DAILY BLOG EDITOR, Martyn Bradbury, has lambasted the state bureaucracy for its failure to tell its political “masters” the truth. While entirely justified, his criticism does not go far enough. There’s an old saying: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” When, as has happened on multiple occasions since 2017, public servants have been caught out lying to their ministers, why haven’t the individuals responsible (and their superiors) been sacked? What is it that prevents Labour politicians from taking steps to ensure both the transparency and accountability of the public service? A coherent answer to this question would not only explain much, it would allow even more to be improved.
Our Truth, Tā Mātou Pono: Māori All Blacks hurtful and racist exclusion from South African rugby tours
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Broadcasters Stacey and Scotty Morrison on their new TV show National Treasures
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She said this “hard call” was symbolic of a breakdown in the relationship, which was at its lowest ebb since the early 1980s, when prime ministers Rob Muldoon and Malcolm Fraser seriously clashed. “It speaks a lot about the lack of goodwill I’m seeing at the moment. I’ve never seen Australian and New Zealand relations at such a low ebb since the days of Rob Muldoon and Malcolm Fraser.” She said Australia “has to be human” but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also needed to reset her relationship with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. “Jacinda Ardern needs to refresh the relationship with Scott Morrison and that will help refresh the relationship between Australia and New Zealand at the government level,” Collins said.