Saturday, January 10, 2009

National - business (bribery) as usual

DPF says he would rather see the Tino Rangitiratanga flag flown one day a year (as a favour to the supply partners) than give millions to racing and MFAT to make the Minister look good.

Yet John Carter, the new Minister for Racing is already big noting about special favours to the racing industry. What makes the racing industry worthier or needier than others? What is the moral imperative for making taxpayers fork out for new running rails?

5 comments:

Berend de Boer said...

this is National, they will do both.

Anonymous said...

I don't expect too much from the jellyfish-like Tories. So, this fits perfectly the mould.

Anonymous said...

The industry employs around 30,000 yet its viability is always marginal. Accidents when they do occur are often extremely serious.

Lindsay Mitchell said...

Baxter, Right now there are probably thousands of small businesses and many industries struggling to stay viable. They too are pressured by the demands of OSH yet do not qualify for any handouts to meet them. Govt-sponsored privilege for one always means disadvantage for another. The squeakiest wheels get the oil by virtue of being squeaky. Individuals and small fry don't rate. The whole process is necessarily open to corruption and inequity. Perhaps if the racing industry (of which I am a keen supporter) was taxed less, their viability would improve.

significanthazard said...

Is John Carter a mate of Winston?

Mr Carter would do our country a favour in demanding an immediate investigation into Winston Peter’s capers.

The setting up of a New Zealand independent commission against corruption, with robust powers is well overdue.

The public is entitled to know exactly what did happen with the funding of the racing industry and the impact it had on horse valuations. As well, what really did go on in the Ministries of Fisheries over quotas for hoki and scampi?

Mr Peters, who was so vociferous over the wine box affair, would have no problem assisting in a fair and vigorous investigation.

With a New Zealand “Independent” Commission in place, this would immediately nip in the bud accusations against our politicians, chief executives, mayors, and local body politicians.

In fact it would curb their urge to pull the wool over the public's eyes.

The nation would be assured that corrupt practices are not being swept beneath the carpet under the guise of the hierarchy using various sections of the law to prevent genuine concerns being answered transparently, honestly and in a timely manner.

Significanthazard