Westpac, Peter Dunne, & Edward Snowden…
.
Acknowledgement: Huffington Post – Edward Snowden Charged With Espionage Over NSA Leaks
.
Are we witnessing the first green buds of the Earth Spring? All over the world, the winds of change are blowing harder and harder.
The Arab Spring was first, and people rose up against dictators in Algeria, Egypt, and Libya. In Syria, a similar popular uprising turned into a bloody sectarian war, claiming nearly a hundred thousand lives. Dictator Assad will not give up power easily.
In the West, the Occupation movement flowered for a brief moment, but has become dormant again… for a while.
In Turkey and Brazil, people have come out onto the streets to oppose their governments. Even democratically elected governments are feeling the brunt of popular discontent.
In the US, even as a once great symbol of freedom devolves into a police surveillance state, individuals are risking personal safety and rebelling.
Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden are two such men.
Manning was arrested in May 2010, and is currently facing a military trial (and we know how that will turn out).
Now, Edward Snowden is the latest whistleblower to be charged by an American system that is becoming more and more despotic.
When a government fears it’s own people, it is well past it’s Use By date.
Bradley and Snowden: history books will be kinder to them than the politicians who persecuted them.
.
.
*
.
Acknowledgement: Radio NZ – Dunne hasn’t made up mind about GCSB bill
.
Edward Snowden made public information that revealed that US intelligence agencies were spying on citizens in countries around the world. He revealed that no one’s privacy was safe.
Meanwhile, here in New Zealand, the National led government is rushing a Bill through Parliament that would permit the GCSB to do precisely that; spy on New Zealanders.
We have moved from a nation that barely tolerated the State from prying into our lives – to one that is surveilling us; storing vast quantities of data on us; and now wants more power to spy on us.
There is barely a murmur in response.
Even the Right Wing – the political spectrum that is (supposedly) the most intolerant and suspicious of the growth of State power – seems to be practically comatose. Though in reality that may be because National is proposing the law-change, and not Labour. If it were a Labour government…
Peter Dunne, fresh from resigning his ministerial portfolios for allegely leaking the Kitteridge Report (or, more accurately, breaking an embargo, since it was one week away from being released anyway), has yesterday announced that he might not support National’s Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill.
Whilst I’m not about to look a gift-moa in the mouth and happily support Dunne on this – it does raise a few questions.
Questions like… why?!?! Up till now he has been the obedient lap-cat of the National Party, so why all of a sudden has the Coiffured One grown a pair, and practically thrown his lot in with the Snowdens and Mannings of this world?
Martyn Bradbury on The Daily Blog has been speculating on Dunne’s motivations in his part of the GCSB Affair in a series called The Dunne & Vance Theory.
Whatever is going on – I hope Dunne votes against the Bill. We don’t need to empower our spy agencies any more than they are already. We need to remember that the State is our servant – not the other way around.
We don’t need to be constantly surveilled, in case one of us happens to nick a pen or spray-paints ‘Key Sucks’ on the footpaths outside Parliament.
Up until the 21st century, the State pursued crooks after they committed wrong-doing. Now, the State seems intent on watching us all – in case someone, somewhere, is naughty.
Isn’t that… Big Brother?
I support Dunne on this dire issue. It is time to call a halt to the rise of the Surveillance State.
Dunne may well be the man to do it.
.
.
*
.
Acknowledgement: Radio NZ – Govt move to tender banking gets Green approval
.
I’ve always wondered…
Why have successive governments (Labour as well as National) used Australian-owned Westpac Bank to hold government accounts – known as the ‘Master Banking Contract’? The Master Banking Contract has been held by Westpac for 23 years despite never being tendered out. It covers all government departments (except Crown entities and SOEs).
According to Alex Tarrant,
- In the late 1980s, Treasury undertook an open tender to select one bank to provide the Crown’s domestic banking services. Westpac was selected to provide these services and a deed entered into in January 1989.
- A new master agreement was signed in November 2004 and, since 2005, the Crown has negotiated ongoing contractual price reductions for contract services.
- The contract covers only the core banking services associated with operating Government departments’ bank accounts for processing domestic receipt and payment transaction banking business in New Zealand.
- An increasing array of banking services have developed over time that are not covered by the master banking agreement with Westpac. Banking services that are not covered by the contract are regularly tendered by the departments concerned.
- The contract applies only to Government departments, not Crown Entities or SOEs.
- The Treasury regularly consults with key departments over pricing and service levels relating to the contract, including the possibility of conducting a future tender of the Crown’s banking arrangements.
