As I have no other post this morning I will continue yesterday's.
Redbaiter says that my criticism of the written questions fiasco is "nit-picking and piffling" and an "over eager beat up."
No, it's not a beat-up Redbaiter. It is an expression of frustration at the extensive and expensive time-wasting (on both sides) that goes on in parliament. And the obstructiveness extends into the ministries and their handling of questions put under the Official Information Act, as identified and criticised by the Ombudsman late last year.
Game-playing by some bureaucrats to delay the release of public information has been criticised by the ombudsman.
Chief Ombudsman Beverley Wakem said there was a growing tendency by some government departments and ministers' offices to delay providing requested information within legal time frames. "While in some cases this was clearly a misunderstanding of their obligations, there is also a regrettable tendency to game the system and delay responses until the complainants' interest in the matter had passed."
You may be happy paying for the "game-playing" that goes on in parliament and the public service. You may think ready access to information of no account. I can't agree.
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2 comments:
I agree with the thrust of your your comments Mitch, I just don't agree that Bennet was entirely at fault. King's questions were IMHO unsuitable for Question Time, where as you say, the public should see a demonstration of government accountability.
I don't think accountability was the objective of King's silly questions. She was the one playing games.
By all means criticise answers, but let's also subject questions and questioners to a similar level of scrutiny.
Write to the Speaker and make your case.
This may be the best opportunity to at least get a fair hearing from a Speaker.
You would be speaking for a great many of us, Lindsay.
I just might visit him in his Electorate office and make the case in person.
kurt
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