| Tuesday, May 01, 2012 6:53 PM

Banks and Dotcom 1

The problem that John Banks has is that nobody believes his storyline.

It’s his evasion of straight up questions that has hung him.

The claim that he didn't know of the Dotcom $50k donation just didn't look believable. Nobody believes he couldn't remember flying to Dotcom’s mansion in his helicopter.

If you put what Banks has said to the 'sniff' test - Banks fails.

Today he has admitted that there was a perception that he was obfuscating. He's sorry about that. He says he was acting on legal advice.

Whether Banks has broken the law is arguable.

The Local Electorate Act is full of holes. The holes need to be plugged.

Exhibit A: Len Brown's donations were through a trust so he could legally know who had donated to the trust but not have to disclose their identity. Perfectly legal but it shows how much of a mess the law is.  It puts in context these anonymous donations.

Anonymous donations are not banned under the Local Electorate Act.

Labour's outrage is remarkable in that they supported Winston Peters even after the Privileges Committee found against him. Labour voted in favour of Peters at both the Privileges Committee and against the finding of the Committee's report. 

 Unfortunately for Labour they don't have what you could call a clean record in this area otherwise they could go to town.

Bank's key problem in all of this has been his evasiveness.

Banks and Dotcom 2

It turns out that Mr Banks lobbied the Minister Maurice Williamson over the purchase of the Coatesville property.

It looks like Banks assisted in his residency application too.

Now there is nothing wrong with lobbying on behalf of Dotcom, Banks was a private individual at the time.

It is for people to judge whether the lobbying was a direct result of a not insignificant donation of $50k. Nothing illegal about that either - but it’s the perception.

As I stated yesterday and from the get go - Dotcom wasn't writing out the cheques for nothing. I'm still wondering how he got residency with his criminal convictions. Still wondering.

Budget

The PM is indicating changes to the interest free student loans scheme in the budget.

However there will be no change to the interest free component.

It was the PM who said some time ago that interest free student loans are bad economics but good politics.

The policy is actually middle class welfare and it’s not the only one. Working for Families is another.

I see some tinkering around the edges to save a few dollars but they will make no significant impact on the balance sheet.

I know its a difficult balance in this economy, you have to be careful you don't cut so much as to cut off growth, but I don't see middle class welfare adding to growth at all.

John Wright

The Black Caps coach John Wright is standing down after the Windies tour.

Apparently he was offered another contract but has decided not to continue.

There are suggestions that Wright wasn't happy with the environment around him and that this has led to his departure. I don't know. But a coach of the calibre and credentials of John Wright will be hard to replace.