JUST POLITICS
Nats Don’t Have A Clue About Science - GE Cow Debate
Own Up Helen Says ACT On Rankin Saga
Students Vs The Government
ACT Think Green Road Transport Bill Is A Joke
Tame Iti’s Bridge Falls Down – Nick Smith Resignation Call
Breaches Of Trust Discussion
National Reaches Out To Students – Tertiary Taskforce Report
The Official Word On Smacking
Government Ducking Questions On Looking After The Oldies
School Zone Racism Allegations

POLITICS FROM TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Hard News Is Here!
Sludge Report: Revolutionary Reasoning
Cullen’s Credibility Leaks Away As Fiscal Cap Pops
Lashlie Sacking Report Due Soon
Oz Govt Moves To Prevent GE Free Labelling
Youths In Suits Get Irie With Their Dreadlocked Brothers
Prebble’s Simple Business Tax Solution: Cut It

JUST POLITICS

Nats Don’t Have A Clue About Science - GE Cow Debate

- Green Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today said she was horrified that National's Research Science and Technology spokesperson Maurice Williamson has displayed such ignorance on genetic engineering processes. See... Nats Don't Have A Clue About Science [1] .. More From GE Cow Debate: - Government - Green call to slaughter GM cattle muddled thinking [2] - Greens - GE Calves Illegal After High Court Decision [3] - Correctives - Correctives: Irma Should Be Spanked!!! [4] - Nats - Gene Cow Decision Tragic For Science [5] - GE Free NZ - ERMA's flawed decision reveals inadequacies [6] - Life Sciences Network - The High Court’s Decision – No Knockout [7] - ACT - Round One To The Luddites [8]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00109.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00094.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00075.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0105/S00031.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00100.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0105/S00007.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0105/S00009.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00105.htm

Own Up Helen Says ACT On Rankin Saga

- ACT Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman will continue to press the Prime Minister for details of her involvement in the hastily arranged decision to merge the Department of Work and Income and Ministry of Social Policy. See... PM Should Own Up To Role In Sham Welfare Merger [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00108.htm

Students Vs The Government

- Alliance education spokesperson Liz Gordon said today that the New Zealand University Students Association should understand the necessity to balance priorities in the methods of setting student loan interest rates under current law. See... Gordon Queries NZUSA On Priorities [1] - Green Party - Education Minister Should Be More Upfront [2] - NZUSA - Students Fear Fee Increases of more than 20% [3] and Government Hits Low Income Earners Again [4] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00107.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00102.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00003.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/ED0105/S00002.htm

ACT Think Green Road Transport Bill Is A Joke

- ACT Transport Spokesman MP Penny Webster today applauded Green MP Jeanette Fitzsimons for her excellent sense of humour. I’m Waiting For The Punchline [1] and Green traffic reduction bill to go before Parlt. [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00106.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00111.htm

Tame Iti’s Bridge Falls Down – Nick Smith Resignation Call

- Nick Smith should resign as National's Conservation spokesperson, following the collapse of a bridge at Maungapohatu, Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton says. See... Nick Smith Should Resign Over Bridge Collapse [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00104.htm

Breaches Of Trust Discussion

- The Associate Justice Minister Margaret Wilson has tabled a Law Commission study of misuse of enduring powers of attorney. Enduring powers of attorney are often arranged to allow someone to handle the affairs of a person suffering some incapacity. See... Misuse Of Enduring Powers Of Attorney [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00103.htm

National Reaches Out To Students – Tertiary Taskforce Report

- The National Party has released the third and final in a series of reports from Taskforces established shortly after the last election. See... Youth And Tertiary Taskforce Report Released [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00101.htm

The Official Word On Smacking

- Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey, Justice Minister Phil Goff and Youth Affairs Minister Laila Harré today released officials advice on issues to do with the physical punishment of children. See... Govt Considers Information On Physical Punishment [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00099.htm

Government Ducking Questions On Looking After The Oldies

- Minister of Senior Citizens Lianne Dalziel avoided questions in the House today about plans for funding to rest homes and elder care hospitals, National's Senior Citizens spokesperson Dr Lynda Scott said. See... Will Govt Continue To Cut Elder Care Funding? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00097.htm

School Zone Racism Allegations

- ACT MP Donna Awatere Huata said that Education Minister Trevor Mallard must listen to the principal of a Manawatu Intermediate School who is fighting for his students. See... Manawatu School Example Of Zoning Racism [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00096.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Hard News Is Here!

- GOOD DAY MEDIAPHILES .... a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister offered the following advice to the embattled Alliance MP Phillida Bunkle: "If you're in a hole, stop digging." It was sound advice - and perhaps the government ought to have revisited it itself this week. See... HARD NEWS 04/5/01 - Thrashing And Slashing [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00033.htm

Sludge Report: Revolutionary Reasoning

- Ideally this edition of Sludge ought to have been written before the recent May Day celebrations around the world. Then perhaps the events around the globe may have made a bit more sense to some of Sludge’s more skeptical readers. See... Sludge Report #61 – Revolution Edition [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0105/S00032.htm

Cullen’s Credibility Leaks Away As Fiscal Cap Pops

- The Government has blown its own self-imposed $5.9 billion spending cap, and its management credibility, National's Finance spokesman Bill English said today. See... Cullen Blows The Budget [1] . See also... Modest Adjustment To Fiscal Cap In Budget [2] and Cullen's Speech To Wellington Regional Chamber of Commerce [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00085.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00072.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00073.htm

Lashlie Sacking Report Due Soon

- Deputy Commissioner at the State Services Commission, Tony Hartevelt, said today the Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, would receive a report as soon as possible on the Specialist Education Services (SES) handling of Celia Lashlie's contract. See... Report On SES Consulting Contract [1] . See also Scoop columnist Jimmy Solen's view... Begging The Question : Shooting the Message? [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0105/S00033.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0104/S00140.htm

Oz Govt Moves To Prevent GE Free Labelling

- The Australian government has moved to unilaterally bypass consumer preferences for clear labelling of genetically modified food in New Zealand by calling, along with South Africa, for severe curbs on GM-Free and non-GM labels at the current meeting of the World Trade Organisation's CODEX Committee on 1st-4th May. See... Moves to bypass NZ Royal Commission on GM [1] and Move To Block GM/GE Free Labelling [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0105/S00026.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/SC0105/S00005.htm

Youths In Suits Get Irie With Their Dreadlocked Brothers

- ACTivists, the unofficial youth wing of the ACT party, are to sign the Coalition for Cannabis Law Reform Accord, opposing the prohibition of cannabis, this Saturday. See... ACTivists To Support Cannabis Law Reform [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0105/S00030.htm

Prebble’s Simple Business Tax Solution: Cut It

- The best way the government can simplify tax for small businesses is to cut their tax rate, ACT leader Richard Prebble says. See... Cut Tax For Business, Prebble Says [1] - Govt: Tax Simplification Proposals For Small Business [2] - Tax Simplification Work Welcomed By Business NZ [3] For more tax talk with Richard Prebble see... Tax Freedom Day - Richard Prebble Speech [4] and ACT Declares May 3 Tax Freedom Day [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00095.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00070.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0105/S00027.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00069.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0105/S00032.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

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