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