Taking a Leak with Simon Bridges

Taking two leeks.  pn394

UPDATE. On TVNZ1 News tonight  Simon Bridges said Labour was accusing it of responibility for the leak when Labour had only said Treasury had referred the matter to the police. Playing the victim?

Simple Simon went a-fishing,

For to catch a whale;

All the water he had got,

Was in his mother's pail.

-----

The last few days have really been amazing. We've had the leader of the political party that on good days has the support of at least 4 0ut of 10 New Zealanders — a lawyer in his past life — not only approving the  illegal act of stealing a copy of the draft Budget  but, in accepting and using the stolen missive, becoming an accessory to the theft, and potentially aiding and abetting simalar acts in the future.  No wonder he claims serious crime has increased under Labour. 

It can be argued whether his part in the crime is illegal, immoral or "merely" misconduct, but my guess is that many New Zealanders find it distasteful, more typical of the behaviour of a member of the paparazzi than a possible head of government.



Simon Bridges has argued that his action is totally "appropriate", it being  a task of the Opposition to expose Government shortcomings.  This argument would hold had he waited three days to  "expose" the Government after Finance Minister Grant Robinson delivered the Budget in Parliament. The exposure would have been no less relevant or effective for the wait. As it is, we have what many see as a political stunt that adds nothing to our democracy.

Bridges' motivation is obvious but I wonder about the person who leaked the document. Was his or her action also political or were they paid for the theft? If the police find the leaker and the person or persons is  prosecuted in a court of law, can a case be also made against Bridges for being in "possession" and distributing the goods, for had there been no receiver, there would have been no leak?

One wonders also whether leaking official documents is ever justifiable. I would say yes but only in times of national emergency or when those with power have acted criminally. A well-known example is Julian Assange's leak of data provided  by Chelsea Manning. There, the US military, contrary to US law and international protocols, were hiding the fact that the miitary were torturing prisoners. 

To  test of my own political biasses, I asked myself what I would have thought had the leak been by a Labour supporter to a Labour leader of the Opposition.  The answer was the same. The occasion was not serious enough to justify the action, and it reflects badly on those involved. 


Unsurprisingly, our media that too often acts like paparazzi, relished the leak, and the wording of this press release at least suggests they could even  approve:

And is the media making the most of it!   " The Government is in paralysis"

The witch-hunt may have started but it seems the hijacking of the Wellbeing Budget is not over. 

While the Government is putting on a brave face, it must be absolutely ropeable at having to watch a good chunk of its budget numbers released by the Opposition. 

In an impeccably-timed hit, National Party leader Simon Bridges released a raft of budget figures on Tuesday morning as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her finance minister walked into their early caucus meeting this morning - forcing them to run the waiting gauntlet of media and cameras with confused looks on their faces.

The Fourth Estate — and not just the Opposition, and ordinary citizens — is charged with keeping a check on Government's misuse of power. On this occasion, the Fourth Estate showed a more pecuniary motivation. Few asked whether Bridges' actions were legal or moral, the qualities we should look for in leadership. And as a result too few citizens will be asking these questions.

-- ACW

Some links for the interested 

https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/national-party-s-release-of-budget-details-sets-off-political-rollercoaster-tova-o-brien.html

"Money for tanks but not for teacher - Simon Bridges takes aim at Budget after claiming massive leak of details


Simon Bridges accuses Finance Minister of lying, says Budget hack allegations are a 'witch hunt'
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/simon-bridges-accuses-finance-minister-lying-says-budget-hack-allegations-witch-hunt

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/113077002/budget-leak-referred-to-police-after-treasury-finds-evidence-of-hacking?cid=app-android

Budget 2019 leaks by National came after Treasury was 'deliberately and systematically hacked'
https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/budget-2019-leaks-national-came-after-treasury-deliberately-and-systematically-hacked

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2019/05/28/609528/budget-hack-claim-raises-stakes-for-national-and-treasury