NRT: “Daddy leave” and the parental leave bill
Idiot/Savant at No Right Turn looks at the Paid Parental Leave Bill and how National are trying to wreck it.
Politics
Parliament
Labour maidens – Willow-Jean Prime
“It means protecting and growing our rights as people, not just as economic units, health clients, “clients” of any kind.”
A strong start by Willow-Jean Prime.
The House’s Man
How is Trevor Mallard doing as speaker? Early signs are good.
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.
The new Green Ministers and Undersecretary
An outline of the Green Party positions in the new government, and which Green MPs hold them.
Critiquing A Modest National Party Proposal
Some National supporters are proposing the Governor General direct coalition talks in the future. How would that actually work out?
The Labour lite budget
From pre announced budget initiatives it is clear that today’s budget will provide National the opportunity to announce watered down insipid versions of current Labour Party policies.
Climate change, political heroes, political culture
How ironic that Parliament is to debate climate change today, as the latest in a torrent of warming-fueled extreme weather events bears down on the country, and as the government charges Russel Norman and the other heroes trying to end oil exploration in NZ waters.
Some flaws of the Resource Amendment Legislation Bill
The Resource Amendment Legislation Bill is being debated in Parliament this week. It is a total re-write of the Resource Management Act 1991. It has some good points in it, but it also includes a number of matters which will have a severe impact. This is a critique of those points.
Nick Smith is a disgrace
In a functioning democracy Nick Smith’s handling of the Resource Management Bill should result in him losing his ministerial warrant.
New Parliament buildings
A couple of reactions to the $100m Parliament building plans.
New Green MP Barry Coates on his first weeks in Parliament
Barry Coates is the new incoming Green Party MP following the resignation of Kevin Hague. Here is his report on his first weeks in parliament, along with his maiden speech.
Kevin Hague bids farewell to Parliament.
The Green MP delivered his valedictory yesterday, calling on MPs to “be brave – stand for something.”
A timely reminder
Welsh Assembly.
A post to illustrate how fixed term parliaments work…off the back of some really woeful reportage.
Which National Party muppet appointed Peter Boshier to be Chief Ombudsman?
One of the few things the Nats normally excel at, is selecting a suitably unqualified flunkey to ensure an office they have no […]
Andrew Little on the farming crisis
Andrew Little’s speech in Parliament yesterday on the dairy crisis.
TPP submissions closing soon
The current closing date for public submissions on the TPP is Friday March 11th. Labour’s David Clark is calling for an extension.
Northland Fishing Competition
Winston Peters has stitched John Key up again, this time hook, line and sinker. When Key lied in Parliament about the Northland MP’s supposedly leisurely lifestyle, Peters offered a challenge: provide some evidence or donate $100k to charity. Will cowardly Key take the bait?
The great big list of John Key’s big fat lies (UPDATED)
How many more lies will John Key tell today in his so-called State of the Nation address? Virtual chocolate fish to whomever guesses the closest number.
Treachery and silly season political snippets
There’s still a few MPs “on duty”. Their function is to maintain the semblance of active government and to roll out a bunch of announcements they hope will escape full scrutiny.
Carter’s last fan
How fitting that Audrey Young is Speaker David Carter’s very last fan in the world.
Human Rights, Psychos and Opposition
New Zealand’s bloody awful parliamentary debacle.
Welcome Marama Davidson
Welcome to new Green MP Marama Davidson.
Wallowing in extravagance
“Wallowing in extravagance” is how Labour described the latest news of extreme spending from Steven Joyce’s MBIE.
Lucky Labour – disgraceful Speaker
Three of the four member’s bills drawn yesterday were sponsored by Labour leaders. What followed was one of the most disgusting maneuvers ever pulled by this government, justifying the headline – Nats play politics while Kiwi kids die in homes.
Embarrassment turns to spite
Parliamentary Services have marred what might otherwise have been a showcase example of how public protest is treated in New Zealand.
Warner Bros – corporate welfare beneficiary
Figures have been released showing that Warner Bros were paid NZ $191 million in tax rebates to create the Hobbit Trilogy. The films were very profitable. Why is corporate welfare for profitable activity tolerated?
National Ltd™’s Shane Reti Caught Out In Another Lie
Shane Reti lied about the process of ratifying the TPP. In a Press Release to the Northern Advocate, Reti states “. . . the agreement comes before parliament and opposition parties and select committees for debate and modifications . . .”
A silly act: it begins
When Parliament passed the Harmful Digital Communications Act, many people warned that it would be abused to stifle political speech. And it has, with NZ First MP Tracey Martin incorrectly accusing a political blogger (who supported a rival NZ First MP) of violating the Act. A bad first start. But it figures, the act is silly, slow and unworkable.
Kia kaha New Zealand First
Winston Peters was thrown out of Parliament yesterday and New Zealand First MPs walked out in sympathy for raising points of order following a personal explanation from Anne Tolley where she corrected an answer to a parliamentary question that was clearly wrong.
An open letter to Andrew Little
A respectful open letter to Andrew Little with suggestions for how to win the next election!
Fixed Term Parliaments
An argument in favour of New Zealand adopting Fixed Term Parliaments Act legislation.
Ten Bridges Too Far
With Crosby Textor by his side, John Key has since learned to employ all manner of specialist PR techniques including ad homs, blame-shifting, distraction, use of Dirty Politics proxies to defuse the situation, and false equivalence, all woven together in an intricately performed semantic shuffle designed to provide wiggle room for when he does get caught.
NRT: Legislate in haste, repent before you’ve even started
I/S at No Right Turn on the latest Nat omnishambles – these financial “geniuses” can’t even calculate their own pay rates correctly.