Scoop: Just Politics

Friday, 31 August 2001, 3:35 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

JUST POLITICS
Spot Fines For Smokey Vehicles
Charities Tax Proposal Too Blunt An Instrument
McClay Powerless In International Custody War
Keep Children’s Commissioner Out Of Family Life
These Are The Days Of Our Select Committees
ACT Have 5-point Plan To Plug Brain Drain

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Hard News Is Here
Rail Negotiation Continues As Deadline Passes
Auckland Rallies For GE Free NZ This Saturday
Oz PM’s Stand On Boat People Appalling – Greens
Foodbank Users Vulnerable To Power Price Rises
Writings From The Young, Right & Future Honourable
Discrimination & Offensive Behaviour Rife In DoC

---> HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND .... editor@scoop.co.nz

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/WO0108/S00112.htm
Bougainville Peace Signing - Photo NZDF

JUST POLITICS

Spot Fines For Smokey Vehicles

- From tomorrow, Saturday September 1, owners of smoky vehicles face fines of up to $150. See... Smoky Vehicle Fines Begin [1]

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[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00592.htm

Charities Tax Proposal Too Blunt An Instrument

- Citizens Advice Bureaux today strongly criticised as an ‘overreaction’ proposals to tighten the taxing of charities. See... Tax Proposals - "A Sledgehammer To Crack A Nut" [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00160.htm

McClay Powerless In International Custody War

- “The law prevents me from becoming involved in this current sad ‘tug of war’ involving the McLaughlin children being sent back to the United States today,” said Roger McClay, Commissioner for Children. See... "Commissioner For Children’s Hands Tied" [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00159.htm

Keep Children’s Commissioner Out Of Family Life

- “Every New Zealand family should fear government interference in home life,” warned Party Leader Graham Capill, following the enlarged powers bestowed by parliament on the Office for the Commissioner for Children. See... Powers For Commissioner For Children A Worry [1] MORE: - United Future - First Step Towards Better Recognition Of Families [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00155.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00589.htm

These Are The Days Of Our Select Committees

- There were 18 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex. See... Select Committee Business 24 to 31 August 2001 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00599.htm

ACT Have 5-point Plan To Plug Brain Drain

- Latest immigration figures showing a net gain of more than 1600 people in July, are being quoted as evidence that the brain drain is reversing. But it's not so, ACT leader Richard Prebble says. See... We Must Stop The Brain Drain [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00595.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Hard News Is Here

- GOOD DAY MEDIAPHILES ... well, it's a while since I saw a protest action this smoothly networked. The GE Free New Zealand bumper sticker is everywhere. I'm getting emails and being handed flyers in the street. You can expect this weekend's anti-GE rally to put green issues on next year's election agenda in big, bold letters. See... HARD NEWS 31/08/01 - How Green Was My Rally [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0108/S00181.htm

Rail Negotiation Continues As Deadline Passes

- “Negotiations for the government to buy Tranz Rail's Auckland rail corridors and infrastructure assets are continuing,” Finance Minister Michael Cullen, Transport Minister Mark Gosche and Tranz Rail managing director Michael Beard announced today. See... Negotiations continue on Auckland rail deal [2]

[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00597.htm

Auckland Rallies For GE Free NZ This Saturday

- Saturday's public rally in central Auckland is likely to be the first of many actions New Zealanders will be taking to demand the environment and clean-green economy are protected from genetic pollution. See... Rally In Support Of A GE-Free Environment [1] MORE: - Staunch Alliance - No GE For Us Thanks! [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00162.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00161.htm

Oz PM’s Stand On Boat People Appalling – Greens

- Green Immigration spokesperson Keith Locke has backed Helen Clark's offer to take some of the asylum seekers stranded on the ship Tampa off Christmas Island. See... Greens Support NZ Taking Refugees From Tampa [1] MORE: - Nats - Nats Warn Govt Against Undermining Australia [2] - NZ Govt must send clear message [3] - Libz - Better Way for Boat-People [4] - Welfare State Leaves Boat-People to Die [5] - PMA - Australia: refugees [6] - Nelson: Friday – Boat People Protest [7] - NZ First - PM Issues Clear Invitation to Asylum Seekers [8] - Govt - PM responds to asylum seekers' plight [9]

Foodbank Users Vulnerable To Power Price Rises

- Most families using foodbanks are extremely vulnerable to rising power prices and the threat of disconnection, research released today reveals. See... No Power For The Poor? [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00154.htm

Writings From The Young, Right & Future Honourable

- The Government has started a trend. Every 9 months or so West Coasters are told by some try-hard Wellington bureaucrat that they are not allowed to make use of their own natural resources. These politicans are saying that it is more important to sooth collective chardonnay consciences of PC urban 'greenies' than have real jobs for West Coasters. See... The New Write [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00152.htm

Discrimination & Offensive Behaviour Rife In DoC

- The Department of Conservation today released the findings of a staff survey of the workplace environment, and also the strategy developed to address the issues raised. Some serious problems were identified, particularly by women and Maori, and also by people with disabilities. See... Initiatives Underway To Improve DoC Workplace [1] and Minister on DOC Workforce Diversity Survey [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0108/S00153.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0108/S00588.htm

ENDS

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

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COMMENT

Binoy Kampmark: Warring Against Encryption, Australia Is Coming For Your Communications

Another sign of gathering storm clouds against the free sharing of information on technology platforms is the appearance of Australia’s domestic espionage agency, ASIO. Alongside Kershaw at the National Press Club, the agency’s chief, Mike Burgess, is also full of grave words about the dangerous imperium of encrypted chatter.

Gordon Campbell: On Fast Track Powers, Media Woes And The Tiktok Ban

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Binoy Kampmark: Censorship Wars, Elon Musk, Safety Commissioners And Violent Content

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Gordon Campbell: On The Public Sector Carnage, And Misogyny As Terrorism

Public service cuts are being enacted without the coalition government having a clue (or visible concern) about what the impact will be. The prior promise to go through this stuff “line by line” has gone out the window.

Ramzy Baroud: NATO’s Never-ending War: The 75-Year-Old Bully Is Faltering

It is time for NATO to re-examine its 75-year-old legacy, and be courageous enough to change directions altogether - instead of opting for a state of non-peace, actually seeking real peace.

Eugene Doyle: Joining AUKUS Not In NZ’s National Interest

Helen Clark, oh how we miss you. The former New Zealand Prime Minister – the safest pair of hands this country has had in living memory – gave a masterclass on the importance of maintaining an independent foreign policy when she spoke at an AUKUS symposium held in Parliament’s old Legislative Chambers on April 18.

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