Scoop: Just Politics

Monday, 18 December 2000, 4:32 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

JUST POLITICS
Nationalising the GP Service
Hamilton Meeting Supports Cannabis Reform
Women’s Refuge Gets A Big Boost
Current Account Improvement Expected - English
IRD Payout Announcement Wanted Today
Anderton Forced To Back Down
Public Works Act Overhaul
Special Benefit Problems Remain
More Action Urged From Jim Sutton - ACT
Education Amendment Bill – First Reading Speech…
Orion Leads The Way On Electricity - Greens

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
Dougherty Will Be Compensated – Goff
Post Cabinet Presser: Dishwasher Installation & Hatchet Burying
Richard Prebble’s Letter From Wellington
Parliament’s Bad Boy Fingered
State Of The Nation’s Health: Fatter Than Ever

JUST POLITICS

Nationalising the GP Service

- Health Minister Annette King has welcomed the National Health Committee's recommendations on primary health care, saying the NHC's approach is largely in accord with the Government's own approach. See... National Health Committee Report On Primary Health [1] and NHC Report Sets A Challenge [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00284.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0012/S00081.htm

Hamilton Meeting Supports Cannabis Reform

- A public meeting in Hamilton last night voted unanimously to support the decriminalisation of cannabis for adults. See... Hamiltonians pass motion to decriminalise cannabis [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00282.htm

Women’s Refuge Gets A Big Boost

- Women's Refuge is to get a 25% increase in funding this financial year, Social Services and Employment Minister Steve Maharey said this evening. See... 25% Increase In Funding For Women's Refuge [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00287.htm

Current Account Improvement Expected - English

With commodity prices now at the peak in the cycle, the improvement in the current account deficit should be more dramatic than is currently forecast, National's Finance Spokesman Bill English said today. See... Balance Of Payments Improvement Unsurprising [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00286.htm

IRD Payout Announcement Wanted Today

- Today is the deadline set by the Finance and Expenditure Select Committee for the compensation payout to Murray and Jan Willis to be finalised but unless a Cabinet decision is announced today it will not be met, National's Revenue spokesperson Annabel Young says. See... Decision due today on Willis payout [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00292.htm

Anderton Forced To Back Down

- Opposition parties, led by National, have forced the Government to abandon its plans to allow the Auditor General to have powers over community trusts. See... Anderton's U-Turn on Public Audit Bill [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00290.htm

Public Works Act Overhaul

- Minister for Land Information Matt Robson today announced a major review of the Public Works Act 1981. See... Foundation Law Overdue For Overhaul [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00289.htm

Special Benefit Problems Remain

- Regional discrepancies in the granting of special benefits are unlikely to change as a result of new instructions issued to staff by the Department of Work and Income, National's Work and Income spokesperson Belinda Vernon said today. See... Problems Remain With Special Benefit [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00288.htm

More Action Urged From Jim Sutton - ACT

While the government should be commended for supporting the Apple and Pear Export Permits Committee, the problem facing the industry will only be resolved by making the far braver decision of deregulation, said ACT Rural Affairs spokesman Owen Jennings. ... See... Good Start Jim, But You’ve Got A Way To Go Yet [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00285.htm

Education Amendment Bill – First Reading Speech…

I move that the Education Amendment Bill (No 2) 2000 be now read a first time. See... Education Amendment Bill (No 2) First Reading [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00283.htm

Orion Leads The Way On Electricity - Greens

- Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons is hailing the move of Christchurch energy lines company, Orion, to eliminate fixed charges as a long overdue challenge to businesses and the whole energy sector. See... Axing Of Fixed Charges Challenge To Industry [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00277.htm

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS

Dougherty Will Be Compensated – Goff

- Minister of Justice Phil Goff announced today that the Government has agreed that compensation should be paid to David Dougherty. See... David Dougherty To Be Compensated [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00294.htm

Post Cabinet Presser: Dishwasher Installation & Hatchet Burying

- Prime Minister Helen Clark is flying to South America tonight for a holiday in the Andes, leaving Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton to question Alliance Minister Phillida Bunkle about her taxpayer-owned Oriental Bay apartment tomorrow. See... Bunkle’s Not My Problem, Goodbye - PM Off To Andes [1] and Clark Wants To Make Up With Samuels In New Year [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00093.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0012/S00094.htm

Richard Prebble’s Letter From Wellington

- A growing economy is like a rising tide - it lifts all ships, was Richard Prebble's message to a breakfast meeting last week. Richard reviewed the highs and lows of the parliamentary year, Labour's keenness to change its spots and ACT's plan for prosperous New Zealand. See... Richard Prebble's Letter from Wellington 18/12/00 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00296.htm

Parliament’s Bad Boy Fingered

- Trevor Mallard is still Parliament's worst behaved MP according to a list of Parliament's 10 worst behaved MPs, prepared by United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne. See... Mallard Still Parliament's Worst Behaved MP [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00291.htm

State Of The Nation’s Health: Fatter Than Ever

- NEW Zealand adults are generally fitter than they were in 1996, however overall, many have tipped the scales in terms of obesity according the latest report Progress on Health Outcome Targets 1999. See... New Zealanders Getting Fitter, But Not Slimmer [1] and Progress On Health Outcome Targets 1999 [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/GE0012/S00027.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0012/S00295.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.

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