Fran O'Sullivan, who is meant to be on holiday, has written a piece in today's NZ Herald on Labour's awarding of a high award to the biggest donor to the party at the last election. We did not see too much wrong with the award. Glenn has given far more to Auckland University and other causes than to Labour, and he is a successful business person. At The Hive we believe in the celebration of success, not knocking the tall poppy. It is a pity that Glenn has chosen to stay offshore etc. and the donation to Labour does call into question Glenn's judgement, but as far as the Honours system goes we were not too worried. Fran, however, has been doing some serious digging about this award and about how Owen Glenn, as a potential future donor caused Labour to do a rethink about some of the wording in the Electoral Finance Act.
Fran has also talked to Murray McCully about National's position on this award. According to Murray:
"National sees the Glenn honour as a huge double standard. Businessmen who are claimed to have contributed to National under previous rules which allowed anonymous donations, have been personally attacked in Parliament for trying to buy influence or favours. In the case of foreign donors to National, they have been prevented by legislation against making significant contributions in the future.
Whereas Labour gives a gong at New Year to support those businessmen who support it, in particular its biggest funder, says McCully.
National's other beef is the fact that Labour Party president Mike Williams let himself be drawn into commenting at all on the Glenn honour. He should have declined to comment and pointed journalists in the direction of members of Cabinet's appointments and honours committee, which is the body that receives nominations, deliberate, then confirms honours so as to avoid any potential for misunderstanding."
On balance. The Hive thinks that Labour has shot itself in the foot again. This is not the continuing controversy that Helen and team would have wanted at the start of election year. We hope that Phil Goff and his friends reflect on the now, very long list of own goals that Helen, Heather, and the two Mikes - Cullen and Williams have allowed to slip through. Might is not be time for change at the top??
