JUST POLITICS
Greens Step Up ‘Take Back The Track Campaign
Resignation Shows Govt’s Misreading Of Health
Return Your Bonuses, Kedgley Urges health Bosses
Indonesia’s president To Visit NZ
Greedy GPs Grasping For Children’s Visit Money
Police Inquiry Into Lyttleton Picket Incident Likely
Lotteries Money To Arts maintained
Education Board Appointment
Getting Tough At The Border Is Working

POLITICS FROM TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House – Today’s Q&A
Keith Rankin: The Classicists, The Keynesianists & The Super Fund
House Tax Among Silliest Ideas To Come Out Of A Committee
Rod Donald Refuses His Free Trade Medicine
DWI Staff Felt ‘Coerced’ Into Signing Rankin Petition
Greens To Join No Motorway Protest
Sulphur Levels In NZ Diesel Way Off The Scale

JUST POLITICS

Greens Step Up ‘Take Back The Track’ Campaign

- Northland Green MP Sue Bradford today said the need for Government to take back ownership of the national rail track was illustrated by the new Whangarei port which, unless it is connected to rail, will bring 700 heavy truck movements per day through Northland's rural communities. See... Northland Shows Why Govt Must Take Back Rail Track [1] and Green call to 'Get Back the Track' becoming urgent [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00314.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00300.htm

Resignation Shows Govt’s Misreading Of Health

- The resignation of an Auckland District Health Board member because he's so disgusted at the Government's lack of funding and support to boards shows how badly the Government is misreading the importance of health services, National's Health spokesperson Roger Sowry said. See... Poor Treatment Of Health Prompts Resignation [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00318.htm

Return Your Bonuses, Kedgley Urges health Bosses

- Green Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley is calling on Chief Executives of District Health Boards to return their bonuses and 'additional payments' in the spirit of restraint they are asking of the people they employ. See... Give Back DHB Bonuses In Spirit Of Restraint [1] EARLIER: - Nats - Fat Cat Payments Take Precedence Over Services [2] -NZ First - The Lion That Squeaks – NZ First [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00309.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00276.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00274.htm

Indonesia’s president To Visit NZ

- Prime Minister Helen Clark said today that the President of Indonesia, His Excellency KH Abdurrahman Wahid, had advised the New Zealand Government that he plans to visit New Zealand on 27 and 28 June. See... President Wahid To Visit [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00317.htm

Greedy GPs Grasping For Children’s Visit Money

- New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters has hit out at the greed of Doctors for demanding the right to charge children aged six and under for visits. He was responding to the Press Release of the Medical Association giving their support to Doctors who intend charging a further levy in addition to the taxpayer funded subsidy. See... Greedy Doctors At It Again - Peters [1] and NZMA Supports GPs Right To Charge [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00316.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0106/S00043.htm

Police Inquiry Into Lyttleton Picket Incident Likely

- Under questioning from National MP Tony Ryall at today's Law and Order Select Committee, the Assistant Police Commissioner Steve Long advised that he was considering asking the Police Complaints Authority to investigate. See... Inquiry Likely Into Lyttelton Roadblock Actions [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00313.htm

Lotteries Money To Arts maintained

- “I am delighted that the Lotteries Commission has been able to maintain current funding levels for the agencies that foster arts and film in New Zealand,” says Associate Arts, Culture & Heritage Minister Judith Tizard. See... Lotteries Grants Board Allocations [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00312.htm

Education Board Appointment

- The Government has appointed Epsom Girls Grammar School Principal, Margaret Bendall, to the Board of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, Associate Education (Tertiary Education) Minister Steve Maharey announced today. See... Educational Leader Appointed To NZQA Board [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00306.htm

Getting Tough At The Border Is Working

- Tougher border control measures and tighter surveillance appear to be having an impact on illegal imports, Biosecurity Minister Jim Sutton said today. See... Tougher border controls show results [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00304.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Scoop Is In The House – Today’s Q&A

- Today's questions of the day concerned: Dirty Diesel – SOEs And Politics – Housing Tax – DHB CEO Salaries – Gender Bias In Crimes Act – Yelashgate – US WTO Lamb Dispute – Auckland Rail Corridor - Christine Rankin And Social Services Merger – Employment Relations Act And NZ Herald – Telecommunications Commissioner – Fire Safety In High Rises. See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day – 21 June [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00115.htm

Keith Rankin: The Classicists, The Keynesianists & The Super Fund

- When we teach economics today, we still contrast the "classical" with the "Keynesian" point of view. The central (though largely forgotten) point of difference relates to the importance or otherwise, to the national economy, of having a high savings rate. See... Keith Rankin: A Classical Retirement Fund [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0106/S00112.htm

House Tax Among Silliest Ideas To Come Out Of A Committee

- “Suggestions of a tax on home ownership is right up there with the best of the half baked ideas I have seen advanced by highly paid committees during my years as a politician”, said New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters today. See... Ministry Of Stupid Ideas Still Alive [1] MORE TAX REVIEW REACTION: - Michael Cullen - Scare-Mongering [2] - Tax Speech [3] - Business Roundtable - Debate On Tax Welcomed [4] - Grey Power - Angry And Disillusioned [5] - NZPI - Values And Cash-Flow [6] - Jenny Shipley - Indicate Position [7] - 'Golden opportunity' [8] - Peter Dunne - Needless House Tax Hype [9] - Rodney Hide - Review calls for lowering top tax rate [10] - Jeanette Fitzsimons - 'Old school' tax paper [11] - John Wright - Tax Review 'Radical' [12] - Business NZ - Controversial And Conciliatory [13] THE TAX REVIEW: “The Tax Review has delivered a tough-minded and radical analysis which should spark a 'first principles' debate on taxation in this country,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen said today. See... Paper Opens 'First Principles' Debate On Tax [14]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00307.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00308.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00286.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00195.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0106/S00080.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00190.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00311.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00291.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00310.htm
[10] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00294.htm
[11] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00303.htm
[12] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00287.htm
[13] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00187.htm
[14] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00280.htm

Rod Donald Refuses His Free Trade Medicine

- When push comes to shove, logic in favour FTIA is lacking. It comes down to fear of being shut out of trade blocks, a fallacious argument if we don’t drop tariffs Hong Kong might introduce some - and a largely unshakeable belief that free trade “must be good for you”. See... Free trade lies! - Rod Donald Speech Notes [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00292.htm

DWI Staff Felt ‘Coerced’ Into Signing Rankin Petition

- After deliberately choosing not to get embroiled in this matter, the PSA is appalled to find that its members have been dragged into Christine Rankin's claim for damages against the Crown. See... Rankin Petition [1] and Political Fingerprints On Rankin Case [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0106/S00077.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00279.htm

Greens To Join No Motorway Protest

- Green Party Transport Spokesperson Sue Kedgley described today's news that Transit New Zealand has received design funding for Wellington's inner-city bypass as “a triumph of short-sightedness”. See... 'Bypass' decision puts Wellington's name at risk [1] and Green MPs To Protest Inner City 'Bypass' [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00302.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00319.htm

Sulphur Levels In NZ Diesel Way Off The Scale

- New Zealand diesel is filthy by international standards and the Government needs to take urgent action to clean it up, Green Party Transport Spokesperson Sue Kedgley said today. See... New Zealand's dirty diesel international disgrace [1] MORE: - ARC - ARC Supports Cleaner Diesel Nationwide [2] - BP - Mobil Stalling Over Low Sulphur Diesel, Says BP [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0106/S00301.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/AK0106/S00035.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0106/S00179.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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