Through Green Eyes - Parliament Employment Relations Bill
posted
23rd August 2000
The ERB debate finally drew to a close on Wednesday morning. Overall
there were some success, but other initiatives were lost through
other parties not supporting them, a huge learning time for all
concerned. Sue Bradford's first private members bill, the Social
Security [Work Testing and Community Wage] Amendment Bill, aimed
at restoring EUB for students over summer break and at making some
improvements for unemployed people and beneficiaries, was lost on
its first reading. Labour also forced the withdrawal of the Chemical
Trespass Bill which was in Nanaia Mahuta's name. The Greens adopted
the Bill as a consequence and have put it back in to the ballot
hoping it will get redrawn from the ballot soon.
Coming Up
In the coming week in the House Greens expect most time to be spent
on the Economic Development (Industry New Zealand and Ministry of
Economic Development) Bill (Committee stages and Third Reading),
International Crimes and International Court Bill (Committee Stages
and Third Reading), Taxation (FBT, SSCWT, and Remedial Matters)
Bill (Second Reading), and the Appropriation (2000/01 Estimates)
Bill (should have four speaking slots)..
Gone
Down
20
August 2000: More hardship for students this summer. A column by
Sue Bradford. Students and beneficiaries who voted for Labour or
the Alliance at the last election would have been disappointed when
last week the Government voted down her Bill which would have reinstated
the unemployment benefit for all unemployed students over the summer
break..
17
August 2000:
'Nader for President' drive kicks off in Auckland and Wellington.
Green-leaning American citizens in New Zealand have started a drive
to enrol their compatriots to vote for Green presidential candidate
Ralph Nader.
17
August 2000:
Mataura closure 'Plain Nuts'. Closure today of Mataura Paper Mill
is a sad occasion that should never have happened. "I feel very
sorry for 155 workers, their families and the local community. They
are the victims of globalisation," said Green Party Co-Leader Rod
Donald... and? What should have happened, no comment on that so
far.
18 August 2000:
In light of unprecedented condemnation from student groups and Labour
and Alliance Party members the Green Party today strongly urged
the Government to reconsider it's refusal to reinstate the Community
Wage for students over the summer break.
17 August 2000:
NZ's love affair with energy unabated Green Party co-leader Jeanette
Fitzsimons today called for financial incentives for alternatives
to energy waste, after figures showed New Zealand's love affair
with energy is continuing. The latest Energy Data File released
today shows continuing high growth in energy use - especially in
petrol and coal, two of the major contributors to climate change."
The irony is of course that MPs are the greatest users of transport
of all professions.
August 16, 2000:
Greens criticise police report on Waitara shooting. Green MP Keith
Locke today criticised the police report claiming that a policeman
acted lawfully in shooting Waitara man Steven Wallace.
16
August 2000:
Parliament's Finance Committee backs 'Buy NZ Made'. The Green Party
is hailing the multi-party Finance Select committee's unanimous
endorsement for a 'Buy NZ Made' campaign as a significant step towards
rebuilding the domestic economy in the face of globalisation. PlaNet
certainly welcomes that.
16
August 2000:
Kedgley highlights hypocrisy over alcohol and cannabis. Green MP
Sue Kedgley today said there was a double standard in parliament
and the community over drug use and that a consistent and co-ordinated
national strategy to reduce the harm of all drugs was urgently required
to protect youth.
16
August 2000:
Greens put up animal welfare amendment. A new Green Party amendment
put to the ERB today would have improved animal welfare under the
bill, while at the same time extending the right to strike without
three days notice to animal processing workers.
15
August 2000:
Greens support Jim Anderton's call for parliament to decide. Singapore
Free Trade Agreement. The Green Party says it's delighted the Deputy
Prime Minister is calling for a parliamentary debate and vote on
the Singapore Free Trade Agreement to determine whether the government
should ratify it or not.
15
August 2000:
Greens welcome custody and access review Guardianship laws are outdated
and need to better reflect modern families, Green MP Sue Kedgley
said today at the launch of a custody and access review at Parliament.
"It's time we got rid of out-dated terminology such as custody and
custodial parent - which treats children like a piece of property,"
she said. .
.
posters with messages that demand jobs and an end to poverty.
These foot-soldiers are mobilisi
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