95bFM: The Wednesday Wire with Paul Deady

The bFM WIRE Today: 12 - 2pm weekdays

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1220 - Banking Inquiry - David Cunliffe, Labour

We kick off the show at 1220 with an interview I did just moments ago with Labour's Finance spokesperson David Cunliffe. He headed a parliamentary inquiry into the banking sector whose aim was to figure out why cuts to the Official Cash Rate were not passed on to bank customers in the form of lower short-term interest rates. The inquiry published its findings today, and they're not pretty. The 4 major Australian-owned banks did not pass on those OCR cuts and the banking sector is an uncompetitive mess. But this was an inquiry lead by the opposition, with no government involvement, and not ONE of the big 4 banks showed up. So how strong are these findings?

1240 - Refugee Council Pres. Nagalingam Rasalingham

Then at 1240, we talk to (above). The Refugee Council of New Zealand have raised their voice regarding the matter of 330 Sri Lankan boat people. Ethnic Tamils, they fled the end of the country's civil war fearing persecution. They're currently holed up on an Australian vessel, docked off Indonesia. In terms of asylum, the refugees could be split between Australia and this country, a move Australia's immigration minister has welcomed. However Prime Minister John Key says we're unlikely to take them in, because it might encourage the "wrong sort of behaviour". Advocates say these are genuine refugees and taking some in won't make New Zealand look like a "soft touch". Should we share the load with our neighbours?

1300 - Palestinian Authority Bluff - Dr Nigel Parsons Senior lecturer in Politics at Massey University

At 1300, we examine Mahmoud Abbas' poker face. The current president of the Palestinian Authority has recently said he would resign from his position because there's no sign of a Palestinian state in the near future. But detractors are calling b-s, saying Abbas is bluffing and is only upset over the Israeli and American policy towards Palestine. We talk to (above) about what Abbas has to gain if it is a bluff, and also ask why the NZ delegate in the UN has accusing its human rights council council of bias AGAINST Israel.

1320 - Counterclockwise

Spike Mountjoy joins us for counterclockwise today at 1320, thanks to the lovely folks at scoop.co.nz. Today, a look at a week of bluster and potty mouth from one Hone Harawira. How how much harder will his actions will make it to sell a solution to the Foreshore and Seabed Act. Spike will also be taking a look at other bully tactics seen in the venerable house of Parliament this week - who's calling who tinkerbell?

1340 - Book She Read

And finally at 1340, Sally joins us for another edition of Book She Read. Today: the plagiarism scandal surrounding Witi Ihimaera and his new book The Torwenna Sea. Also, a review(!) of "The Wild Things" - Dave Eggers' adaptation of "Where The Wild Things Are". Not a new installment in the tawdry US film starring Denise Richards and Neve Campbell.