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United Future
Since: 2007-08-08 10:30:45.829588
Posts: 220

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Dunne: Rankin appointment to Families Commission a mistake

UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne says the appointment of Christine Rankin to the Families Commission is a mistake.

“Ms Rankin is simply the wrong person to be appointed to a body of this type.

“She is divisive and controversial and her appointment will be disruptive to the ongoing work of the Commission,” Mr Dunne said.

“The fact that her appointment was bitterly contested within the Cabinet, together with her fall from grace under the previous government, shows she does not enjoy sufficiently widespread political support to make her appointment tenable.

“In the circumstances, my strong advice to Ms Rankin is to decline the appointment, because her taking up this role will seriously undermine the credibility of the Families Commission,” he said..

Ends

Mark Stewart | Press Secretary | Office of Hon Peter Dunne
DDI +64 4 817 6985 | Mb +64 21 243 6985 |
unitedfuture.org.nz


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Nicholas Grigsby
Since: 2009-05-12 17:51:43.476
Posts: 1

Peter Dunne has demonstrated excellent integrity in denouncing this ridiculous appointment so swiftly.

This is cronyism, plain and simple.

The Prime Minister and the National administration will be fundamentally undermined by this appointment.

It's clearly a decision based not on any honorable intentions, but merely 'white-wine' ties between a witless and inept Social Development Minister, and a 'has-been/never-was' mate.

It's poorly thought out, and families throughout NZ will suffer until the time that Rankin once again places 'foot-in-mouth' once too often, and gets the shove.

Persevere, Mr. Dunne!

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Michael Martin
Since: 2007-10-16 12:42:16.079
Posts: 15

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I agree with Peter about Christine Rankin for all the reasons he mentioned. I will add one more.

As far as I am concerned, anyone who has been married four times is simply not normal. Anyone can get unlucky with a first marriage. That is unfortunate, but part of the human condition. But three, back-to-back, marital failures? I find that suspicious, to put it charitably.

As a point of interest, my own church (Orthodox) does not allow more than three marriages within the church in a lifetime. Regardless on one's religious views, consider that this rule reflects the collective wisdom of the Church over centuries.

Now, ironically, I happen to agree with certain public positions Rankin has taken recently. Thus, one might think I would welcome someone who agrees with me, on the Commission. Nonetheless, the instability of her personal life, along with her extravagant and exhibitionistic behavior in the last National government, suggest to me that this woman has neither the judgment nor the character to be trusted in any matter of public policy.

If National wants a good woman with traditional values, to balance out the left-Labour influence on the Commission, why not appoint Judy Turner? I can hardly think of a better choice, myself.

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