Judith Collins, the toxic piece of shit responsible for National's campaign of dirty politics, is finally retiring. Yay! But we're not rid of her yet, because in a parting gift (and an effort to continue her malign influence), she'll be appointed as president of the Law Commission.
The appointment is naked cronyism, a retirement package to ease her way out the door. As president of the Commission, Collins will be paid over half a million a year - more than the Prime Minister. She's not unqualified for the role, and if this appointment had been made five or ten years after she had left politics, then it would have been far less controversial. But the Law Commission is meant to be a politically neutral expert body advising on law reform - and there is simply no way Collins, with both her reputation and recent political involvement, can meet that part of the brief.
Meanwhile, looking at the list of the Commissions current projects - which include hate crimes and director's duties and liabilities - and you can see all sorts of ways for a far-right scumbag like Collins to put her thumb on the scale, and distort the direction of our law for decades (let alone of the Commission is requested to examine terrorism or protest law). But then, the solution to a politicised Law Commission is for elected governments to keep throwing its reports in the bin. But then, there's simply no point in having such a body - and paying Collins half a million a year - if that is the result.
As I've said on other crony appointments, this corrupt culture of political cronyism around public service positions has to change. Appointments should be made on merit, not on connections or patronage, and appointees should be able to demonstrate they meet basic political neutrality criteria. Politicians have repeatedly demonstrated they are incapable of doing that job properly, so its time to take it out of their hands, and give it to an independent appointments body. That is the only way to end this corruption in our political system.
