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A piece by Aussie-domiciled ‘AAP FactCheck’ but written by Otago-based free-lancer George Driver (a sometimes-contributor to The Spinoff and RNZ) and subsequently published by several New Zealand outlets piqued my interest: a Judith Collins statement, was, they adjudged, “False” – adding “The checkable claim is false”. How very forthright.
The “statement” alluded to was in fact a quip, a retort, a reply, during an unscripted live debate:
Nevertheless, says FactCheck, although the tourism and international-student sector did indeed represent $21.1B in contributions to export earning, that income stream “had not evaporated in its entirety” because some students were still in the country, and that remainder contributed approximately $1.76B to the economy post-lockdown. On that basis Collins’s claim was awarded the “False” label, being only 92% correct, or 8% wide of the mark, depending on whose shoes you fill. Crikey, I thought, that’s a high bar for false-hood.
Let’s have a look at FactCheck’s few and far-between claims about accuracy from Collins’s competitor for office:
“Unfortunately, under Judith Collins, we saw a decrease in police and so that to me is the fundamental foundation of any response to increases in gang activity.”
Jacinda Ardern, 30th September, 2020.
Factcheck declared of Ms Ardern’s claim: “Police NZ data shows actual police numbers rose between 2008 and 2016, during which time Ms Collins served two distinct periods as police minister.” You’d think that was game, set and match in the contest of false-hoods, wouldn’t you, with Ardern the winner? But, no. Dancing on the head of a pin FactCheck label the claim only “Somewhat False” by diving into ratios and percentages of police vis-a-vis general population. Hmmm.
Next:
“When we came into government, of all of the (child poverty) measures we use – and we use about nine – seven of them were getting worse. In the short time we’ve had, we’ve improved those so that seven are now better.”
Jacinda Ardern, September 22nd, 2020.
FactCheck finds: “While 2017 figures show improvement in six measures, seven measures worsened in 2018. Longer-term, only two measures had been consistently declining, while the remaining seven measures had shown little change in the seven years for which figures were available.” Labelling the claim merely “Misleading” since some “information has also been presented incorrectly, out of context or omitted.”
So, there you have it from ‘FactCheck: Ms Collins 92% correct claim is branded “False – The checkable claim is false”, while Ms Ardern’s child poverty claim using incorrect, out of context, or omitted information is but ‘Misleading’, and the police numbers claim, demonstrably false according to the ancient rules of arithmetic, is, after threading a camel through the eye of a needle, only ‘Somewhat False’. No bias at all there. Jus’ coincidence. I’m very sure.
In their latest-to-date piece and turning their laser-focus lens to social media, FactCheck published a ‘verdict’ on a meme circulating among Ardern aficionados containing a (deliberate) misquote:
Under the headline “Manipulated Collins quote misrepresents praise for Trump” FactCheck helpfully pointed out that Ms Collins was clearly referring to the American president’s aversion for military interventions, a clear and present fact, and a stance for which it has been suggested he receive the Nobel Prize for Peace. FactCheck also pointed out that the meme author had intentionally altered the leader of the opposition’s words. Perhaps the meme author was encouraged by the arguably juvenile but definitely very un-prime-ministerial, face-pulling by Ardern as Ms Collins delivered her chastising retort:
So far, so good for FactCheck – on this particular inquiry, until we get to ‘The Verdict’, that is, where the deliberate deception is adjudged only “Partly False”:
Beggaring belief: FactCheck claim that since the edited quote employed in the meme used words that Ms Collins used, it is largely accurate, just as a photocopy of a $10 note is largely accurate, but still a shallow and worthless counterfeit – it is not merely a note containing ‘some inaccuracies’ – it is fraudulent.
The smart-aleck that conceived the con-job is delighted, saying
“it’s been shared too widely to correct. Guess it’s just a construction of key words aligned with Judith Collins now?”
Happy their dirty work is done, probably emboldened by FactCheck’s timidity towards declaring the meme an outright deceit, and, judging by social media responses, enjoying the notoriety as the truly gullible and frenzied gorge upon the fraud like starved pond-carp after crusts.
Judith Collins 92% correct claim – “False. The Checkable claim is false”.
Deliberately deceptive internet meme – “Partly False”.
So: Australian Associated Press, just who’s writing this ‘Fact’ Cheque?
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