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The National government couldn't hold off democracy forever, so today we are graced with the first members' day of the new term. And if we had a pro-worker majority in the House, today would be day of celebration. Labour MP Darien Fenton's Minimum Wage and…
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Yesterday, when the inquiry came back on whether the shortfall in ACC funding should have been disclosed in the PREFU, Bill English quickly tried to implicate Michael Cullen and Maryan Street as being in breach of the Public Finance Act and told media: "The previous…
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In the Dom yesterday, Hollow man star Richard Long was full of praise for the Key's PR team, who managed the Jobs Summit. He was right to praise them, the media lapped it up - 'cycleway!', 'packed lunches, and no cream for the apple pie,…
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I have to agree with Idiot/Savant on the Graham Thomas issue. The idea that there is no written information on the matter is right up there with "he must have walked into a door". Collins' response however, is disgraceful. "It's not a good look" she…
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The issue of parole has long been controversial. We've also seen one of the core underpinings of our justice system become a manipulated by its political opponents, regardless of what the policy arguments are. In this article from the Listener at the begining of the…
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Kudos to the Maori Party's Rahui Katene for using her position to highlight the situation at Sealord in Parliament today. But it's Paula Bennett's response that got me thinking: Rahui Katene: Is the Minister aware that the MÄori shareholders of Sealord attended the Prime Minister's…
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It's well known that David Garrett is only in Parliament as ACT's payoff for their support from the Sensible Sentencing Trust. I'm guessing right about now they must be having some serious buyer's remorse. The buffoon is in the Herald again today after the Attorney…
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This their slogan: "ACT - the liberal party" This is the reality: "We've got too hung up on people's rights."
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Despite making sound profits Sealord are laying off 180 workers in Nelson. They claim the move is part of restructuring and that there will be fifty new jobs aboard factory ships that will fully process fish. Remaining workers are also being asked to take a…
economy International john key maori party national/act government workers' rights
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You know what we haven't heard Key talk about in a long time? Closing the wage gap with Australia. Now he's in power, is he going to do anything about creating a high wage economy? Doesn't look like it. The truth is Key's National/ACT Government is undertaking…
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One of the things I've been following in the last few weeks and keep meaning to post about is Bryce Edwards' series on the history of the Act party. I don't know how he's managed to do it (let alone why) but in a brave…
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Kate Wilkinson's attempts to defend the fire at will bill are getting increasingly desperate. She's just put out an excited press release where she's trying to claim that a CTU flyer telling workers they don't legally have to sign onto a 90 day 'trial' period…
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It's good to see the Council of Trade Unions offering solidarity to non-union workers who are subject to National's fire at will law by providing free legal and industrial support. As Helen Kelly said on the news last night, when the Government fails in its…
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Labour leader Phil Goff will now be speaking at DL Christchurch this Thursday. Therese Arsenau has moved to a later date. When: 7pm, March 5 Where: Goodbye Blue Monday Who: Phil Goff and a who's who of Christchurch lefties and don't forget DL Dunedin's first event…
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This has to be the funniest political cartoon I've seen in some time, and it's true too. The innovation we need has to be government-led. A Green New Deal. Not only to boost the economy by constructing new infrastructure but constructing useful infrastructure. Forget cycleways no-one will use,…
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One of the most disappointing things about the debate over National's fire at will law is how little its supporters understand the basic issues. Take Farrar's latest post, where he says: But I would warn the unions to be careful about assuming all, or even…
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National/ACT's record for women so far has been dismal . Their work rights have been slashed by the Fire at Will law (women are disportionality employed by small businesses), they were all but excluded from the Job Summit (despite women being the most heavily affected…
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No surprise to see The Herald editorial still running National's lines. Now that Key's equivocating on National's planned tax cuts Granny's right in behind him - despite their previous convictions. From October last year, an editorial from The Herald titled Overdue, but tax cuts timely:…
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Chris Trotter has decided to take umbrage at my post about the 1951 lockout. I wouldn't usually reply to such criticism but this one provides me with the opportunity to discuss one of my pet grudges: the pointless obsession of some on the left with…
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There was a conference going on in the south of the city, and the Prime Minister, the Cheshire Fat Cat, and his cronies were busy creating jobs. The conference was a large one, but they were all crowded together in one corner of it: 'No…
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The debate around whether we should go through with National's tax adjustments (they're only cuts for the rich, they're increases for middle and low incomes) has re-ignited as the commentariat suddenly cottons on that they are unfair and unaffordable, thanks largely to Fran O'Sullivan. As…
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In the greatest economic crisis in a lifetime, we remain the only country in the world whose government has done nothing to try to stimulate the economy. In fact, the net effect of National's policies is de-stimulatory, taking money out of the economy when it…
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It's said that, once upon a time, Bill Ralston had a social conscience. He still claims to be a leftie at heart. If ever proof were needed that he's become just another rich, detached elitist it's this: "Before we all collectively slit our wrists it's…
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Today marks the first time in over a decade that workers' rights have got weaker. From today new workers in small businesses will face having all of their work rights taken off them. As we've said before this will mean less security for vulnerable workers…
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Fran, you're pretty smart, you can do maths, and you understand the economy. You're ideology is fundamentally flawed but at least you've got the analytical tools. So, how can you go and write something like this "It can cut a number of Labour's own expensive…
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Let me just say I'm not against public spending on things like conferences. But I feel obliged to point out the job summit had a budget of $65,000. For 200 people for one day with no travel, accommodation or dinner. That's the same amount Housing…
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The crazy right-wing antics of today's Herald would be funny if it wasn't for the fact it's the main paper in New Zealand's largest city. First we've got Fran O'Sullivan talking about the need for the government cutting costs (I suspect she wrote the absurd…
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Today marks the anniversary of Holland's deployment of the army to break the waterfront union in 1951. The documentary produced for the dispute's 50th anniversary is available here. Unlike some other commentators on the left I don't celebrate this. Nor do I celebrate the strike…
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A reader just sent us this one minute montage of photos from John Key's jobs summit. Enjoy.
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I've just got an email on the launch of the Drinking Liberally chapter in Dunedin: Come raise your spirits as you raise a pint as New Zealand's network of progressive drinking clubs arrives in Dunedin. Drinking Liberally is an informal, non-programmatic gathering of like-minded left-leaners,…