Spy Report (Leaked by Phil Goff): Jason Ede Failed To Front

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Presented without comment

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

Slightly Left of Centre has received information that PM John Key’s self-styled “black-ops” man Jason Ede refused to attend an inquiry held by Inspector General of Security and Intelligence (SIS), Cheryl Gwyn, choosing instead to provide only a written statement in relation to the potentially inappropriate and politically motivated release of information by the SIS during the 2011 election campaign.

Despite repeated attempts by the inquiry to question Mr Ede further on his involvement to WhaleOil blogger, Cameron Slater, Mr Ede failed to front up.

This information, which was declassified and released to Slater under the Official Information Act (OIA), directly contradicted Phil Goff’s denials that he was briefed by SIS director, Warren Tucker, about suspected Israeli agents in Canterbury at the time of the earthquakes, causing Mr Goff significant embarrassment at a politically sensitive moment.

Labour sources confirm that the report, entitled Inquiry by Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Concerning Release of Information…

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Have Your Say On Legal Highs

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Deadline this Friday

 

From Auckland Council

Time running out to have your say on legal highs issue

 

Aucklanders are being urged to make sure they have their say on the issue of the sale of legal highs as consultation closes this Friday.

Councillor George Wood, chairperson of the Auckland Council Regional Strategy and Policy Committee, says that Auckland needs to be ready for when the products are legal again.

 

“Whether we like it or not, central government will at some point license these substances to be sold again. When that happens, this policy will dictate where that will happen in Auckland.

“It may be that you object to the sale of the products near your home, near your child’s school or anywhere in the city- or it may be that you are perfectly fine with them being sold.

“Whichever side of the debate you sit on, the consultation is happening now, and it will be too late to have your say once the policy is in place.

“This is a decision of huge significance for the people of this city. It will likely impact on all of us in some way. So make sure your voice is heard before time runs out.”

 

The consultation on the Local Approved Product Policy closes at 4pm on Friday 28 November and will help decide where psychoactive substances can be sold in Auckland once licensed by government.

To contribute to the consultation, visit www.shapeauckland.co.nz

 

Further Information

 

The consultation closes at 4pm on Friday 28 November 

The policy proposes that:

  1. Licenses to sell legal psychoactive substances in all of Auckland (apart from the city centre) will not be granted in:
  • areas of high deprivation
  • neighbourhood centres
  • within 500m of a school teaching students year seven and above
  • within 200m of a school teaching students between years one and six inclusive
  • within 500m of a mental health or addiction treatment centre
  • within 500m of an existing psychoactive substances retail licence
  • areas identified as restricted areas. 
  1. Licenses to sell legal psychoactive substances in the city centre will not be granted:
  • in areas of residential deprivation
  • within 100m of an existing psychoactive substances retail licence.

——ends——-

 

You have until this Friday

 

New Spy Laws? Fix Departmental Incompetence First

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Indeed I did point that out from Smith
Three sets of convicts or alleged criminals have so far escaped NZ this year heading to all sorts of destinations.

Why give new powers if the incompetent State apparatus can’t even utilise perfectly working and existing laws already in place to protect its citizens.

Key in typical one dimensional thinking is looking for solutions to a problem that is only there owing to State incompetence. Meaning the solution Key wants is the wrong solution. The actual solution is a rather simple one and rather effective as well; that is a nice big rocket or even better a nuke under the State’s backside and actually press the button.

New laws dont deal with existing incompetence, only gut outs at the top and proper funding to the agencies responsible for enforcing perfectly working existing laws do.

Professor Mayhem's avatarSlightly Left of Centre

John Key says the Government needs to give Police, SIS et al sweeping new powers to ensure the safety of citizens.

“Would you rather be free and dead or heavily surveilled and alive?” seems to be the choice being put in front of Kiwis these days.

Ben Ross from Talking Auckland rightly pointed out on Twitter that for all of the hoopla around our spy laws, Philip John Smith was able to leave prison, fly out and get all the way to Brazil before being apprehended by the police force of a “developing” nation.

Kiwi authorities do have a responsibility to keep citizens safe, but the number of people killed in terror attacks on NZ soil is zero. The number of people killed by domestic prisoners in the first 14 years of this century is much higher than that. Karl Kuchenbecker, murdered by Graham Burton who was on parole, Liam Ashley…

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Mayor Caught Short on Airport Rail

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Hmmmmmm

 

Yesterday a few of us saw this Tweet from Mayor Len Brown:

 

Effectively I Tweeted right back to the Mayor that what he Tweeted was rather rich by his own doing. In other words the Mayor once had the Airport Rail (from Onehunga) as Priority Two right behind the City Rail Link as Priority One (Airport Rail needs the CRL first to stop congestion between Newmarket and Britomart) but is now Priority NOTHING with the East West road Link now Priority Two.

 

Transport Blog did a piece on the Airport Rail falling to the wayside here: What Is Happening With Airport Rail?

 

So the Mayor gets caught short in a case of all words and no action…

 

Otahuhu and Manukau Transport Interchange Confusion

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Still no clear communication from Auckland Transport

 

Source: Auckland Transport
Source: Auckland Transport

Otahuhu Interchange goes ahead but there is a catch Podcast

 

The excerpt from communications with Auckland Transport:

At the moment, Auckland Transport are operating in a very uncertain funding environment as they deal with potentially lower LTP capital expenditure in the Basic Transport Network (BTN) versus that in the Auckland Plan Transport Network (APTN). 

Auckland Transport have opted to progress design and potentially early works (within funding) on projects that would be funded in earlier years under the APTN to ensure momentum is not lost. 

And in the case of these two projects, the following would be the desired timeline without the constrained BTN funding:

  • Construction on the Manukau Bus Interchange project would start in the 1st quarter of 2015 with target completion in late 2015. Currently, the detailed design process is underway.
  • Construction of the Otahuhu Bus Train Interchange would start later this month with expected completion in late 2015. Currently, the detailed design process is underway.

 

In addition, Auckland Transport are currently exploring re-prioritisation options for these 2 projects.  As this is currently being worked through, no update to the draft LTP has been made. If re-prioritisation cannot be achieved in 2014/15 and in the early years of the LTP, Auckland Transport would only deliver on initial improvements within the current funding, with the delivery of full specification in 2020/21. 

Current Basic Transport Network (the Mayors proposal) budgeted figures:

Manukau Bus Interchange

  • We have design funding of $3.8m in 2014/15
  • Then there is no funding provided in the BTN programme until 2020/21
  • Total required funding is planned at $23.9m (inflated)

Otahuhu Bus Train Interchange

  • We have design and some early works funding of $6.3m in 2014/15
  • Then there is no funding provided in the BTN programme until 2020/21
  • Total required funding is planned at $26.8m (inflated)

—-ends—–

 

 

The BTN vs APTN Funding Situation

 

Context and Historic Posts on the Otahuhu and Manukau Interchange Situation (from oldest to newest)

Public Transport Projects Being Used as Political Weapons?

Update on Otahuhu Interchange

Otahuhu Interchange Proceeds

 

Updates as information comes to hand