Editorial: Extraordinary claim of mistrust from Broadcasting Minister

EDITORIAL

When Police Minister Chris Hipkins was confronted with irrefutable evidence that senior officers had lied in falsifying stolen vehicle reports in order to gain access to CCTV footage, he couched his response carefully to
avoid any semblance of criticising his department.

Contrast this with the Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson who, in Parliament this week, launched a remarkable tirade at his own people in Radio New Zealand and TVNZ.

“We have no longer a trust in national media – no longer is there a trust in what’s happening at a national media level,” he said. “We need a trusted public broadcaster because national identity is incredibly important and no longer do people trust New Zealand television or New Zealand radio.”

The comments came after Jackson was repeatedly questioned over the…