robson-on-politics, a weekly newsletter from Matt Robson MP Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party www.progressive.org.nz

Progressive: positive about people and jobs

Fri 29 October

The Progressive policy outline to get families into their first home is winning hearts and minds throughout the country. Newspapers are commenting favourably, your feedback to robson-on-politics is loud and positive, and the public is letting Progressive know they like the policy. See: 'First homes for familes a key Progressive priority' http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1292 _________________________

I agree with you. If we can get the debt monkey off the backs of the young (and even not so young) they can put their hard earned money into a first house to complement capitalisation. So watch the Progressive news for our policy on financing tertiary education. Speaking to Victoria University students http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1196 _________________________

Another report this week confirms that Kiwis are working much longer hours than our European counterparts. Besides pinching the Americas Cup and Rugby World Cup, they have a better balance between work and life than us. We need to encourage companies to take on more staff and raise productivity levels, rather than working people into the ground. http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1306 which has a link to the ILO report _________________________

This week I accused United of snuggling up to ACT. The United party's call for tax cuts for those that least need it is a warning to voters that United, like NZ First, is philosophically aligned to National and Rodney Hide. They'd jump at the chance to do a deal with Nat-ACT. But ACT leader Mr Hide took umbrage and in a flight of fancy suggested ACT's 1% polling puts it in the stratosphere in comparison to us. He really should come down from the stratosphere and look at reality.

Which leader has a constituent seat to build from - Jim or Rodney? Which party got the Kiwibank, four weeks leave, an end to the sale of state assets, and more, despite the wailing and flailing of ACT? Which party has pushed economic development policies resulting in over 211,000 more jobs and the unemployment rate nearly halved since 1999? Which Party shapes government policy daily, Progressive or ACT? If Mr Hide can answer correctly I will shout him dinner at Bellamys.

http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1310 _________________________

I visited the main campus of Te Wananga O Aotearoa this week to talk with programme co-ordinators of their literacy programme. It is based on a Cuban model - a country where illiteracy was wiped out. TwoA is enrolling thousands and going from success to success with both Maori and non-Maori. It does beg the question though: how can we pose as literacy experts in the Pacific when we have a huge problem in our own country?

For more info see www.twoa.ac.nz or ph 0800 355 553 On Tuesday, all schools with Year Seven to Year Thirteen pupils were sent a resource kit to strengthen their drug education efforts, the culmination of two years' work by Jim Anderton. That's Progressive. Also on education, Progressive supports comments from students' representatives about a rash of destructive education price rises. Lowering the cost of access to tertiary education, and the debt levels incurred, would encourage more people to take up tertiary education. Drug education: http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1300 Student fees: http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1313 _________________________

"He's either innocent or he's guilty. He's either a serious security risk or he's not," said the National leader yesterday about Ahmed Zaoui. It's good to see respect for the rule of law and the principles of natural justice from Mr Brash, finally expressing concern that a man has been jailed for almost two years without charge. So that's the judiciary, the President and Council of the CTU, academia, Students Associations, churches, and the Leader of the Opposition all calling for the rule of law. There seems to be a point being made. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/zaoui

Immigration policy changes will meet needs of employers and the economy. Critics such as the Greens should realise that training people at home and utilising skills from abroad aren't mutually exclusive - we can do both. http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1315

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Tune into 531AM for The Robson Hour 12 - 1 Sun Talking to Siale Faitotonu on where to for development aid in Tonga and to Winnie Laban MP for Mana. See www.progressive.org.nz < http://www.progressive.org.nz for more news including the Greens missing in action,

restorative justice at the IBA conference - http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1308 the threat of 10% mortgage rates under National - www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1309 and hiking business R&D efforts - www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1288 _________________________ Subscribe to robson-on-politics by fax to 04 472 7620 or email to matt.robson@parliament.govt.nz < mailto:matt.robson@parliament.govt.nz >

ENDS

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