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PM's Press Conference 26/2/18: BORA Bomb
PM's Post-Cabinet Press Conference 26/2/18: BORA Bomb
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was joined by Justice Minsiter Andrew Little and Attorney-General David Parker to discuss plans for a stronger New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (BORA). Cabinet has decided in principle to allow senior to courts to declare legislation in conflict with the BORA. This declaration would require parliament to reconsider the law to affirm, amend, or repeal it.
A case currently before the courts on the right of prisoners to vote has supported the courts' power to make declarations of inconsistency but these would currently carry no consequences.
Prime Minister Ardern had opened the press conference with a rundown of plan for the week, including a speech on foreign policy, the Australia-New Zealand leaders' meeting, and the government's Pacific mission.
Questions covered topics including our relationship with Australia, the status of an investigation into the 'Hit & Run' allegations into NZDF actions in Afghanistan (Parker said they were "closer to a decision" on this), Ardern's recent Australian 60 Minutes interview (she said she was not phased by the lines of questioning: "maybe it's just that I'm from Morrinsville"), allegations of sexual misconduct at law firm Russell McVeagh and it implication for government procurement, business confidence, compensation levels and processes for people who suffered abuse while in state care, MPs' lack of handshakes with a visitign Iranian delegation, China's proposed removal of two-term limits for their President, the South China Sea, and the National Party leadership race. Ardern again declined to pick a favorite in the last.
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