On 15 August 2011, the Electoral Commission referred the following matters to Police:
- Charles Chauvel MP, Ohariu Census,
- ACT Party newspaper advertisements in Sunday Star Times and NZ Herald
- Labour Party ‘Prices are Rising Faster than Wages’ flyer.
It is the Electoral Commission’s view that the publication of each of these items constitutes a breach of sections 204F and 204H of the Electoral Act 1993 because the items are election advertisements that do not contain a valid promoter statement and were not authorised in writing by the party secretary.As these matters are now with the Police, the Electoral Commission will not be commenting further.
Oh dear. That's THREE alleged offences by the Labour Party now being investigated by the NZ Police; the Stop Asset Sales brochure, the Ohariu Census and the Prices are Rising Faster than Wages flyer. Not only is this deeply embarrassing for Labour; at a maximum penalty of $40,000 per offence, it could get very expensive for Labour, should they be prosecuted and convicted.
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Back in July, we blogged about Grant Robertson's rather extraordinary presser, issued on a Saturday afternoon. It informed those political tragics following Scoop on their RSS feeds that Labour had been referred to the Police for an alleged breach of electoral advertising laws.
Now it's deja-vu, all over again; Cameron Slater has released this letter he received yesterday from the Electoral Commission
What is it with the Labour Party? Just four years ago they considered themselves such experts in the field of Electoral law that they drafted and rammed through Parliament the insidious Electoral Finance Act. After their defeat in 2008, Labour MP's then voted for the EFA's repeal, and supported the subsequent replacement law. They just seem to have a problem with complying with it.
This really is becoming a dilemma for the Labour Party. The General Election is just over three months away, and Labour faces the possibility of twice being prosecuted for separate alleged breaches of the Electoral Act during the election campaign. That is a terrible look for the party that yearns to re-take the Treasury benches.
In his presser in July, Grant Robertson, tipped by some as a future Labour leader made excuses for Labour's conduct, and hinted that Labour believed that the Electoral Commission had got it wrong in its decision to deem that the Electoral Act had been breached. This indicates that Labour still has a long way to go before it is prepared to admit to the New Zealand voter that it is capable of erring. Labour may just find on 26 November that the voting public still has a long way to go before it is prepared to vote for Labour in sufficient numbers to allow the party to govern.
So it's two strikes now for Labour; what a pity that the Three Strikes law doesn't apply to electoral advertising!
25 comments:
What is it with you INV2?
Is it not good enough for you to copy and paste the MSM and then slag them off but you also feel the need to spend much time lurking on Cameron's website like a little bottom feeder waiting for the bits and pieces to sink so you can snaffle and reproduce them?
When we all come to take photos of the cycle race in Auckland should we just look for the person with his head up Whaleoil's arse and caption that: 'the anonymous and original INV2'
Good morning Mike, and a wonderful day to you too!
Now; would you like to comment on Labour's apparent inability to comply with the law?
I2 adores and admires Slater, or Cam as he calls him and slavishly spreads his opinion across his own blog. I2 does the same for Farrar. What does it tell you about I2 when you look at the company he keeps, the slugs he admires?
Jesus, Slater and Farrar.
Holy ****
Ignore the crap IV2, you're doing a great job here and this blog is getting better and better all the time.
This is partially evidenced by the fact that Mike and Anon visit in the first place - confirmed by the fact that they have to have a crack at you and not the message.
Nothing wrong with refering to the whales good work IV2, don't let those 2 losers above phase you.
I have been where those 2 are now, and would not accept that MY party could do any wrong, so forgive them their transgression of politeness in visiting your blog.
They will grow up and see the light as most of us do eventually.
Cheers
Lofty
Apparent:
1. Clearly visible or understood; obvious.
2. Seeming real or true, but not necessarily so
Your confusing language leaves you open to the charge of being an imprecise writer at best, and purposefully misleading at worst.
I'll comment on 'apparent inability to comply' when you comment on the Nat's Grey Power advert. I reserve judgement as to the intention of either party until all the 'Facts' and the evidence are revealed. (Facts are things that are proven to be true INV2, you know like.. oh, never mind).
http://thejackalman.blogspot.com/2011/08/police-to-investigate-john-key.html
@BudgieSmuggler if this blog is getting better it's because commenters like me and anon are holding the anonymous, imprecise/misleading writer to account over the smears and innuendo.
Mike, this blog is getting better all the time because we now have the laugh out loud comments made by you and your lazy, lying cohort(s?).
You're producing some of the funniest fiction I've read since the M*A*S*H series went out of print.
