PRESS RELEASE: Penny Bright :”I look forward to debating ‘user-charges’ for wastewater with ‘gardening guru’ Maggie Barry in the Botany by-election”.

PRESS RELEASE: Penny Bright :

21 January 2011

“I look forward to debating ‘user-charges’ for wastewater with ‘gardening guru’ Maggie Barry in the Botany by-election”.

Independent candidate for the Botany by-election, Media Spokesperson for the Water Pressure Group, and “anti-corruption campaigner” Penny Bright, looks forward to debating the following issues with whichever candidate National selects.

“Will the National candidate support – a ‘Code of Conduct’ for MPs?”

“Will the National candidate support full public disclosure of the expenditure of public monies at central and local government level?

(The name of the contractor(s); scope, term and value of contracts?)”

“Will the National candidate support full public disclosure of interests (Registers of Interest) for all central and local government staff/consultants who are responsible for procurement and property?”

“Will the National candidate support robust, independent ‘cost-benefit’ analysis, to confirm its ‘cost-effectiveness’ for the public majority, before any legislation is passed?”

“Will the National Party candidate state their support for the Auckland ‘Supercity’ and the proposed 4.9% rate increase across the region?”

“Will the National Party candidate support as an underpinning principle that the public majority should benefit from our public monies at central and local government level?”

“Given that most corruption stems from private procurement of public services (privatisation)  and goods – will the National Party candidate support further privatisation of local and central government assets?”

Given that the door to this Botany by-election was opened by the exiting of National Party MP Pansy Wong under a murky cloud of ‘misuse of public office for private gain’ – (which Ms Bright claims is a widely-accepted definition of ‘corruption’) – she is very interested in the National Party candidate’s considered responses on these matters, and believes the voting public will be as well.

“The problem here, of course, is that the National Party candidate can’t just ‘make it up’ – their policy must be the policy of the National Party.

What is the policy of the National Party on these key matters of transparency and    accountability? ”

“Do they have any? What is the track record of the National Party in government on these matters?

What is the track record of the National Party candidate for Botany on these matters?”, Ms Bright continued.

“If Maggie Barry is selected, I for one will be very interested in her view on ‘user-charges’ for wastewater.”

“‘User-charges’ for wastewater made gardening unaffordable for a number of lower-income households in Papakura and Auckland City (under privatised United Water and commercialised Metrowater).”

“Perhaps ‘user-charges’ for wastewater will be a National Party policy ‘dead rat’, (the size of an elephant) – that ‘gardening guru’ Maggie will just have to swallow?”

“How much support will Maggie Barry then get from her gardening ‘base’ is she supports crippling ‘user-charges for wastewater being spread across the Auckland region?”

Ms Bright also notes that Independent Auckland Councillor Sharon Stewart was the highest polling candidate from the Howick Ward (which incorporates the Botany electorate), and  beat Citizens and Ratepayers Jami-Lee Ross by over 4000 votes.

“‘Safe’ National seat?  We shall see after 5 March 2011. By-elections can be strange and unpredictable creatures.”

“I am organising public meetings in the Botany electorate covering the existence and prevention of corruption at local and central government level and within our ‘justice’   system. I expect them to be packed,” concludes Ms Bright.

Penny Bright
Media Spokesperson
Water Pressure Group
Judicially recognised Public Watchdog on Metrowater, water and Auckland regional governance matters.
“Anti-corruption campaigner”

Attendee: Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference 2009.

Attendee: Transparency International 14th Independent Anti-Corruption Conference 2010

Auckland Mayoral candidate 2010.
Independent candidate Botany by-election 2011.

https://waterpressure.wordpress.com

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