Helen's campaign of trust, leadership and accountability

On One Network News tonight it was revealed that Labour's most conservative minister, Taito Philip Field, was ripping off an illegal Thai overstayer by paying him to tile his house in Samoa for $100.00 per week That’s $2.50 per hour for a 40-hour week. TPF even paid for him to travel to Samoa to do the tiling.

Then he got Associate Immigration Minister Damien O'Connor to grant this overstayer and his wife a two-year work permit.

The Minister granted the request, noting "It is not my normal practice to intervene in the established immigration application process, however I have decided to make an exception in this case".

I wonder if Helen Clark will make an exception in Taito Philip Fields case to sack him as a minister. If he is not gone this week, you can be sure than there is no accountability, leadership or trust - let alone integrity - left in our popular 'n competent. Prime Minister.

Place your bets now.

Perhaps O'Connor should be told he is a naughty boy too.

This will be in tomorrow's papers - probably on page three, where it is not as noticeable. I wonder if the unions will slam this slave labour - or is it not the best of weeks to stick to your convictions if you are a Labour supporter.

Make sure you visit Just Left for an excellent write up of this story.

Heh.
UPDATE
So who is Taito Philip Field? He was educated at the same school as I was, and was the first elected Pacific Island MP in Parliament. He is the Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs, Social Development... and ... can you believe it.. Justice. He is the Mangere MP who had the second largest majority in the country at the last election. He voted against all conscience issues but one. He voted against civil unions, prostitution law reform, relationships(statutory references) bill and and against the lowering of the drinking age. His opponent is National's liberal Clem Simich, who voted yes for all these bills. In fact Simich voted for all conscience votes bar two, nearly the complete opposite.

You may wonder how Taito Philip Field got into Labour? Well, two reasons, he was a union official and his interests include oil painting.

At least he can sign his paintings.