EPA to be gutted – for doing its job
Looks like National is planning to take over the Environmental Protection Agency.
Politics
political parties
There are no kiwi rapists on Christmas Island
John Key’s claim that Labour and Greens support the rapists on Christmas Island has struck a snag. There are none. And the brave action of progressive women MPs talking publicly about the sexual abuse they have suffered has shown how morally bankrupt Key’s politics are.
New Zealand needs a new Speaker
David Carter’s refusal to rule John Key’s “backing the rapists” comment out of order raises issues about his ability to properly do the job of speaker.
The Christmas Island riots
The barbaric treatment of New Zealand citizens by the Australian Government ought to attract condemnation and urgent diplomatic representations. But nothing is happening. Surely this is a time that John Key should get some guts. But instead of this he has accused the opposition of supporting rapists. Updated with video from Question one in Parliament today.
Inequality is a choice
Inequality is a choice. It isn’t a choice made by individuals, it is a choice made by governments. Check out Joseph Stiglitz’s new book Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy: An Agenda for Growth and Shared Prosperity.
Labour, identity, class and winning
The question of identity politics and Labour’s direction just never go away. But maybe we’re just thinking about it all wrong.
Little’s speech – reaction
Andrew Little’s speech to the Labour 2015 conference
Details of Andrew Little’s speech to be delivered today to the Labour Party conference.
Updated with the full text of the speech.
Grant Robertson’s speech to the 2015 Labour Conference
The text of Grant Robertson’s speech to the 2015 annual Labour Conference.
National – rubbish at everything except politics
National are rubbish at everything except politics. And that’s not politics in a good way.
Which Labour Party Conference is Brook Sabin at?
Brook Sabin has suggested that the Labour Party conference is in crisis following the release of the TPP text. He must be at a different conference to the one that I am at.
Labour – clearing the decks
Labour has positioned itself astutely in the run up to and early stages of its conference. Best news, there will be proper cooperation with The Greens next election.
Labour’s conference
Labour’s conference will be in full swing this weekend. Don’t expect any policy fireworks.
David Cunliffe on the state of the media in New Zealand
In Parliament yesterday David Cunliffe spoke about the state of the country’s Media and how in rugby terms the right have effectively screwed the scrum..
The Carnival is over
Ad reflects on how the carnival of the Rugby World Cup is now over.
Welcome Marama Davidson
Welcome to new Green MP Marama Davidson.
Is this our brighter future?
This morning’s media has reports of increased domestic violence being reported by beneficiaries and an increase of the time and resources the police are having to put into helping the mentally unwell. And record profits earned by the Australian banks.
Were people smugglers paid money to take refuges away from New Zealand?
Amnesty International has published a report “By Hook or by Crook: Australia’s Abuse of Asylum-Seekers at Sea” which has rightfully been described as a damning indictment of Australia’s handling of the refugee crisis. But New Zealand benefitted from payments of money to people smugglers. What did the Government know?
We are paying for Key and Coleman to attend the World Cup
John Key and Jonathan Coleman are attending the World Cup on the taxpayer’s tab.
Let’s keep politics out of Rugby
The right used to state that politics should be kept out of sport. With John Key politicising the All Blacks to an obscene it may be time for them to reinforce what now appears to be a very reasonable principle.
Let them drink beer
Health Minister Coleman provides another salient example of the surreal lengths that National will go to in order to avoid facing up to truths that they don’t approve of.
Kelvin Davis on the Christmas Island Detainees
Kelvin Davis’s recent visit to Christmas Island has revealed that New Zealand citizens are living in shocking conditions. And meanwhile John Key’s talk of giving the Australians a “blunt message” appears to have had negligible effect.
The left in Auckland
Ad comments on the change of National’s approach to local government in Auckland and suggests that there should be cooperation amongst the parties on the left locally and between the central organisations of the parties.
Wallowing in extravagance
“Wallowing in extravagance” is how Labour described the latest news of extreme spending from Steven Joyce’s MBIE.
Paula Bennett and the social housing crisis
Paula Bennett has uncovered the most significant risk that New Zealand faces. Or has she?
Russel Norman’s valedictory speech – activists and agitators
Russel Norman gave his valedictory speech today in Parliament.
The equal pay initiative
After twice killing off pay equity legislation (2009, 1990), National have been forced to confront the issue again.
Have a Drink Hoss!
So, by my understanding, in ‘three party’* Canada, the New Democratic Party sought the center and nosedived. Simultaneously, the Liberals moved left and […]
TVOne’s reporting of the latest Colmar Brunton Poll result
The latest Colmar Brunton poll shows that the opposition block is solidly ahead of National. Yet One News chose to concentrate only on the preferred Prime Minister result and attack Andrew Little because of marginal change.
Future Auckland
There are rumours that National is looking to organise a new regional ticket, Future Auckland, to contest next year’s local body elections in Auckland.
Labour’s position on TPPA
The last fortnight has not been a great time for Labour when it comes to the TPPA. But a couple of imprecisely worded comments may have had far too much read into them. And the left and the media may have fallen into a trap set by the right.
Rugby or global leadership?
John Key seems to prefer that New Zealand provides leadership in entertainment than in the areas that really matter.
Surplus explained
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.
Labour’s deputy
An anonymous editorial in The Herald this morning is a mostly well balanced discussion of the issue of Labour’s deputy leader.
Cancer patients and punitive policies
We need a welfare system that acknowledges the realities of cancer and other major medical conditions. That isn’t “special treatment”, it is basic human decency.