The epidemic response committee set up during lockdown last year and chaired by National’s (then) leader Simon Bridges had much more power than Parliament’s Q & A led by Speaker Trevor Mallard, and ministers and public servants were petrified of having to front. The reason being they actually had to answer questions rather than obfuscating, denying, deflecting, lying and rejecting facts as they had been doing in the House during all the first term with Mallard’s full support.
Later in the year when the election was delayed, Dr Shane Reti wanted the Health Committee to call Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, senior ministry officials, and the Health Minister, to grill them on the Covid-19 response.
When the government declined, New Zealand First came to National’s rescue with its support for the committee’s recall. With NZ First’s support, and that of the Chair, Louisa Wall, Ardern capitulated.
Now that an emboldened Ardern has the power as ‘Tyrant in Chief’, her tyrannical regime will fight to the death to prevent any epidemic accountability this year. Chris Hipkins announced this week they would (heroically) bring back some sort of accountability but only after much protest in the media and with a fear of polls dropping.
I predict a watered-down version of the House’s Q & A where Opposition members will be prevented from asking any really probing questions.
This is happening currently in the Zoom select committees chaired by Labour MP Liz Craig (and others) under strict instructions from on high to ban questions on crucial issues like ‘saline slip ups’ and other issues. Craig has already obstructed Chris Bishop, preventing him from scrutinising the unravelling fiasco that is the lockdown, testing, and the vaccine ‘stroll out’
One bright spot is the greater media coverage of this with journalists taking ‘interesting bits’ and replaying them, with commentary, for the public’s edification. Keep tuned for more of this.
The current regime in the House is atrocious. The Opposition are prevented from asking questions requiring yes-or-no answers, and supplementary questions are required to be closely connected with the prime question. Mallard’s own scientific formula around this stymies MPs in their quest for the truth. This bombastic individual rules the house with an iron fist where his princess, born actress, Jacinda Ardern, reigns supreme.
With Mallard’s protection, she has a captive audience to deny, lie, ignore and ridicule and ‘speak in tongues’ to the Opposition’s questions. And with Grant Robertson, the master of obfuscation, close by to whisper answers in her shell-like ear, the House is her stage.
There is virtually no obligation for her and her ministers (also protected species) to answer crucial questions on how they are spending our money!
The nation would benefit hugely if they got a chance to witness some real accountability with a covid recovery committee #2 chaired by National leader Judith Collins.
However with Ardern’s huge majority, as night follows day, there is a fat chance of that!
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
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