Mike and Anon(s?) you two have replaced Booby Guyton for our left side giggles .. keep it up, luv ya.
ps .. must be good to get away from Tumke, whatever it's called, and the subStandard eh?
TinArse, Bludgieboy, Softy and Inventastory (see:Jesus, ad hominem), Slater's a louse and sifting through his droppings for something tasty should embarrass the Keeping Schlock blogger, but no, he adores the snuffle, just as you three girls thrill to his raking.
Tell us more about National's Grey Power advert Mike. That sounds interesting.
Sorry to 'miss' you out Scabber.
Should have known you'd be skulking about on the edges of the debate, whiskers twitching.
Keeping Stock is on my regular reading list, and I have to say the comments from Labour's droogs make it all the more entertaining. They're such a conflicted pack of toe-chuckers aren't they?
On topic, looking forward to the police seeing this one through. Labour needs to clean up its act or we'll end up with the Greens being the dominant opposition party - I'd rather Labour than them.
Appreciate that RightNow; I've said in jest that Russel Norman and Metiria Turei might be co-leaders of the Opposition after the election, but now it seems more than a remote possibility, and not quite as amusing!
Sheesh Iv2 what a hoot.
What bit of "your blog" escapes the numpties.
You and Ele at Homepaddock are the most tolerant blog hosts I encounter.
You and I have been deleted, banned, or moderated at the socialist talkfests and in my case, am completely mystified at why anyone would take the time to bother talking to an empty rusty iron tank.
If it is the only opinion that matters then do what IS does and have no comments at least there is some "honesty" in that.
So why WAS Slater at the national party Conference???
Sean says:
August 15, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Since I was there and you weren’t Grant
Okay Mr Slater, I have to ask, ‘What were you doing there?’ In an article in the 19 June 2011 New Zealand herald reported you had quit the party. Given you aren’t a journalist Cameron, what were you doing there, where did you get your pass?
Er, anon @1:12pm whaleoil is over there =====>
Why don't you go and ask him. I'm sure he will explain.
Oi anon 01 12, Th Whale would have better creds as a journo than most repeaters who masquerade as such. At least he actually investigates stuff.
In actual fact, WhaleOil divulged on his own blog yesterday (I was there looking for things to plagarise!!!) that he had media accreditation to the Nat conference. Understandably, the president of the party was not amused.
" Quintin Hogg said...
Er, anon @1:12pm whaleoil is over there =====>
Why don't you go and ask him. I'm sure he will explain."
Yep Whale Oil will tell you in basic English and if need be words of one syllable so you will uinderstand. He may even type slowly to help you out.
Inv - with a new man at the helm of the Police this may go right through the court process. Better late than never.
Yep: Agree with Grave and Rightnow, tihs blog is a very regular read for me too. I remain astounded at Iv2's patience and good will at times. A week or so ago Guyton was doing his impersonation of a retarded clown (or, is it an impersonation?) almost hourly but the humour from IV2 didn't falter, now there is a fresh troll trolling, and still he keeps his cool. Good on you.
There is a consistent theme with the socialists, in that it is simpler to name call rather than debate. They are incapable, it seems, of debating a principle. Are principles foreign to all on the left?
You're welcome to comment Mr Anonymous Troll with many Guises, but stay on topic; and the topic is Labour's alleged Electoral Act breaches.
Interesting post. We'll see what happens.
And to the Nats too over their Grey Power advert.
I think Emmerson summed the fact that the Nats have taken their eye off the ball pretty well. he is surely the greatest living New Zealander IMHO.
I think you'd agree INV2! Chalk another one up for him!
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10745529
Oh dear!
http://robertwinter.blogspot.com/2011/08/ms-bennett-on-benefit-cards.html
Inventory2 said...
You're welcome to comment Mr Anonymous Troll with many Guises, but stay on topic; and the topic is Labour's alleged Electoral Act breaches.
17 of the comments on this thread are off topic and you chose to delete the two that exposed Paula Bennett and her comments that made Key look stupid!
Sneaky I2.
Not sneaky at all Anon; I refreshed the post (from Tuesday) with the statement from the Electoral Commission. The THREE comments deleted had no relevance whatsoever to the topic; neither Paula Bennett nor John Key has been referred to the Police for alleged breaches of the Electoral Act. Even MY patience has limits, and I'm sure you'll agree that the trolls have been cut a fair amount of slack on this particular post.
Anon; see my latest post, where I have taken up your challenge to comment on the apparent Bennett flip-flop. All is not as it seems...
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