Human Rights Consultation a Fraud

Wednesday 4th Apr 1901 Richard Prebble Media Release -- Governance & Constitution

ACT Leader Richard Prebble says Hon Margaret Wilson’s claim to have consulted the opposition over the appointment of trade union official Rosslyn Noonan as Chief Human Rights Commissioner is patently false.

“That Ms Wilson can make such a claim and expect the media to swallow it, shows how confident this government has become in its own spin.

“Her definition of consultation is clearly different from the High Court definition, which describes it as ‘a genuine invitation to give advice and genuine consideration of that advice. To achieve consultation sufficient information must be supplied and sufficient time allowed by the consulting party to the consulted to enable it to tender helpful advice. It involves dialogue.’

“Ms Wilson’s letter of 28 March, in which she wrote to “advise” of the Human Rights Commission Appointments doesn’t even come close. However in an earlier e-mail asking only Labour and Alliance MPs for nominations, the Minister makes it quite clear who was really consulted over these appointments.

“Such an overt politicisation of what should be an independent office is unacceptable and sets a disturbing precedent.

“Prior to the last election, Helen Clark as leader of the opposition, objected strongly to the National government appointing a human rights commissioner without consulting the opposition,” Richard Prebble said. “What does Ms Clark have to say now?”

Richard Prebble says the outrageous, unilateral appointment of Rosslyn Noonan as head of the Human Rights Commission does have a positive side.

“The Commission probably destroys more human rights than its protects. In recent times, it has had nothing useful to add to any law proposals that have human rights implications, and the contributions it has made have been pitiful.

“If the appointment of Rosslyn Noonan does nothing else, it can only help discredit the commission and speed the day when New Zealanders demand that its wings be clipped,” Richard Prebble said.

ENDS

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>