Green Party portfolio list
The Green Party have confirmed their newly assigned MP responsibilities.
Politics
Posts on government and governence at national and local level, political parties,politicians, and political participation
TPP11 close to being signed?
Mesia reports suggest that a possible TPP11 agreement is close to being signed.
The new Pay Equity Legislation
National is trying to spin that Labour refusing to continue with National’s flawed pay equity legislation shows a lack of commitment to pay equity. Nothing could be further from the truth.
TPP, Corporate Coup or “Free trade”?
However. TPP ( The trans Pacific partnership) is NOT a “Free trade” agreement. It is an attempt to cement in corporate power, to override inconvenient local Democracy, and collect rents from local communities in perpetuity.
Since when was giving large companies extra rights in law, and rights to extract even more economic rents, “Free trade”?
This TPP…
Some aspects of the TPP no-one’s mentioning.
The Missing Noun.
When they said they wanted to eradicate poverty, I didn’t suspect they simply meant to expunge the word.
Justice for Teina Pora
Andrew Little has announced that the Government will increase the payout to Teina Pora by adjusting for inflation and by paying costs on Pora’s successful judicial review of the previous Government’s decision.
Suck it up political sleazers.
Winston Peters has launched a legal fishing expedition to identify who exactly breached privacy on his superannuation over payments. A problem that he shares with about 50 thousand other pensioners. Unlike them, his problem wasn’t trying to find money to repay it. It was that the breach was deliberately timed to be a classic dirty politics ploy, almost certainly by National, in the leadup to the recent election. I wish him good fishing.
Build a bridge and get over it
Finally conceding the government’s majority, Bridges is complaining that Labour has struck back on his boss’ plan to obstruct the government on select committees by following through on his own plans to reduce their size.
The days of National dick waving
The spin that National are running is that they are unhappy with the move to reduce the MPs in select committees. That their dick size opposition party is the largest make me see teenage boys being idiots. Because there is no substantive difference to parliament from when this was recommended and now.
Paradise lost
The Paradise Papers have provided further evidence of a small group of very wealthy people are using complex trust arrangements based in tax havens to avoid paying tax.
NRT: About time too
Idiot/savant writes about Labour’s legislation to extend paid parental leave.
Australia, you’re being a dick
Australia has refused New Zealand’s very generous offer to take 150 Manus Island refugees.
Labour and rural voters
In recent years Labour has allowed National to dominate rural politics. Maybe it is time for Labour to think about reaching out to rural voters and suggest to them that a progressive vote is in their interests.
Jian Yang and his residence application
Just before the election news broke that National MP Jian Yang had previously taught in a Chinese University training spies. A recent OIA release of his immigration application raises further issues.
Trust, Labour and the TPPA
A look at Labour’s PR around the TPPA-11, and a campaign by Action Station to stop the signing.
So there was a housing crisis after all
The briefing to incoming Housing Minister Phil Twyford shows clearly that a crisis in housing developed under National’s watch.
The Green Party goals in government
“This is an incredible opportunity for the Green Party to make that good, green change that we’ve talked about – since ages ago!”
Let’s do this
With a change of Government it is a time for a change in the public entities that run New Zealand.
No renewal for National
Bad luck you back benchers!
National reverts to type
Bill English has claimed that it is not the role of National to make Parliament run properly.
NRT: Good Riddance
“The government is throwing out pay equity legislation introduced by National, saying it makes it harder for people to make a claim for fair wages.”
She’s back …
National’s Parliamentary list has been announced. The big mover is Judith Collins who has jumped 7 places to number 9 and she is on the front bench.
Jacinda Ardern, Donald Trump and political manners
In terms of style and approach Jacinda Ardern is radically different to Donald Trump.
Auckland’s impending environmental crisis
Unless Auckland Council finds more funding for the environment the predictions for what will happen are dire.
We have an obligation to act on Manus Island
Jacinda Ardern faces a test of her claim she can handle Australia better than the last two Prime Ministers. How will she react?
Remember, remember!
Sunday the 5th of November from 12 O’Clock onwards, by the bandstand in Dunedin’s Botanic Gardens.
Three strikes law to go
Andrew Little has announced that Act’s three strikes for offenders legislation is going to be repealed.
Labour plans to stop overseas purchases of residential properties
Labour has announced plans to prevent foreign residents from buying residential homes in New Zealand.
Trump spins as Manafort is charged
The indictments have been laid and the recriminations are starting. Looks like the Trump Whitehouse is starting to self destruct.
NRT: Police Discretion
Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn writes about the Police’s decision to not lay charges against former MP Todd Barclay.
Deary me.
It would seem Labour’s got nuffin when it comes to the TPP.
Teachers will be dancing in the streets at the latest Education announcement
Chris Hipkins has announced that significant changes will be made to testing regimes for Primary and Secondary schools.
Who’s in trouble in the USA?
More trouble for Donald Trump as it is expected someone in his camp will shortly be charged with offences by the special prosecutor Robert Mueller.
The repeal of the Hobbit law
Labour has indicated that as a priority it wishes to repeal the Hobbit law, a clumsy attempt in breach of International Law to prevent workers in the film industry from organising collectively and to divert attention from the fact that the National Government had been played by Warner Brothers.
Why is James Shaw our new Minister for Statistics?
Why statistics? Some speculation as to how this fits together with James Shaw’s other portfolios, and what the motivations and goals were taking up what is seemingly a minor ministerial position as part of a confidence and supply agreement.