The Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) has launched a surprise attack on media channel The Platform, aiming to lynch Platform head honcho Sean Plunket.
The attack has taken the form of an unlawful assertion that The Platform falls under BSA’s umbrella, such that BSA can consider complaints against The Platform. BSA’s tactic is to open the floodgates in order to drown The Platform in upheld BSA complaints.
BSA’s evil scheme was to draw The Platform into the BSA’s lethal embrace, on the sly. Broadcasting Censors Aotearoa tried to secretly tether and strangle The Platform by picking up an infantile complaint from a lame-arse Leftie named Richard Fanselow. Fanselow complained to BSA that it was racist for Sean Plunket to label Maori Tikanga as “mumbo jumbo”. BSA’s attack on free speech has been orchestrated by BSA chair, Susie Staley:
In accosting Plunket with the complaint, BSA issued The Platform with a “PROVISIONAL INTERLOCUTORY DECISION” that BSA can rain on The Platform’s free speech parade. BSA plastered “NOT FOR PUBLICATION” all over its absurd, unlawful decision, hoping The Platform would meekly submit to BSA’s hegemony. But BSA’s shenanigans have back fired big time, because Plunket decided, quite rightly, to publish BSA’s balderdash on The Platform’s website. You can read it all here:
This is Woke Cancel Culture made manifest, in full activist form. Much incisive stuff has already been written on this sad and sinister BSA attempt at media censorship domination. You can look it all up, dear readers.
My focus is on the jarring juxtaposition between the reactions to this sordid assault on free speech from NZ First Party leader Winston Peters and ACT Party leader David Seymour, on the one hand, and – on the other hand - National Party Minister for Media and Communications, Paul Goldsmith.
Winston Peters immediately announced, “Why does the Broadcasting Standards Authority think they can make up their own rules in secret meetings to act like some Soviet Era Stasi”, accusing BSA of “censorship”, “blatant overreach” and “outrageous action” and describing BSA’s bunkum as “highly concerning”.
David Seymour chimed in with:
“The Broadcasting Standards Authority has secretly decided to expand its regime to the internet. This is a power grab by unelected bureaucrats who think they can regulate speech online without any democratic mandate. It’s outrageous and unacceptable. If the BSA wants to regulate online broadcasters, it should go through Parliament like everyone else. Sneaking around behind closed doors and ambushing people with complaints is not how a free society works.”
ACT MP Todd Stephenson backed his leader:
“Unelected bureaucrats have no mandate to police the internet. When Parliament created the BSA in 1989, it was to uphold standards for traditional broadcasters. There was no YouTube, no podcasts, no livestreams. The BSA now claims it can regulate platforms like The Platform because podcasts include sound, and sound equals broadcasting. That’s a dangerous leap in logic.”
In stark, abysmal contrast, Paul Goldsmith demurred that he “could not comment on operational matters”. As if the BSA’s unlawful attempt to unilaterally extend its jurisdiction is an “operational matter”!?
AND GET THIS…BSA gave Goldsmith prior notice of its decision to try and capture The Platform and Goldsmith…let BSA go right ahead.
This is the very essence of the current National Party. Labour Light, with concealed addictions to State censorship, crafting of “official” Orwellian narratives and general Wokery. Which is fundamentally why the National Party is in freefall.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has steadfastly refused to appear on The Platform. Just as Luxon said there was “nothing he likes” about the ACT Party’s Treaty Principles Bill, there is nothing Luxon likes about Sean Plunket or The Platform. In his marshmallow heart of hearts, Luxo would simply love BSA to “disappear” The Platform.
I’m not an insider and rarely get juice. But here’s a titbit you can take as read…The Chris’s are talking. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour leader (and former Prime Minister) Chris Hipkins have been secretly talking about forming a “grand coalition” Nats/Labour Government after the next election, with a view to marginalizing the NZ First and ACT political parties.
And we know, don’t we - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that such a Government would have no hesitation in extending the BSA’s remit to cover all media. That prospect is nothing short of a dystopian nightmare. Behold, Big Brother Luxkins…
