Huey14
02-18-2006, 22:54
A big bill for Bill - we pay as Clinton rakes in cash
19 February 2006
By TIM HUME
New Zealand taxpayers will face a hefty bill for providing police security during former US president Bill Clinton's private speaking appearance in Auckland this week.
The Police Association says Clinton's appearance at Friday's Global Business Forum - which is expected to earn the former president hundreds of thousands of dollars and cost the taxpayer tens of thousands - shows the need to reconsider policy preventing police from recouping costs incurred in providing security for private commercial events.
Tickets for Friday's forum sell for between $1595 and $2400. Police are refusing to say how many officers will be involved in providing protection during Clinton's overnight stay in New Zealand, but security arrangements will be similar to the last time he visited.
The May 2002 visit to promote BMW cars in Auckland involved 60 police officers and cost the taxpayer $35,000 in police personnel, accommodation and food costs. Clinton was reported to have made $500,000 from the trip.
Police spokesman Jon Neilson said although Clinton was not visiting as an official government guest, he would receive protection from the diplomatic protection squad.
"The fact he's not an official guest of the government doesn't come into it," he said. "He has the standing of a former American president, so he's a VIP and requires a level of security."
Police were liaising over Clinton's security arrangements with US Secret Service agents charged with protecting the former president. Clinton's protection staff may not carry guns in New Zealand.
Clinton is headlining the Global Business Forum at the SkyCity convention centre, appearing alongside former Disney CEO Michael Eisner and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
He will appear for 90 minutes at the forum, addressing the 600 guests for 45 minutes before a question and answer session with Prime Minister Helen Clark as his interviewer.
Organiser Max Markson, who was also behind Clinton's 2002 BMW visit and Cherie Blair's visit last year, said the visit was strictly business and contained no charity component. He was contractually obliged not to discuss Clinton's fee.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the visit opened the debate on whether police should be able to charge companies for providing security.
"We're the primary organisation for looking after visitors to New Zealand, whether they're a backpacker or the Queen. Clearly it's the police's role to be providing security, and if something failed here, it would be bad for New Zealand internationally.
"However, I think the fact someone's making money out of this - it's a sheer, for-profit, money-making exercise that's creating this need - most New Zealanders would think the organisers should be making some contribution here."
Police had asked BMW to pay accommodation and food costs for Clinton's 2002 visit, but police management had overturned this arrangement, as police came under a category of Treasury legislation where all expenses had to come from the government.
"You might wonder about the wisdom of that policy," said O'Connor. He said that in most countries, police providing security at sports events and other major events requiring a police presence would be reimbursed by organisers.
Police Minister Annette King was happy for police to provide security.
"Clearly certain visitors are more at risk than others but that does not lessen New Zealand's responsibility to provide them with security while they are here."
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Hmmm. I'm not quite sure what to think. He IS a high risk/profile person and his previous job leaves him open to nutters...
19 February 2006
By TIM HUME
New Zealand taxpayers will face a hefty bill for providing police security during former US president Bill Clinton's private speaking appearance in Auckland this week.
The Police Association says Clinton's appearance at Friday's Global Business Forum - which is expected to earn the former president hundreds of thousands of dollars and cost the taxpayer tens of thousands - shows the need to reconsider policy preventing police from recouping costs incurred in providing security for private commercial events.
Tickets for Friday's forum sell for between $1595 and $2400. Police are refusing to say how many officers will be involved in providing protection during Clinton's overnight stay in New Zealand, but security arrangements will be similar to the last time he visited.
The May 2002 visit to promote BMW cars in Auckland involved 60 police officers and cost the taxpayer $35,000 in police personnel, accommodation and food costs. Clinton was reported to have made $500,000 from the trip.
Police spokesman Jon Neilson said although Clinton was not visiting as an official government guest, he would receive protection from the diplomatic protection squad.
"The fact he's not an official guest of the government doesn't come into it," he said. "He has the standing of a former American president, so he's a VIP and requires a level of security."
Police were liaising over Clinton's security arrangements with US Secret Service agents charged with protecting the former president. Clinton's protection staff may not carry guns in New Zealand.
Clinton is headlining the Global Business Forum at the SkyCity convention centre, appearing alongside former Disney CEO Michael Eisner and former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.
He will appear for 90 minutes at the forum, addressing the 600 guests for 45 minutes before a question and answer session with Prime Minister Helen Clark as his interviewer.
Organiser Max Markson, who was also behind Clinton's 2002 BMW visit and Cherie Blair's visit last year, said the visit was strictly business and contained no charity component. He was contractually obliged not to discuss Clinton's fee.
Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the visit opened the debate on whether police should be able to charge companies for providing security.
"We're the primary organisation for looking after visitors to New Zealand, whether they're a backpacker or the Queen. Clearly it's the police's role to be providing security, and if something failed here, it would be bad for New Zealand internationally.
"However, I think the fact someone's making money out of this - it's a sheer, for-profit, money-making exercise that's creating this need - most New Zealanders would think the organisers should be making some contribution here."
Police had asked BMW to pay accommodation and food costs for Clinton's 2002 visit, but police management had overturned this arrangement, as police came under a category of Treasury legislation where all expenses had to come from the government.
"You might wonder about the wisdom of that policy," said O'Connor. He said that in most countries, police providing security at sports events and other major events requiring a police presence would be reimbursed by organisers.
Police Minister Annette King was happy for police to provide security.
"Clearly certain visitors are more at risk than others but that does not lessen New Zealand's responsibility to provide them with security while they are here."
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Hmmm. I'm not quite sure what to think. He IS a high risk/profile person and his previous job leaves him open to nutters...