- The contract has not been re-tendered to date because the costs of doing so outweigh the expected benefits given the complexity of arrangements with departments and the price reductions negotiated under the existing contract. Departments do, however, tender for a range of supplementary banking services not covered by the master banking agreement with Westpac.
- The fee arrangements between the Crown and Westpac are commercially sensitive and are not made public.
Acknowledgement: Interest.co.nz – Government considers future of Westpac’s key 21 year-old banking deal
.
Here are two further points to consider,
- Last year Westpac NZ reported $707 million in after-tax profit – a 22 % increase from 2011. (See: Westpac profit rises 22pc to $707m )
- In October 2009, the IRD won a lawsuit against Westpac which had been taken to Court for tax avoidance. Not only did Westpace lose, but it ended up owing $961 million in back taxes and accrued interest. (See: Westpac loses massive tax case on all counts)
So, Mr Key or Mr English – just remind us again why the NZ Government still has a Master Contract for State banking, with a convicted tax avoider, that actively conspired to scam the tax-payer for nearly one billion dollars?!
How is that being a Good Corporate Citizen?
Perhaps we should just let the Russian Mafia tender for our banking services – the result would be the same.
So not only is Westpace making huge profits – $707 in 2012 alone – but they’re screwing us by not paying their share of tax, as the law demands.
Have I left anything out?
Screw the tender process.
Just give the Master Contract to Kiwi Bank. The benefits would be obvious to all but the most strident, dogmatic right winger;
- No more tax avoidance – the Crown-appointed Board (with Ministerial over-sight) would see to that,
- Kiwibank would make bigger profits and therefore pay a bigger dividend to the government,
- All profits remain in New Zealand and not shipped of overseas (to Australia in Westpac’s case)
- Less profits remitted overseas will help of balance of payments
Win/win/win/win.
I’m just gobsmacked that no politician – whether Labour or National – has ever seen the blindingly obvious nature of this commercial cock-up.
And strangely enough, it’s left-wing parties – Mana and the Greens – thay have to point this out to the more capitalist-minded Nats?!
Though the reasons why the Nats have stayed ‘sweet’ with Westpac seem to be less than commercially sensible and more to do with a good night out…
.
Acknowledgement: Interest.co.nz – Greens say govt must tender master banking contract with Westpac after Ministers reveal corporate hospitality accepted from the bank
.
Just to remind folks: New Zealand is the “least corrupt nation” on Earth. And government ministers are not corrupt, nor easily bought off by corporate parasites.
I can’t say otherwise.
Otherwise I’d be sued for telling the truth.
.
.
.
= fs =
Leave a Reply Cancel reply
For a better New Zealand…
~ Cleaner rivers
~ No deep-sea oil drilling
~ Action on climate change
~ Less on Roads – more on Rail
~ A Living wage at $21.15/hr
~ Marriage equality – TICK!
~ Strong, effective Unions
~ No secret free-trade deals
~ Breakfast/lunches in our schools
~ Introducing Civics into our school curriculum
~ Cut back on the liquor industry
~ A fairer, progressive tax system
~ Fully funded, free healthcare
~ Ditto for education, including Tertiary
~ Fund Pharmac for Pompe’s Disease medication & other ‘orphan’ drugs
~ No state asset sales!
~ Rebuild public TV broadcasting!
~ Keeping farms in local ownership
~ Reduce poverty, like we reduced the toll for road-fatalities
~ State housing for life
~ Meaningful work for all who want it!
~ Stronger communities
~ LGBTQI inclusiveness. Trans rights are human rights
Recent Posts
- Business and Media pimp for dodgy covid test. Govt caves. Questions Remain.
- Purpose-built MIQ: National’s sums don’t add up
- The Virus, the Politician, and the gang member
- Open letter to Michael Barnett, Julie White, et al
- The Virus, the Bubble, and the Trap
- The Virus, the Media, and John Key
- One thousand dead New Zealanders per year?
- Submission on Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Bill
- The Microbiologist, the Caretaker Leader, and some Nasty Germs
- Free Speech, done Newshub-style
- Submission on Conversion Not-A-Therapy Bill
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 20 (@L3)
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 19 (@L3)
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 17 & 18 (@L3)
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 16 (@L3)
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 15 (@L3)
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 13 & 14
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 12
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 10 (cont’d) & 11
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 9 & 10
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 7 & 8
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 5 & 6
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 4 – Caretaker Leader Collins, another rare mis-step
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 3
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 2 – REVISED
- Life in lockdown, Round Two – Day 1
- Team 5 million vs Covid: Aotearoa on Three Strikes
- The freezing cold invisible hand of neo-liberalism
- National: Demand the Debate. Also National: No, not like that!
