Barry Soper writes:
What’s happening to democracy in this country, let alone the promised transparency of this Government?
Labour is abusing its absolute power and it seems those opposing it are powerless to do anything about it because majority rules.
A couple of weeks ago National wanted Police Commissioner Andrew Coster to appear before the Justice Select Committee to answer questions about the three-week occupation of Parliament’s grounds by protesters.
The Labour majority of MPs on the committee blocked their request, arguing the Independent Police Conduct Authority was the “appropriate place for the review of police operational activities”.
The IPCA this week complained they are overloaded with work. Not surprising considering close to 2000 complaints have been lodged against the police by the protesters.
And by any logical reasoning that’s not the body that should be inquiring into the protest anyway.
The request by parliamentary security to the police to remove the first tents erected is unlikely to be covered by the IPCA and neither is the actions of Speaker Trevor Mallard who many believe exacerbated the situation by turning sprinklers on the occupiers and blaring the worst music he could find at them.
So not only won’t Labour agree to an independent inquiry into what happened and how, they won’t even allow a select committee to talk to the Police about it.
And if featherbedding Andrew Coster isn’t bad enough, get a load of what they are doing when it comes to questions being asked about its $1.9 billion spend on mental health which has come under fire from the Government’s own Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
The majority of Labour MPs on the Health Select Committee have blocked National’s attempt to ask questions about the commission’s first damning report.
National’s mental health spokesman Matt Doocey says it’s bizarre. Not long ago they legislated to set up the commission, and now they’re blocking MPs to ask questions of it.
They care so much about mental health they don’t want MPs to be able to talk to the Mental Health Commission about their damning report.
This goes beyond simply controlling the message. Like they say, power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Only 18 months to go!
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