John Moore’s bite-sized alternative political analysis: Shane Jones in the shit, but no worries
The facts:
NZ First MP Shane Jones has been accused of dodgy behaviour, and of lying about it. Jones has been found to of backed a project that he had a personal interest in. Specifically, Shane Jones' role in funding a Northland cultural centre has been questioned. The facility in Opononi was given $4.6 million by the Government. And Jones’ support of the centre seems to of been the big reason why the cultural centre received millions from the Government. Jones is Minister for Regional Economic Development and he is responsible for the $3 billion provincial Growth Fund.
Shane Jones had declared a conflict of interest with the Northland cultural centre and its “Manea, Footprints of Kupe” tourism proposal. Jones was to be the chairman of Manea Kupe Ltd. And the NZ First Minister has denied he has had any involvement in the funding for the cultural centre, since he declared a conflict of interest. But Jones seems to be telling fibs.
Documents from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) show that Jones did continue to advocate for the project after the point when he declared a conflict of interest. The Minister went to the single ministerial meeting which determined the application, and his advocacy for the Northland centre seems to of swung the Government’s final decision to fund the cultural centre.
Analysis:
Shane Jones’ dodgy dealings has become a major news story. There will now be pressure on Jacinda Ardern to sack her Regional Economic Development Minister.
Jones has been found to of been loose with the truth.
Certainly, politicians lie all the time. But in this case, a Minister’s fibbing is linked with millions of dollars. Shane Jones has control over a three billion dollars fund, a huge amount of money. Yet it seems there is little scrutiny over how this money has been managed up to now.
So, has the stink of corruption begun to taint the Government’s provincial fund? Jacinda and her Labour Party colleagues will be highly concerned about any accusations of Government money being misspent? But what can they do?
Shane Jones is a leading member of the New Zealand First caucus, and without this party’s support, Labour can no longer govern. Therefore, will expediency trump clean politics in this case? And will Jacinda stick her head in the sand and let a Minister tainted with dodgy dealings off the hook?
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This political roundup by John Moore is an extension on the five-minute breakfast political roundup that John gives on Radio One Dunedin, Monday to Thursday at 9am.
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