (in addition to routine intelligencegathering) on an insignificant nation?
Has the Government finally adopted a policy of acting on evidence, rather than meek conformity, in foreign affairs — an outbreak of sanity in a crazy world? Better a laughing stock than a puppet.
‘‘Age shall not wither [them], nor custom stale, [their] infinite variety’’.
Sydney Manowitz and Donald Cullington both retired years ago, but they show no signs of wearing out, and still perform publicly together. Beethoven sonatas in 2016; Bach last year; and Ten Mozart Masterpieces for Violin and Keyboard last month.
Civis got to the second of their two concerts in Knox Church — four sonatas, and a set of variations. It was easy last year’s to see venue, why they the had DSO moved rooms from in Hanover St: the audience would not have fitted in. The performance was brilliant, and free (koha accepted), making great music available to all. Well done!