- The Shifting Faces of Simon Bridges
Essential Viewing/Listening
International Orgs.
Media Links
Planet of the Blogs
- Boots Theory
- Bowalley Road
- Brooking Blog
- Cafe Pacific
- Closing the gap
- Fightback!
- Gordon Campbell
- How Melulater Sees It
- Imperator Fish
- John Pilger
- kiwi blog
- Kiwi Politico
- Liberation
- Local Bodies
- My Thinks
- Naked Capitalism
- No Right Turn
- NZ Leftwing
- Open Parachute
- PostingDad
- Public Address
- Pundit
- Putting NZ First
- The Civilian
- The Jackal
- The Knightly Views
- The Standard
- Watchblog Aotearoa
- Werewolf
Political Parties
Resources
- Action Stations
- BERL Economics
- Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
- Debt Clock – New Zealand
- Farm Land Grab
- FYI
- General Elections in NZ
- History Commons
- List of countries by tax revenue as percentage of GDP
- List of New Zealand by-elections
- N.A.S.A. – Climate Change
- Parliament TV – On Demand
- PolicyMic
- Referendums in NZ
- State Asset Sales History
- Tax rates around the world
- The New Zealand Government Directory
- Trading Economics – NZ Economic Data
- US Debt
- Wikipedia
Social Media Groups
- Action Stations
- Affordable Housing For All
- All New Zealand Media
- Anadarko eye
- Anadarko- Wish You Weren't Here!
- Aotearoa is not for sale – NZ
- Aotearoa is Not for Sale Wellington
- Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG)
- Children of Aotearoa
- Coal Action Network Aotearoa
- Community Campaign for Food in Schools – NZ
- DiscussioNZ
- Feed The Kids
- Forest & Bird
- GayNZ
- Generation Zero
- Hector's and Maui's dolphin SOS
- Housing NZ Tenants Forum
- Inside Child Poverty New Zealand
- It's Our Future – Kiwis concerned about the TPPA
- Keep Our Assets
- KidsCanNZ
- Kiwi Expats Against Asset Sales
- Lets Talk About WINZ (Work and Income New Zealand)
- National Standards Must Go
- New Zealand Pompe Network
- Nobody Likes a Tory – NZ
- NZers for a snap election 2012
- Occupy NZ
- Occupy WINZ
- Oil Free Wellington
- Palestine Human Rights Campaign (New Zealand)
- PolicyMic
- Pre-register your disinterest in buying Mighty River shares
- Revoke the GCSB Bill
- S.O.S Save.OUR.Shores
- Save Fiordland
- Save Otago from Deep Sea Oil Drilling! (OIL FREE OTAGO)
- Save our Schools – Christchurch Needs your Suppport !!!!!!
- Save The Basin Reserve
- Say No To Fracking In New Zealand
- Service and Food Workers Union – Nga Ringa Tota
- Stand up for kids – protect our schools
- Stop the Search and Surveillance Bill Now!
- Tax Justice Network
- Tibet Solidarity Network (Wellington, New Zealand)
- TPPA Action Group
- United Nations For a Free Tibet
- We Don't Need Your Charter Schools
Uber Cool Internetty Places
- All Out
- Campaign Against Foreign Control of Aotearoa
- Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly
- David Suzuki Foundation
- Flying Blind
- Friends of Tibet
- Greenpeace
- John Key Looks At Things
- John Pilger
- Kia Ora Gaza
- Kiwi Expats Against Asset Sales
- Living Wage Campaign
- NZ Fabian Society
- Richard Dawkins Foundation
- Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society of New Zealand
- Royal Society of New Zealand
- S.E.T.I.
- Save Our Schools NZ
- Save the Farms
- The Equality Trust
- The Virtual Museum of Bacteria
- Transparency.Org
- Voluntary Euthanasia Society
- Wikileaks
- Xkcd
Useful Utilities
Archives
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
Blog Stats
- 550,848 hits
great comment as usual, Frank. could I pass it on to others please ?
I’d be happy if you did, Hopeful… 🙂
“Just give the Master Contract to Kiwi Bank. The benefits would be obvious to all but the most strident, dogmatic right winger;”
And the downsides are ovious to all but left wing bloggers it seems.
Kiwibank infrastructure, (most notably their IT systems) wouldn’t be able to cope with being the Government’s banker at this point in time. Perhaps in 2 or 3 years but not now.