Free Press: Defending free speech

ACT’s regular bulletin

Free Press, 9 July 2018

First things first: Stefan Molyneux and Lauren Southern are, as Canadians would say, nuttier than squirrel poo.

Free Press takes the view that ratepayers shouldn’t have to fund venues like the Bruce Mason Centre.

However, if we are going to fund venues for political speeches, then the council shouldn’t censoring what is said.

Publicly-funded venues should host an open contest of ideas.

The situation would be different if the pair were inciting violence, but it appears they are not.

A free society needs provocative people even if they hold opinions only a small minority agree with.

Return the surplus

Last week, Grant Robertson gloated about a $5.2 billion surplus in the 11 months to May claiming it as evidence of his superb economic management.

But a government surplus is really just a taxpayer deficit – Kiwis have been overtaxed.

The Government will claim that this money is needed to fund our ‘neglected’ social services.

The reality is that despite pouring billions into health, education, and welfare these services have not improved and require structural changes if we are to get the best value for our money.

ACT would return the Government’s surplus to taxpayers.

Would National scrap KiwiBuild?

KiwiBuild can be added to the growing list of Labour policies that might remain under a National-led Government come 2020.

This morning, Simon Bridges said it was possible the programme might stay.

When pressed in recent interviews, the National leader hasn’t ruled out retaining expensive middle-class welfare programmes like Fees-Free and Best Start payments.

There’s currently not a lot of daylight between the two major parties.

Charter schools headed to Waitangi Tribunal

The Government’s decision to scrap the charter school model is off to the Waitangi Tribunal.

Labour has handled charter schools with such arrogance it is now facing a claim from education advocates Sir Toby Curtis and Dame Iritana Tāwhiwhirangi.

The party considers itself to have a special relationship with Māori and the prospect of an adverse Waitangi Tribunal claim is deeply embarrassing.

Will Labour’s Māori MPs stand up?

Kelvin Davis, Willie Jackson, and Peeni Henare have been strangely silent on schools they once supported.

The Māori Labour MPs left the party list and won their seats. They should have significant sway within Caucus but appear to have had little influence on the charter schools decision.

Māori voters will be asking whether voting Labour was really worth it.

ends

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