Maharey excuses

NRT rightfully lashes Steve Maharey for his pitiful excuse for ignoring OIA deadlines, something labelled by the Ombudsman as subverting democracy.

Maharey, the man who wants to be PM, claims meeting the 20 day deadlines would require so much overtime by his staff, it would make them sick.

NRT rightfully points out that one easy solution is simply to hire more staff, if that is the problem (I guarantee you it isn’t). Ministerial office budgets are huge.

The other option is to simply let the Department respond to the OIA request without interference from the Minister’s office. Maharey’s staff only have to spend time vetting information going out, because the Minister is worried it will be politically embarrassing. Then they have to invent reasons to decline it, until they get over-ruled.

So on all fronts Maharey’s excuses are incredibly lame. If this man ever became PM, he would be even more arrogant and thinking himself above the law than the incumbent.