Tuesday 2 September 2008

Scampi

I wasn't in the country when the scampi inquiry was under way, but the "secret" documentary on the inquiry that Rodney Hide claimed had been destroyed has in fact not been destroyed, but is alive and well and featuring on Whale Oil's blog.

Perhaps someone could summarise the main points for me, and tell me why it matters.

UPDATE: Looks like Rodney only claimed that TVNZ destroyed the doco, not that all copies had been destroyed in toto. My mistake.

And it seems, according to you, the readers, the'scampi tape' matters because it allegedly provides incontrovertible evidence that Winston Peters and the highest levels of the Labour Party corruptly collapsed a select committee inquiry - after they and NZF received hundreds of thousands of dollars from participants in the scampi industry who were trying to get around the quota system -- this being being yet another example of what occurs when a group of professional politicians attains power over other people, which is what the quota system represents.

As LGM says, "In such situations there is always the likelyhood of cronyism and fraud and theft. Even if it doesn't actually occur, the taint exists."

In such situations by the way, the "taint," if it exists, is not a product of businessmen who are just trying to get rich by producing more of what customers want, but of the politicians who try to put an oar in the way of that benevolent process.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

...and the National Socialists would do things any differently?
Dream on, fool!

---

It's not really important except in being yet another example of what occurs when a group of professional politicians attains power over others people. In such situations there is always the likelyhood of cronyism and fraud and theft. Even if it doesn't actually occur, the taint exists.

Whenever govts have powers and functions that they should not possess these problems arise over and over and over again.

LGM

Peter Cresswell said...

Ah, it's an expose of a quota scam.

I see.

Anonymous said...

Rodney Hide did not claim that the doco had been destroyed entirely, just the copy held by TVNZ. Rodney himself has a copy of the doco, which he held up in Parliament.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

Rodders just nailed the commies in the house
- mentioned WhaleOil by name...

Anonymous said...

It's really electioneering puffery and pose. They'd get up to exactly the same sorts of rorting themselves given the opportunity.

LGM

Elijah Lineberry said...

I have emailed Peter about this and I feel someone needs to enter into this thread and make a couple of points...

1. These allegations look like dirty electioneering.

2. No one...certainly not me...belives Winston Peters is stupid enough to trouser a $300,000 bribe in broad daylight in front of numerous witnesses...(if you know what I mean?)

3. The credibility of accusers is sorely lacking....(if you know what I mean?)

4. I think I can speak on behalf of the entire Libertarianz Party when I say we have no intention of engaging in trash...

5. Some of the comments on this thread are defamatory (to put it mildly)...if you chaps are so sure of your ground, so sure of your allegations, you should post writing your own name..in big letters.

I, for one, do not believe any of this....I think people writing such allegations so close to an election are lying and decending into the gutter.

Oh..and for the record...my name is Elijah Lineberry, I live at 23 Arabi street, Sandringham, Auckland, my contact number is (027) 727-9882...and I have no reason to slink around the internet like a mangy maggot spewing lies about political opponents.

Peter Cresswell said...

Um, Elijah is right. There are nine comments here, of which six are anonymous -- and half of those are anonymous, of course.

If you're going to accuse, then use a name, even a nickname. As my comments policy says:

"Anonymous commenting, while sometimes necessary, can be seen as cowardly. Build your identity and own your words by placing your name and weblog address on your comments wherever possible."

Defamatory comments by anonymites will likely be deleted.

Anonymous said...

A brief summary. [seeing as PC asked for one]

Scampi was to be entered into the ITQ [Independant Transferrable Quota] system--allegedly a property right.

The quota was to be allocated on the basis of scampi caught by companies or individuals during two qualifying years.

The Ministry actively prevented fishing companies successfully getting permits during those years.

An individual in the Ministry who had influence on the scampi fishery left the Ministry and commenced working for one of the permit holders.

That permit holder appeared to be unduly favoured in the subsequent allocation of quota.

The other fishing enterprises who were denied the opportunity cried foul and pointed to operational inconsistencies that lead to the disproportionate allocation.

Corruption was alleged and an enquiry was convened.

The enquiry was dominated by MP Peters who reduced its terms of reference.

Affadavits alleging the passing of cash to the former MP Meurant who was simultaneously working for his old party and the fishing company were filed. Similarly others alleging favours given to Peters were made by an employee of the company [at great personal cost and no benefit to the employee] Another statement was filmed of a former skipper testifying on his own free will of his false witness to the committee claiming in part his potential personal benefit and the persuasive influence of the company.

The inquiry found nothing untoward and the unsuccessful applicants had to negotiate meager compensation for their loss of opportunity and legal fees.

The videotaped interview has only just been made public.

A precis of the valedictorian speech of retiring MP committee member Ewen-Street could be this.

The whole thing smells.


George