Scoop's Meet The MPs Project: Grant Robertson

Scoop’s “Meet The MPs” Project:
Kelly Spring talks to Labour's Grant Robertson

By Kelly Spring
Sept 17, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ouvs20L1pQw

Biography

Wellington Central MP Grant Robertson has been in Wellington for more than 10 years but credits his time at Otago University for his introduction into politics.

At the Dunedin university he became heavily involved in the Student Association and was also the Co-president of the New Zealand University Student Association.

Robertson says his first year of study coincided with the issue of big upfront fees being charged to students and his following years became dominated by the cost of education.

He was working at a supermarket during the release of the Employment Contract Act in 1991 and says the loss of over-time and poor conditions had a big effect on his political views.

Roberston was involved in the Wellington Central Labour Party for 10 years prior to winning the seat and had a lot to do with Marion Hobbes’ campaigns for Wellington Central. It was Hobbes who asked him to put his name forward for the seat that he would win in November 2008.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Political Studies and has worked at the United Nations in New York as a diplomat where he represented New Zealand views on environment, economic development, population, overseas aid and South Pacific issues.

“A fairer New Zealand” is what Robertson says he is in parliament to achieve and believes education is the key to this.

“Education is the bedrock of a prosperous society.”

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Interview

1. What is your view on the decision taken by the government in relation to the smacking referendum in terms of what it says about NZ democracy?

- It was the right decision made by government, although it was an unfortunately-worded question. It didn’t tell us much about the law as we currently have it. I am a supporter of the appeal of section 59. The New Zealand public expressed their view – there were many different ones and I understand that some parents thought they were being judged or having rights taken away from them but the result of the referendum wasn’t useful.

2. What is your view on the merits of MMP vs FPP? Should there be another referendum on the subject and what is your preferred outcome?

- I am a supporter of MMP because it produces a representative parliament. You don’t get that with FPP and I don’t think FPP is where the public are at. Under MMP we have always had minority governments which is great – except when you get minor parties exuding more influence than their proportion such as we saw with Rodney Hide and the Maori seats in the Auckland council. We will have a referendum because National said they will have one but I don’t think it is necessary.

3. Should Citizen Initiated Referendums be legally binding?

- No because governments can’t take issues one at a time. You always have to balance the issues together. Important to have the ability to have Citizen Initiated Referendums but there needs to be more work done on the questions and they should only serve as a guide. We have a representative democracy – people can choose their governments once a year.

4. Name a dream team of seven MPs, not all from your own party.

- That is really hard. For the 10 months I’ve been here I’ve seen really good MPs across the House. National’s Simon Power. National’s Hekia Parata. Green’s Sue Bradford. Labour’s Phil Goff, Annette King, Trevor Mallard. They are all experienced hands. There is a good balance between new and experience people in the Labour Party.

5. What are the three things you are most passionate about career wise?

- A fairer New Zealand. Through education, health and a sustainable economy.

6. Wears a lot of black but favourite colour is red of course.

Kelly Spring is a journalism student at Massey University

ENDS

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