Matt Watson discusses the state of New Zealand’s oceans, including concerns about commercial fishing regulations and their impact on recreational fishing.
Matt Watson accuses Shane Jones of favouring commercial industry ‘mates’
Matt Watson discusses the state of New Zealand’s oceans, including concerns about commercial fishing regulations and their impact on recreational fishing.
Jones has cost himself and NZ First a considerable number of votes over this one.
I agree I will never vote for a party that has him as a MP even though I like NZ First.
Blatant corruption, Bishop is right there in the mix
As a swinging voter, I voted NZ First last election. Prior to that election I spoke to a couple of NZ First loyalists well in the party mix and said Shane Jones was a political liability to the party. Both agreed on the potential for that negative factor and that it was being watched closely.
I was right; I’ve heard numerous people say the same thing.
How did Shane Jones become the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries with his well publicised at the time, political donations from corporate commercial fishing companies? In his role as minister he shown a blatant disregard for the people, the right of people to go catch a feed of fish and a strong bias to the commercial corporates.
Then there’s the anti-democratic Fast Track Approval Act. which he and fellow bully boy (a bit more subtle) Chris Bishop have rammed through into law.
It is so anti-democratic and so disrespectful of the public’s environment.
.I won’t be voting NZ First this time because of the theatrical bully boy Shane Jones.
High praise is deserved to Matt Watson for standing up. However the biggest obstacle to confronting poor politicians like Jones and Bishop is apathy by most people. I hope they shake that apathy off and follow Matt’s example.
Greek philosopher Plato said “The price of apathy is to be ruled by evil men.”
Perhaps Shane Jones and Chris Bishop aren’t evil but they are both poor politicians, disrespectful of democracy and the voters.
Interestingly Shane Jones claims he has a mandate to do what he done as Minister.
Two points:-
1. He has never been elected on five (?) occasions he has stood for electorates. i.e. he has been rejected by voters.
2. I don’t recall him declaring before the last election the Fast Track Bill intentions or that he would strongly favour commercial corporate fishing interests although the latter was not unexpected in view of political donations.
See https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fishy-influence-how-fishing-industry-captured-shane-jones-edwards-yja4c?
Matt Watson is a legend. Not so much Shane Jones…