Little’s Healthy Homes Bill passes first reading
Last night Andrew Little’s Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill passed it’s first reading. Bravo to Andrew Little, Labour, The Greens, NZF, The Maori Party, and Peter Dunne, who voted in support.
Social issues
The unfortunate case of the Overseas Investment Office handling of the purchase of a Taranaki Farm
They say in politics that a news story is good for the opposition/bad for the Government if it hits the media cycle two days in a row. If it appears for a third or a fourth day then it is a crisis and urgent action is required. Louise Upston’s handling of the OIO is clearly a crisis.
National standards – a failed crusade
National told us “New Zealand elected a Government that promised to introduce national standards so that every single child could read, write, and do maths when they left school.”
We’re number one!
Budget month
National’s budgets are boring affairs, but they will be hoping for some distraction from current events.
Garner – government “missing in action”
Duncan Garner reckons the government is “missing in action” on housing. Similar pieces could be written about poverty, pollution, the rising debt, carbon emissions, the use of NZ as a tax haven, etc.
Labour’s strong week – National and land sales to foreigners
Labour had a strong week this week with the disclosure of individuals behind a Mossack Fonseca related entity had criminal convictions for environmental damage forcing the OIO to review its original decision. Grant Robertson has correctly called for a full inquiry into the circumstances relating to the Government stopping a review of the Foreign Trust regime. And Phil Twyford has persuaded the OAG to rule that Housing New Zealand’s handling of parts of the housing sale process were sub standard.
Key’s Blind Trust vs Our Blind Faith
So Key’s lawyer reckons the PM directly requested that trust industry leaders lobby the Revenue Minister. On the other hand, PM DunnoKeyo reckons he did no such thing. That leaves some really big questions …
If you need a good laugh this morning
“Nick Smith reckons Akld housing’s more affordable now than before National came to power”
Mossack Fonseca bites National on the arse
John Key is facing some problems describing how a Mossack Fonseca company ended up owning a New Zealand farm and how after his lawyer asked the Government not to change the rules surrounding foreign trusts the Government moved to make sure that no rule change would occur.
Key’s land tax – too weak
Reaction to Key’s land tax has been luke warm at best, with strong calls for more effective action. Labour is promising “a ‘tidal wave’ of big housing reforms”…
Emmerson on the land tax
What has the ECHR ever done for the British?
Well nothing apart from …
Key prepares to backflip on Auckland housing
John Key is preparing the ground for a reversal on National’s refusal to do anything about Auckland’s housing crisis.
Robert Reich: The populist left and right are on the same side
A recent post from Salon. Robert Reich believes that the left and right have more in common than they think.
Housing crisis solved!
I don’t like to boast, but I have solved the housing crisis.
Key launches war on P
“My message to the gangs is clear. This Government is coming after your business and we will use every tool we have to destroy it. We will be ruthless in our pursuit of you and the evil drug you push.”
NRT: Bill English wants to end your privacy
I/S at No Right Turn the “data supermarket” and privacy concerns. “The government wants to be able to effectively spy on and database everyone, so they can save a few dollars here and there.”
John’s Key’s “lawyer” is not a lawyer
John Key, explaining why he had an account with tax avoidance specialists Antipodes Trust Group, said he used the firm because his long-term friend, Ken Whitney, is a principal at the firm and has been his private lawyer for many years. The flaw in that theory is that Whitney is not currently a lawyer.
National gets a smacking on the housing crisis
Fair to say that Simon Bridges’ claim that there is no housing crisis has – not gone down well. National – you have a problem.
Housing crisis
Housing is very much in the news again. Short term profit and bugger the consequences!
McCully, the National Party donation and the Niue resort
Murray McCully has assured New Zealand that there is no link between the granting of valuable rights to manage a luxury resort in Niue and the making of large donations to the National Party.
Climate change – that ship has sailed
Our models and our plans for responding to climate change are already out of date.
The solar surcharge
Profit gouging or genuine need?
Trickledown has failed
Two recent articles in the Guardian highlight the staggering amount of money being sent to overseas tax havens by the wealthy and how with the disappearance of work a universal basic income will become a necessity.
Twyford on solutions to the housing crisis in Auckland
As Nick Smith flounders about uselessly, here are extracts from Phil Twyford’s speech on solutions to the housing crisis in Auckland.
Another Nick Smith fail in Auckland
How’s Nick Smith doing on the Budget plan to round up 500ha of Auckland land for housing? The answer won’t shock you!
The Divide (Spirit Level – The Movie)
Based on the breakthrough book The Spirit Level, just released film The Divide puts a human face on low wage hell. “Why aren’t we earning enough to live?”
Can we trust John Key?
John Key’s relationship with Antipodes Trust Group Limited will need some explaining.
Daily Review 11/04/2016
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Caption Competition
‘ Keep it seemly . . .
Clayton Cosgrove to Leave Parliament
Labour List MP Clayton Cosgrove has announced he is to leave Parliament.
Simplicity
Good shit happening in France.
Brownlee is dragging Canterbury down
The Christchurch rebuild gets its second fail grade from Treasury. And what of the rebuild work that has been done with failed reinforcing steel?
Panama tax rort stirs world leaders but not Key
The Panama Papers highlight a significant problem for the countries of the world. The actions of the 1% is robbing countries throughout the world of funds needed to run their countries and underlines that the capitalist system is based on greed. Most leaders see this but not John Key.
Obama calls for international tax reform – what will Key do now?
Key has made it clear that he doesn’t care that NZ is operating as an international tax haven. When The Greens called for action he called them “barking mad”. But last night President Obama called for international action on tax reform. What will Key do now?