DISHONEST POLITICS

It appears that the true deviousness and dishonesty of Labour politics has never been clearer than their decision to cover up the ACC blowout. As always Rob Hosking of NBR says it best.

Nothing else to say really, apart from the fact that Cullen is a devious wanker and that Treasury needs to get hard. Free and Frank guys, Free and Frank. You can never get sacked for being free and frank.

WHO IS SETTING THE CLIMATE CHANGE AGENDA?

Well if you listen to Matthew Hooton here on RNZ Nine to Noon - It appears the Climate change officials think that they know best. Seems they were a bit late getting advice to the relevant Ministers about how the changes to the Aussie ETS scheme would impact on New Zealands scheme. The Australians have put their scheme on hold. It never included primary industries and Forestry like our insanely bold scheme. We, like Matthew understood that this government wanted to align our scheme with the one across the Tasman so why, apart for some ideological reason would the climate change team downplay what was happening in Aussie? They do not run the country. They should not be allowed to run the country. They are there to give free frank and timely advice. We think a change of personnel could be useful.

UPDATE and just in case there is any doubt that the Aussies are having a rethink - heres some more from Reuters on an ETS scheme

RACING GETS SOME OVERDUE SCRUTINY

We have been wanting to see this for a while - a good analysis of what Winston has done for Racing. And it takes Kiwiblog to do it. Well done.

It puts the Dom Post Winston expose into context.

BIG BANKS GANG UP ON TREASURY

The money markets are chattering over the Mexican stand off with the Big Banks who have, in an unprecedented move joined forces to talk turkey with Treasury, over the deposit guarantee scheme. The Banks want some changes. Treasury is staring them down. The banks are staying firm - they want changes to clauses they think could give non banking institutions an advantage.

We paid a very big price for a puffin' billy

The NBR's rolling online news is getting pithier by the day...

in 2006 treaury valued the trains as $120m - $570m less that what the govt paid for it!

Treasury reckoned Cullen buying Thomas the Tank and assorted engines was a very very bad deal. And he has the temerity to question Keys financial management.. He he should go back to teaching history - nasty little venal man.