An URGENT message to all NZ MPs who are opposed to - TopicsExpress

An URGENT message to all NZ MPs who are opposed to corruption: WE NEED THE EPSOM BY-ELECTION TO HELP KEEP THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT ON CORRUPTION! (In my considered opinion, if the Epsom by-election goes ahead, National will NOT win this 2014 General Election, because they are SO vulnerable on the issue of corrupt corporate cronyism and there is SO much more to come ...... ) MPS who are opposed to corruption, should NOT support the upcoming vote (which needs 75% of MPs - 91 MPs) to prevent this Epsom by-election going ahead! If Labour MPs commit to NOT supporting the upcoming vote to stop this Epsom by-election, it wont happen, because there simply wont be the numbers to make up the 75%. There will be all manner of SPIN as to why this Epsom by-election should NOT go ahead, but its high time for a massive public exposure proving how NZs perceived status as the least corrupt country in the world does NOT match the corruption REALITY check. Please make your voices heard - ASAP! _____________________________________________________ 10 June 2014 PRESS RELEASE FROM ANTI-CORRUPTION PUBLIC WATCHDOG PENNY BRIGHT - Why I support Graham McCreadys call for an Epsom by-election. I, Penny Bright, anti-corruption and anti-privatisation Public Watchdog support the call of private prosecutor Graham McCready, for MPs to support a by-election in Epsom, and NOT to provide this National Government with the numbers to make up the 91 MPs (75%) required to STOP this by-election. In my considered opinion, any public monies spent on this Epsom by-election, will NOT be a waste of money - but an investment in the fight against corruption in New Zealand perceived to be the least corrupt country in the world. cpi.transparency.org/cpi2013/results/ The general election will focus on many issues, but a by-election in Epsom will help keep a huge public spotlight specifically on corrupt practices such as electoral fraud - which have apparently been common practice. https://nz.news.yahoo/election/a/-/24196184/prebble-told-to-back-up-allegations-of-electoral-fraud/ How many other internationally-recognised corrupt practices are common practice in New Zealand? Here are a couple of examples of corrupt practice that most New Zealanders have never even heard of, but are endemic here, in my considered opinion: Ever heard of State capture? Where vested interests get their way at policy level - before legislation is passed which serves their interests. _____________________________________________________ answers/topic/state-capture State capture’ obtains when a small number of firms (or such entities as the military) is able to shape the rules of the game to its advantage through massive illicit, and non-transparent provision of private benefits to officials and politicians. Examples of such behaviour include the ability to control legislative votes, to obtain favourable executive decrees and court decisions. A relatively new concept, the main proponents being World Bank researchers, it echoes that of ‘crony capitalism’ and covers cases where high-level corruption is pervasive. (See military-industrial complex; clientelism.) Read more: answers/topic/state-capture#ixzz34BuEK4YI _____________________________________________________ (Thats how the NZ Business Round Table (BRT) used to do it - by focusing on policy, pretending that their greedy self-interest was somehow in the national interest, and pushing for legislation from which they profited. The BRT mantra that public was bad - private was good helped to frame the Rogernomics legislation which allowed the commercialisation, corporatisation and privatisation of public assets, a number of which (or shares of which) ended up in the hands of BRT members.) Where can you check for State capture? Read the Regulatory Impact Statements / Regulatory Impact Reports and find out with whom the policy analysts have been consulting and treating as independent third-parties - when they actually have and are vested interests .... _____________________________________________________ How about post-separation employment? The revolving door between public office and employment in the private sector. icac.nsw.gov.au/preventing-corruption/knowing-your-risks/post-separation-employment/4301 Post-separation employment Post-separation employment is the situation where a public official leaves the public sector and obtains employment in the private sector. The principle underlying the management of post-separation employment is the need to ensure that public sector decisions are made only on their merits and not compromised by extraneous considerations or personal interests. The Department of Premier and Cabinet Personnel Handbook refers to this issue in Section 8-12: Employees should not use their position to obtain opportunities for future employment. They should not allow themselves or their work to be influenced by plans for, or offers of, employment outside the department. _____________________________________________________ There should be a mandatory quarantine period of 18 months to 2 years, between leaving Ministerial or senior public service positions and taking up a job in the private sector where you can be seen to be using your previous contacts and influence to feather your own nest. Want to get up to speed with a comparison of anti-corruption legislative frameworks between Australia, NZ, UK, Canada and USA and compare it with that of New Zealand? aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/BN/2012-2013/Conduct Please be reminded that New Zealand has STILL yet to ratify the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC). Minister of Justice Judith Collins Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Legislation Bill, the passage of which is required before NZ can ratify UNCAC has yet to surface on the Parliamentary Order Paper. parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/50DBSCH_SCR5462_1/e73e0f6412f2e249705a3fa50593fa18d79e2d80 International treaty examination of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption Report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee _____________________________________________________ This 50th Parliament has 5 sitting weeks left ... . New Zealand desperately needs a genuinely Independent Commission Against Corruption - like the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) _____________________________________________________ icac.nsw.gov.au/about-the-icac/overview Overview The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) was established by the NSW Government in 1989 in response to growing community concern about the integrity of public administration in NSW. The ICACs principal functions are set out in the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988. In summary, they are: to investigate and expose corrupt conduct in the NSW public sector to actively prevent corruption through advice and assistance, and to educate the NSW community and public sector about corruption and its effects. The jurisdiction of the ICAC extends to all NSW public sector agencies (except the NSW Police Force) and employees, including government departments, local councils, members of Parliament, ministers, the judiciary and the governor. The ICACs jurisdiction also extends to those performing public official functions. _____________________________________________________ Penny Bright ......................... _________________