1. EDITORIAL: YOUTH RADIO IS A DUMB-ARSE IDEA
2. MP WANTS MORE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
3. ANDERTON BRIBES MULTINATIONALS WITH WELFARE
4. MORE MAHAREY WAFFLE
5. TOP TEN PRIORITIES FOR MICHELLE BOAG
6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

1. EDITORIAL: YOUTH RADIO IS A DUMB-ARSE IDEA

Last week it emerged that once again the Government is considering the idea of a taxpayer funded, nation-wide youth radio station. This would have to rank as one of the stupidest ideas this government has had (and thats saying something.) At a time when student debt is skyrocketing, university fees are going up, police have to share teabags and cancer patients have to go overseas to get operations, the Government has decided that what this country really needs is millions spent on "Rockin’ FM with Laila Harre".

The idea of a single radio station for young people is incredibly patronising and arrogant. No-one ever talks about the need for a station for 'middle-aged people', because it would be impossible to get something everyone liked. The same is even more so for young people. Cabinet Ministers obviously don’t realise that young people are not some homogenous group; they are incredibly diverse, with different tastes and opinions on everything.

What kind of music will this station play? Rock? Rap? Classical? All kinds? Will anyone listen if they try and play a confusing variety? Do they expect all young people to listen to a station just because the government declares it "cool"? Who will decide what gets played – Marian Hobbs and Laila Harre?? The mind boggles.

There are even more serious repercussions. This new station could force existing stations out of business. A 1997 report for then Youth Affairs Minister Deborah Morris found that young people were already well catered for by a huge variety of commercial stations, including the b-net student network. However with advertising at a premium, a state-run station entering the market could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many smaller stations.

Several private stations have started a campaign against this move, and are calling for support – you can email them at moreradiochoice@hotmail.com. Please contact them and tell them what a stupid idea this plan is.

2. MP WANTS MORE PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

National MP Tony Steel is campaigning to reduce youth offending by making parents financially responsible for the crimes of their children.

"With a quarter of New Zealand's young people committing a criminal offence by the time they reach 19 years of age something must be done. A whopping 45% of burglaries and property abuse offences are committed by young offenders - up to 18,000 every year," Mr Steel said.

"The scary thing is that many of these young offenders go onto bigger things - assault, murder or rape. If we can stop youth offending with responsible, accountable parenting we'll have fewer hard-core criminals down the track.
"Family Group Conferences are a joke. 71% of young offenders dealt with through family group conferences re-offend. FGCs don't work for the offender and they certainly don't work for the victim. Victims have told me that at FGCs they feel like they've been attacked again. There is no justice for the victim.

"Too often the excuse for youth offending is that they can't help it because of their social circumstances. With all of the resources going into helping families, that excuse just doesn't wash anymore."

Mr Steel proposes that courts be empowered to award costs against parents, and to make other orders directed at establishing or improving parental responsibilities and parenting skills. Victims with small claims will have recourse to a Disputes Tribunal to obtain compensation.

"We must start making parents take more responsibility for the actions of their children," Mr Steel said.

3. ANDERTON BRIBES MULTINATIONALS WITH WELFARE

Jim Anderton's proposed donation of $1.6 million to Ericsson Synergy to invest in New Zealand amounts to little more than a bribe, ACT Finance spokesman Rodney Hide says.

"When the Government has to pay large companies millions of dollars to invest in our country, we've got a problem.

"What Alliance supporter thought that their vote would give Mr Anderton the power to dole out taxpayer funds to giant, multinational companies?"

Ericsson has a turnover of $56 billion, over half of New Zealand’s entire GDP.
"If this Government was making New Zealand 'business-friendly' we wouldn't have to hand out a single dollar to attract local investment.

"Rather than squandering scarce taxpayer funds, Mr Anderton should overhaul the RMA, get rid of obstructive labour laws and lower tax rates.

"Because he finds those measures far too difficult, Mr Anderton has provided every multinational and large company with the message: put your hand out, and we'll put you on welfare, along with the rest of the country," Rodney Hide said.

4. MORE MAHAREY WAFFLE

Note: This is not a joke. This seriously is a press release from Steve Maharey's office. A chocolate fish for anyone who can tell me what the hell it means. –Ed

Creating A Policy Context For Social Development

A social development approach to social policy which identifies a 'good society' and encourages sound social investment is outlined in a paper released today, said the Minister of Social Services and Employment Steve Maharey.

The Ministry of Social Policy report, The Social Development Approach, is a companion paper to Treasury papers released last week by Finance Minister Michael Cullen. It provides a high level basis for further strategic social policy work by the Ministry and the new Ministry of Social Development.

Mr Maharey said one of the key tasks he set for the Ministry of Social Policy was to develop a conceptual framework to assess cross-sectoral social policy Government initiatives.

Unfortunately it does not end there - the entire release is nearly 500 words long...

5. TOP TEN PRIORITIES FOR MICHELLE BOAG

1. Fund research to discover a new primary colour and then get 14 new
suits in that colour.

2. Check that Simon Power knows that "Limp Bizkit" is not something
that happens when you slip off the pedals of your mountain bike.

3. Reassure MPs that caucus meetings are being filmed "only for a
home video of all you lovely darlings".

4. Target boy racer voters by marketing Lindsay Tisch as the only MP
whose name sounds like a blow-off valve.

5. Launch an amnesty and buy-back scheme for all tweed jackets worn
by Young Nats.

6. Order a silver fern brooch to match Jenny's, only larger and more
presidential.

7. Remind Marie Hasler that taxpayer-funded parental leave is NOT
meant to be National policy.

8. Get together with Bob Simcock and Nandor Tanczos for a "sesh" to
discuss "heavy youth issues".

9. Ensure Clem Simich finally delivers his message to Wellington.

10. Avoid straying near Murray McCully's office without a chaperone.

Courtesy of St-Molesworth@yahoo.com

6. WEBSITE OF THE WEEK

http://home.earthlink.net/~conserve/conserve.htm

This an American site, very right-wing, but with lots of interesting opinion pieces on issues such as gun control, welfare, and free speech. Can't say I agree with everything on it but still an interesting read.

Thanks to Clint Heine for this website.

Any views expressed here are not necessarily those of New Zealand Young Nationals, or the New Zealand National Party.

Contributions, feedback and articles welcome. Email phil_rennie@hotmail.com

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Editor: Phil Rennie

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