Peter Godfrey and Selwyn Manning’s weekly bulletin Across The Ditch. This week: New Zealand PM’s Credibility questioned + Cricket World Cup Update. Recorded live on 26/03/15 – FiveAA.com.au and EveningReport.nz.
[caption id="attachment_1205" align="alignleft" width="300"]
Peter Godfrey and Selwyn Manning.[/caption]ITEM ONE:
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS once again decided to attack the messenger rather than address matters of national interest, after the New Zealand Herald revealed the Government’s GCSB surveillance agency targeted emails of Trade Minister Tim Groser’s opponents while he campaigned for leadership of the World Trade Organisation.
From Seoul, the Prime Minister John Key insisted the latest spying allegations were timed by investigative journalist Nicky Hager, and others, to coincide with the signing of a free trade agreement between New Zealand and South Korea.
When questioned on his conspiracy theory, the Prime Minister said: “Of course they were, it’s all part of a particular agenda by Nicky Hager and some others.”
BUT… the New Zealand Herald’s David Fisher corrected the Prime Minister’s assumptions yesterday stating that Nicky Hager had nothing to do with deciding when the revelations would run:
“Hager suggested holding until today (Tuesday) or tomorrow, or even waiting a week or more. I argued against holding it because, almost exclusively, news runs when it is ready to run.”
In my view, the Prime Minister chose to attack the messengers rather than protect New Zealand’s national interest by directing an investigation into the GCSB’s activities.
I suggest: that if the GCSB has been spying on our close trading partners; the people and officials of Pacific Islands states; and opponents of the Trade Minister, then surely the Prime Minister would instruct such operations to cease.
That would address New Zealand’s national interest.
ITEM TWO:
Oh wonderful Cricket!
To pinch a cliche the New Zealand versus South Africa World Cup Cricket semi-final match was a nail biter.
The game came down to the wire… There were two balls left from the last over, and NZ needed to get five runs to win. A South African born batter, Grant Elliott, who settled in New Zealand and made the Kiwi team, hit a six and won New Zealand the right to compete in the Cricket World Cup final at the MCG on Sunday…
It will be the first time New Zealand has made a final, and the team say they are under no illusions, that the MCG will be a cauldron of attitude irrespective of whether Australia wins the semi final match tonight (Thursday) or whether India emerges as the victor.
The Kiwi team say if Aussie wins the semi final, then there will be 80,000 people chanting for Aussie at the MCG. If the Indians win, there will be 80,000 people chanting for the Indians.
The Aussies are the TAB favourites to win on this side of the ditch…
Let the best team win!
Across the Ditch broadcasts live on FiveAA.com.au and webcasts on EveningReport.nz.
–]]>
Peter Godfrey and Selwyn Manning.[/caption]ITEM ONE:
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS once again decided to attack the messenger rather than address matters of national interest, after the New Zealand Herald revealed the Government’s GCSB surveillance agency targeted emails of Trade Minister Tim Groser’s opponents while he campaigned for leadership of the World Trade Organisation.
