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How Joyce’s media ban backfired


Public service cuts could be close to home for government economic policy overlord Steven Joyce.

Jock Anderson
Thu, 15 Mar 2012

Public service cuts could be close to home for government economic policy overlord Steven Joyce.

His office staff embroiled the economic development and associate finance minister in a botch-up which resulted in the National Business Review being banned from Mr Joyce’s speech to the Property Council in Auckland this morning.

The Property Council invited an NBR Online reporter to the breakfast gathering but at the last minute said he could not attend because Mr Joyce did not want reporters present.

Mr Joyce’s spin doctor Anna Lillis later said the media was “kept out” because “no announcements” were to be made by Mr Joyce.

NBR refused a request by Mr Joyce’s chief spin doctor Simon Beattie to remove a story about the ban from NBR Online.

Mr Beattie said there was “some mis-communication” and reporters should have been able to attend the gathering.

Mr Beattie said Mr Joyce did not want reporters banned and he was sorry it had happened.

But further information has come to light which shows Mr Joyce’s diary secretary Ashleigh Petley sent an email to the Property Council with a specific note there was to be no media at the event.

A good place to start public service cuts???

Jock Anderson
Thu, 15 Mar 2012
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How Joyce’s media ban backfired
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