Cullen has no right to surrender sovereignty

Thursday, 10 August 2000, 2:49 pm
Press Release: New Zealand National Party

Dr Cullen's proposal for reciprocal trans-Tasman citizenship rights is an inept attempt to avoid squaring up with Australia on welfare payments according to National's spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Simon Upton.

"The Australians didn't come down in the last shower. From their point of view, New Zealand is a country whose economic wobbles are likely to see a rising number of economic refugees fleeing higher taxes, heavy-handed labour laws and all manner of government meddling.

"Australians will find the idea astonishing, coming as it does from a government which has explicitly declined to take a shared view of regional security arrangements. Why would Australians wish to take talk of common citizenship seriously from a government whose only actions have been to increase the distance between the two countries?

"If Dr Cullen is after equal citizenship as a way out of making welfare payments, then he must face the fact that the equality he seeks could only be achieved through statehood for New Zealand.

"The Government has no mandate to surrender New Zealand's sovereignty. And it has no chips to bargain with if it wishes to," Mr Upton said.

Ends

Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS > >

Parliament Today:

Gordon Campbell: On The Law Commission Plan To Scrap Jury Trials

Chances are, scrapping the system of trial by jury is not the top priority for most New Zealanders. Not many of us woke up this morning and felt dead keen on dumping our centuries-old right to be tried by a jury of our peers, while yearning to adopt the French system of justice by a judge and a couple of court-appointed experts. More>>

ALSO:

Law Commission - Law Commission Considers Alternative Trial Processes
Direct Link - Alternative Trial Processes Consultation | Law Commission

Scoop Audio & Video: Mondayising Holidays

David Shearer's regular pre-caucus standup. Issues include:SOE Sales, Auckland Council funding & the Labour relationship with Maori. Issue of the day was clearly the Mondayising of holidays - following this was a second standup with First Term MP David Clark. More>>

Scoop Business: Govt’s Answer To A Smaller Public Service: Google It

The government is talking seriously to the global search engine giant Google about providing software services to cut the cost and improve the efficiency of public services, Prime Minister John Key says. More>>

ALSO:

Multimedia - Prime Minister's Press Conference - 13 Feb 2012
Labour - Mindless cost-cutting won’t improve public service
2010 Office of the Privacy Commissioner - Google agrees to protect privacy better
TV3 Video - PM's vision for Smartphones replacing public servants

Urewera Raids: 'Operation 8' Trial Begins

Annemarie Thorby of the October 15 Solidarity Group: Over four years ago in New Zealand, on October 15th 2007, more than 300 police carried out dawn raids on scores of houses... More>>

ALSO:

TV3 Video - Jury chosen for Urewera trial
Martin Doyle - Martin Doyle cartoon: An Unexpected Raid
Wellington October 15th Solidarity Group - Urewera trial start, Crown propaganda begins
2009 image - Bell Murphy October 15th Solidarity - Explosive Expression: Remember State Terror Raids
TV3 Video - Urewera trial set to start today - Urewera firearms trial to begin

Review Launched: Electoral Commission Wants To Hear From The Public On MMP

The Electoral Commission today launches a review of the MMP voting system, and seeks input from the public on possible changes to the way MMP works. More>>

ALSO:

The Scoop Team - MMP Review Launch Presser - Video And Image
NZ Govt - New Zealanders urged to have their say on MMP
Greens - Green Party welcomes MMP Review
Campaign For MMP - MMP: We’ve selected it, now it’s time to perfect it
Voters for Change - Voters for Change welcome MMP review
TV3 Video - Review of MMP underway
Out-Link - MMP Review
Out-Link - It's time to put up or shut up | Pundit

Auckland: Transport Plan Goes On The Road

Aucklanders are being asked how they believe major transport projects should be funded. More>>

ALSO:

Labour - Transport funding needs leadership not nitpicking
Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Auckland mayoral transport funding debate needs innovation
No More Rates - Dump the most liveable city vision
Employers And Manufacturers Association - Realistic funding options critical for Auckland transport
TV3 Video - Footing transport bill sees disagreement in Auckland Supercity

Werewolf Satire: The Other People In Your Neighbourhood

With audio! Under a pile of unused plastic spoons I happened to find an old tin of film. There was no clue as to its contents, and it was just made more mysterious by a note scrawled on the label… More>>

Wellington.Scoop: After protests, Kapiti Mayor Suggests Different CEO Salary System

Mayor Jenny Rowan has raised the concept of a Remuneration Authority for setting Local Government CE salaries in a letter to Local Government New Zealand head Lawrence Yule. More>>