Scoop: Just Politics

Monday, 7 August 2000, 4:51 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

JUST POLITICS
Matt Robson On Gun Control
Where They Are This Week
National Anthem In Schools
PI Overstayers Tackled
Prebbble At ACT’s Central Divisional Conference
Dunne & Piper On Earthquakes
Scoop World: Violence At “Grand Old Party” Protests

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
PM, Goff Meet Chaudhry For Talks
Golden Handshakes: Murray McCully Is Wrong
GE Royal Commission Opens
Reds On Top Of The Bed
Scoop Opinion: A Letter From Prebble

JUST POLITICS

Matt Robson On Gun Control

- Over 90% of New Zealanders want tougher controls on guns, and more than 80% want military style machine guns off our streets, says Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control Matt Robson. See... Over 90% want tough gun controls [1] . If an Arms Amendment Bill is to improve gun laws it must have a defined focus, says Minister of Police George Hawkins. See... Arms Amendment Bill Needs Improvement [2] . Also see... New Zealand First Welcomes Common Sense On Bill [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00122.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00109.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00108.htm

Where They Are This Week

– Following are media diaries for Michael Cullen [1] , Annette King [2] , Jim Sutton [3] , Paul Swain [4] , Mark Gosche [5] ,and opposition leader Jenny Shipley [6] . More will be added as they come to hand.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00116.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00113.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00115.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00114.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00118.htm
[6] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00119.htm

National Anthem In Schools

- New Zealand schools are being sent a CD with versions of the National anthem to help provide consistency with singing the anthem. See... National Anthem CD for Schools [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00117.htm

PI Overstayers Tackled

- A Pacific Island Law Campaign in Auckland will be tackling the Pacific Island overstayer issue over the next two months. See... Pacific Island Law Campaign Targets Immigration [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0008/S00039.htm

Prebbble At ACT’s Central Divisional Conference

- “I am pleased to report to this divisional conference of the ACT Party that the ACT MPs are the most effective opposition to the Alliance/Labour coalition” – a speech from Richard Prebble [1] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00110.htm

Dunne & Piper On Earthquakes

- United NZ leader Peter Dunne, says criticism by Cr Sue Piper of his releasing a list of 207 Wellington earthquake risks shows she is more interested in personal attacks than serving Wellington. See... Cr Piper Prefers Personal Abuse To Doing Her Job [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00107.htm

Scoop World: Violence At “Grand Old Party” Protests

- Following are photos from what is perhaps the most sophisticated political protest site existing to-date, The Philadelphia Independent Media Center. According to the site it was formed to “...provide an alternative to the inevitably and unavoidably corporate media coverage of the [Republican Party} convention.” See... Scoop Images: From the Philly IMC [1] . A young man handcuffed crucifixion style to a cell door. The screams and moans of young women echoing through the cell block C. Another young woman dragged naked, bloody through a garbage strewn prison hall. See... Brutal Treatment Of Philadelphia Protestors [2] in the International wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0008/S00020.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0008/S00027.htm

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS

PM, Goff Meet Chaudhry For Talks

- “The agenda and pace of the reinstatement of the Fijian Government – unlike in 1987 – should not be dictated by the regime in Fiji, but by the international community led by Australia and New Zealand.” Deposed Fijian Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has just met with Prime Minister Helen Clark, and Foreign Minister Phil Goff. See... Scoop Newsflash: Chaudhry’s Challenge [1] in the Headlines wire. Also see...Scoop Images: Mahendra Chaudhry After His Release [2] . See also an earlier interview with the "iron-man" of Fiji...Chaudhry Interview - Iron Man of Fiji [3] both in the Headlines wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0008/S00032.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0008/S00031.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0008/S00030.htm

Golden Handshakes: Murray McCully Is Wrong

- “Murray McCully's outburst regarding Carol Stigley and the Government's relations with Local Government New Zealand, while predictable, is factually incorrect,” Local Government Minister Sandra Lee has responded. See... Minister rejects "factually incorrect" outburst [1] . A scandalous degree of interference from the highest levels of Cabinet has caused a complete breakdown in the much lauded 'partnership' between the Government and Local Government New Zealand” National's Murray McCully says. He has since issued a memorandum on the issue. See... Gross interference leads to golden handshake [2] , both in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00112.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00111.htm

GE Royal Commission Opens

- Sir Thomas Eichlebaum opened the Royal Comission On Genetic Engineering today, and urged both sides not to look at the facts and not use the inquiry to score political points. For his speech, see... Sir Thomas Eichelbaum - GE Royal Commission Opens [1] in the Science wire. Pro-GE group, the Life Sciences Network, agrees. See... Anti-GMO advocates should have special status [2] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0008/S00009.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0008/S00038.htm

Reds On Top Of The Bed

- The Socialist International Asia Pacific Committee will meet in Wellington, New Zealand today, hosted by the New Zealand Labour Party. Deposed Fiji PM Mahendra Chaudhry will attend the conference. See... Socialist International Meeting In Wellington [1] in the Politics wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0008/S00037.htm

Scoop Opinion: A Letter From Prebble

- “The coalition, with the support of the Greens, will dominate Parliament this week as they ram the Employment Relations Bill through under urgency. The Bill, as reported back, is now 250 pages.” For more from the ACT Party leader, see... Richard Prebble's Letter From Wellington [1] in the Parliament wire.

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0008/S00123.htm

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

Contact Alastair Thompson

• Linkedin
• Twitter - @althecat
• Facebook
• Email - alastair@scoop.co.nz