Peter Dunne was interviewed on Radio NZ this morning: United Future says no need for independent inquiry

United Future Future leader Peter Dunne says there’s no need for an independent inquiry.

He doubts one would yield much useful information, because of the confidential nature of the agency.

Mr Dunne also said Mr Key has done all he can to ensure the spy agency acts lawfully.

And Dunne spoke about the issues around Kim Dotcom in an address to Petone Rotary:

Kim Dotcom

So, where to start?

Perhaps with someone who has been the focus of a lot of news recently.

As Leader of UnitedFuture, and consistent with the liberal democratic principles we espouse, I am distinctly uncomfortable with many aspects of the Dotcom affair.

The incompetence of the intelligence agencies is on the face of it so intolerable as to raise wider questions about purpose and intent.

Is it credible that they failed so badly, or were there other forces at play?

The prequel donations saga carries similar overtones.

I accept that the cock-up theory, rather than conspiracy, is usually a more reliable and accurate explainer of events like this, but the ineptitude that has surrounded all of this leaves me wondering.

While the media can often be a big part of the problem in these sagas, I think this is an instance where dogged media persistence, the newspapers especially, needs to be acknowledged and respected for raising a level of accountability.

I have been reminded frequently in recent days of Pastor Martin Niemöller’s famous quote in 1930s Germany, and its powerful ending that: “… then they came for me, and there was no-one left to speak for me.”

We are obviously an entire universe away from anything remotely approaching the circumstances Pastor Niemöller was facing, but his message about the dangers of political apathy is relevant.

While the explanation for all these recent events more than likely lies at the innocent and incompetent end of the spectrum, they do serve to remind us that democracy and open government is always a work in progress.

They remind us that the intimacy of our society, while normally a significant asset, can sometimes be a major problem.

‘She’ll be right’ has never impressed me as a desirable Kiwi attribute, and these events prove why.

The review announced yesterday faces the dual challenges of not only overhauling the procedures that seem to have failed so woefully in this instance, but also persuading the sceptics that the GCSB will be the more credible for it.

Only time will tell whether those goals can be achieved.

Without so much as a hint of schadenfreude, the slow, unfolding dual train wrecks of the Banks and Dotcom affairs have perhaps shown what a good coalition partner UnitedFuture is for the current Government.

We just get on with it.

No sideshows

No drama.

We are about getting things done and delivering what we promise.

We are about stable government – and in these tough times, New Zealand needs that more than ever.

We are also about having a ‘no surprises’ policy when it comes to our relationships and our dealings, virtues I suspect John Key must be appreciating right about now.

Perhaps, enough said on that!

http://yournz.org/2012/10/04/free-party-tests/