Politicians
often get a bad wrap, even when they do not deserve it. In that regard, they
are one of society's safety-valves. They are always good to sound off against.
Of course,
there are times when politicians' actions are so egregious to deserve all the
criticism they receive. This week's disgusting news from Australia about the
comments of a male Australian Senator about the private life of a female
colleague, for which he has steadfastly refused to apologise, would be near the
top of the list, and absolutely nothing can be said in his defence.
But there are
other occasions when it is the sheer stupidity or trivial vacuity of the MPs'
comments that deserve the public scorn. The mini-furore that has erupted over
Air New Zealand's decision to change the composition of the hamburgers it
serves to Business Class passengers on long-haul flights is a great example. A
veritable chorus of outrage has exploded around the House about how appalling
this change is, and what a blow it strikes against our meat industry. MPs seem
to be falling over each other to appear the most offended.
What poppycock!
This is hardly the issue of the day, nor is it likely to bring the New Zealand
meat industry to anywhere near its knees. Yet it is a good opportunity for MPs
the public would otherwise hear nothing of to set off their outrage button, and
presumably feel a sense of self-satisfaction at their pontifications. And Air
New Zealand will continue to serve their menu, and their passengers will either
take it or leave it, without the slightest consideration of the MPs' ramblings.
The notion that an airline's menu should be set by Parliament is simply
farcical.
And then there
is the "never let the facts get in the way" approach. By way of a
disclaimer, I am no admirer of New Zealand First, its policies, or its at best barely
marginally competent MPs, but the uproar over the Inquiry into the appointment
of the new Deputy Police Commissioner borders on the ignorant and the absurd.
For the record,
the comments of the new Deputy Police Commissioner at the time of the trials of
former Police Officers on sexual assault charges were unacceptable, and despite
his apology now, raise major questions about the way his appointment was made and
the current level of sensitivity within the Police when it comes to dealing
with such issues. So the proposal to have an Inquiry into the circumstances and
process of the appointment has merit.
The allegations
that such an Inquiry will not be unbiased because the Minister of Internal
Affairs, who will oversee it, is a senior New Zealand First MP, and the Deputy
Commissioner sought a New Zealand First candidate nomination at one stage, are
ridiculous. They overlook the simple fact that the Inquiries Act, passed as
recently as 2013, makes the Minister of Internal Affairs the responsible
Minister for all such Inquiries. Of course, the Minister does not conduct the
Inquiries personally, but is responsible, subject to Cabinet approval, for
selecting those who will conduct the Inquiry and securing the resources they
will need to do so.
The Inquiries
Act was passed when National was in power, and many of the MPs now leaping up
and down alleging bias, voted for it. Selective memory is a possible
explanation for the about-turn - a more likely one is the obverse of the
so-called Maharey principle: say one thing in Opposition, but do something else
in Government, and just hope not too many people will notice.
The current
Government made many rash promises while in Opposition, more to staunch the
bleeding of Labour votes than with any real expectation of ever having to
implement them. Now they are struggling to make their impossible dreams work.
One would have thought their experience would have been a salutary lesson to
the current Opposition of how not to get tied up in credibility knots. But
railing against airline menu changes and Inquiries properly constituted under
legislation they promoted in Government suggests not.
Being in
Opposition - especially unexpectedly after a long spell in Government - is
understandably soul-destroying, but it is no licence for the stupidity it often
seems to descend to.
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