JUST POLITICS
Keep Tax Simple, Stupid
Sutton Across The Ditch For CER Talks
Tighter Drug Ad Guidelines Not Enough For Greens
Reading Report Message Lost By Media
Sentencing & Parole Bill Gets 1st Reading
Paedophile Leaflet Campaign Gets Minister’s Support
Govt Dithering On Air NZ
Whale-friendly Cooks Encouraged To Declare Sanctuary

POLITICS FROM TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House: Today’s Questions
Sludge Report: Don The Optimist Does Nothing
Writings From The Right: Dumb-Arse Ideas
Big News: Yes To Cannabis Decriminalisation
US Given Time On Lamb Tariffs
Ministerial Car There To Be Used - Anderton
State Youth Radio Would Destroy Viable Industry
NZ Radio Invited To Agree To Kiwi Music Quota

JUST POLITICS

Keep Tax Simple, Stupid

- People who get into difficulty with their taxes are likely to benefit from proposals in a Government discussion document released today. See... Fairer Tax Treatment Proposed [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00311.htm

Sutton Across The Ditch For CER Talks

- Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton is to go to Australia today to attend the annual CER talks. See... CER Talks To Be Held In Australia [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00308.htm

Tighter Drug Ad Guidelines Not Enough For Greens

- Green Party Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley said she was shocked that the Health Minister Annette King has refused to ban direct to consumer advertising of drugs, despite Pharmac's support for a ban. See... Greens Shocked Drug Ads Can Continue [1] - NZMA - DTCA decision Welcomed [2] - Govt - Direct-to-consumer advertising rules stricter [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00307.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0108/S00025.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00284.htm

Reading Report Message Lost By Media

- “The media is missing the essential message contained in the select committee report on the teaching of reading,” said sub-committee chairperson , Hon Brian Donnelly MP today. See... Media Missing Reading Report Message - Donnelly [1] MORE: - Correctives - Deconstructionists And Strange Textual Practices [2] - NZ First - Awatere-Huata Is Off The Wall [3] - Read The Reading Report Carefully [4] - Donnelly Furious Over Reading Report Leak [5] - Claim Unsupported [6] - ACT - Reading Inquiry Will Fix National Disgrace [7] - Nats - Big Challenge For Govt [8] - Govt - Response To Select Committee Report [9]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00312.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00070.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00297.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00296.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00293.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00298.htm
[7] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00269.htm
[8] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00272.htm
[9] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00279.htm

Sentencing & Parole Bill Gets 1st Reading

- I move that the Sentencing and Parole Bill be read a first time. Mr Speaker, it is my Intention to refer this Bill to the Justice and Electoral Select Committee with a requirement to report back to the House by 14 February 2002. See... Goff First Reading Sentencing And Parole Bill [1] and Sentencing And Parole Bill: First Reading - Robson [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00301.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00306.htm

Paedophile Leaflet Campaign Gets Minister’s Support

- 14 August 2001 Police Minister George Hawkins has come out in support of police action in the case of a convicted paedophile living in Kilbirnie. See... Support For Leaflet Decision [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00304.htm

Govt Dithering On Air NZ

- It's time the Government showed some consistency in its influence over commercial decisions, National's Transport spokesperson Belinda Vernon said today. See... Govt Inconsistency Over Air NZ [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00303.htm

Whale-friendly Cooks Encouraged To Declare Sanctuary

- New Zealand's Prime Minister Helen Clark and Conservation Minister Sandra Lee said in Wellington today they would welcome any consideration by the Cook Islands to give legal protection to whales within the Cook's exclusive economic zone. See... NZ Would Welcome Cook Is. Moves To Protect Whales [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00302.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Scoop Is In The House: Today’s Questions

– Today's questions of the day concerned: Power Crisis SOE Sensitivity – Prison Strike – Reserve Bank And People’s Bank – Drug Advertising – Ross Armstrong – Tertiary Education Funding – Ross Armstrong – Kenepuru Hospital – SOE Information Leaks – Kohanga Reo - Exporting Education – Pacific Island Health – SOE Minister’s Question Answering. See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day – 15 August [1] . For yesterday's Q&A see... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day –14 August [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0108/S00086.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0108/S00079.htm

Sludge Report: Don The Optimist Does Nothing

- Unsurprisingly, as appears to be his mantra, New Zealand’s ultra-cautious central banker Dr Don Brash has again chosen to do nothing in his latest Monetary Policy Statement out today. See... Sludge Report #102 – Don Looks On The Bright Side [1] MORE: - RBNZ MPS: Official Cash Rate Unchanged [2] - RBNZ MPS: Policy Overview And Assessment [3] - RBNZ MPS: Table Of Economic Projections [4] - Deutsche Bank - Instant View [5] - RBNZ Remains On Hold [6]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0108/S00085.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0108/S00149.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0108/S00150.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0108/S00151.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0108/S00153.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/BU0108/S00157.htm

Writings From The Right: Dumb-Arse Ideas

- Last week it emerged that once again the Government is considering the idea of a taxpayer funded, nation-wide youth radio station. This would have to rank as one of the stupidest ideas this government has had (and thats saying something.) See... The New Write 14 August 2001 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00066.htm

Big News: Yes To Cannabis Decriminalisation

- Last week I was asked if I was going to do a column on decriminalising cannabis, and whether I supported the move. I said yes on both counts. I support dope decriminalisation only if it leads to more education and lower use, especially amongst kids. See... Big News: Why Should Smoking A Joint Be A Crime? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0108/S00083.htm

US Given Time On Lamb Tariffs

- New Zealand and Australia have agreed to allow the United States additional time to conclude an agreement with its sheepmeat industry which would result in the industry itself requesting that the safeguard be removed, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton Said. See... Agreement On Lamb Tariff Ruling Reached [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00305.htm

Ministerial Car There To Be Used - Anderton

- “The use of the ministerial self-drive car by my wife in Christchurch presents no problems, breaks no rules and is not a misuse,” said Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton. See... Self-drive car for driving [1] MORE: - Nats - Blatant misuse of ministerial car slammed [2] - Independent Citizens - Taxpayer Funded Vehicle! [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00300.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00289.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00069.htm

State Youth Radio Would Destroy Viable Industry

- "Broadcasting Minister 'Boo Boo' Hobbs is happy to destroy the viability of the private radio stations that young people currently listen to," says Libertarianz Leader Peter Cresswell, noting "that is the only conclusion I can draw from her commitment to 100% taxpayer funded radio network targeting this same market." See... Radio Boo Boo A No No [1] and Youth Radio Options To Be Explored Further [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00067.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00275.htm

NZ Radio Invited To Agree To Kiwi Music Quota

- The Minister of Broadcasting, Marian Hobbs, is inviting the commercial radio industry to commit to playing more New Zealand music through a code of practice and self-regulation. See... NZ music targets for commercial radio [1] and New Zealand music on radio - a way forward [2] REACTION: - Libz - Quotas For New Zealand Book Shops Next?! [3] - ACT - Quotas: How Bizarre! [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00282.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00283.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00068.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00292.htm

ENDS

© 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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