robson-on-politics, a weekly newsletter from Matt Robson MP Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party

Progressive: positive about people and jobs

A week is a long time in politics - a truism but a reality. I find that much has happened since Easter.

Progressive achievements at home

The Herald reported that senior Labour and Progressive ministers moved to secure public ownership of Westhaven and Hobson West marinas for the enjoyment of everyone. That will provide access to some eight hectares of land. It's about open space on the waterfront. See:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/marine/marinestorydisplay.cfm?storyid=3560864&reportid=57034

Progressives are the government's safety valve

I've held successful party meetings in the deep South this week. The Southland Times reported Progressives are playing a significant part in government and that it's such a safety valve for people to have a coalition government rather that a one party majority. People fully understand that centre-left parties must get 61 seats in the 2005 election or there won't be a centre-left government. We know how hard we had to work for our achievements. The task now is to make sure the public knows the threat posed by the Right to that work.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=843

Anzac Day - Auckland dinner event

Jim Anderton speaks to an Auckland dinner at La Dolce Vita restaurant, High St in the city, 6.30pm Sunday on What Anzac means and the example of Col. William Malone. To book, or for more details, phone 525 5566.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=69

NZ passports must be protected

New Zealand passports and their excellent reputation are a treasure in this uncertain world. One of the protections of the current system is that an application must be witnessed by someone who has known the applicant for a year. The media reports that an Auckland doctor admits bearing false witness in the case before the courts at present. Why then I ask has the doctor not been charged? There is a clear warning on page 11 of the form, right beside the space for signature, that a false statement is an offence. Penalty: up to five years in jail. Before we start making wholesale changes to the system we must first ensure that the current rules are enforced. See:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3561101&thesection=news&thesubsection=general&reportid=1162641

Fundamentalist terror groups thrive on US action

Since I last wrote, the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated to the point where there must now be doubt about how long honest brokers like the New Zealand engineers can continue to do their good work in response to the UN call to rebuild Iraq and Afghanistan. George Bush's Republican Party, dependent on the very large fundamentalist lobby in the US, and supported by a Majority Labour government in the UK, has managed to make the world a much less safe place for all of us. Their incoherent policies in Iraq and Afghanistan, with support of the Israeli government's illegal land grab via a massive apartheid wall and state terror policies directed against Palestinians, is grist to the recruitment mill of the terrorist networks of Bin Laden & Co.

National Business Review gives credit where due

Good to see the NBR today gives the Progressives credit for Four Weeks Annual Leave for all employees. Perhaps their writer though should have listened to the submissions of those employers who were positive about this move to a work/life balance for families. And NBR knows how to flatter: "lively Progressive MP." Keep it up!

I expect that soon exporters concerns about the high New Zealand dollar will be addressed and that they will see action to lower costs to them. And I have challenged Wayne Mapp to debate open justice and national security anywhere in his North Shore electorate. We will face off lunchtime, Monday 17 May. We're got policy forums on the next three weekends.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=69

http://www.progressive.org.nz has more on this week news and on marine industry developments; adding value to forestry; economic development issues for Maori women in business; and Kiwi attitudes to growth.

I'm your host on Radio 531PI on Sundays 4-6pm. Tune in to 531 on the AM band. robson-on-politics is available by email and fax. If someone you know would like to subscribe, email matt.robson@parliament.govt.nz

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>