Category: Political Parties

Source: National Party – Headline: PM must condemn threatening union behaviour

The Prime Minister must condemn the latest threatening behaviour of the RMTU in the Lyttelton Port strike, National Party Workplace Relations Spokesperson Michael Woodhouse says.

“A union organiser has been delivering fliers around Christchurch with the name and address of one of the port’s board members on them,” Mr Woodhouse says.

“This is a clear attempt to get people to approach that person personally and place pressure on them to fold in behind the strikers.

“It’s threatening thuggish behaviour and it needs to be condemned and stopped.

“This is not the 1930s. It’s the 21st century and bully boy tactics should be long gone.

“It’s obvious that the union thinks it can get away with this sort of behaviour under a Labour Government. The Prime Minister needs to be make it clear they can’t.

“Jacinda Ardern and her Minister Iain Lees-Galloway need to publicly denounce this approach and make sure that these sorts of ugly tactics have no place in 21st century industrial relations.

“We can have robust negotiations about pay and conditions without encouraging personal attacks and abuse.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Gas exports would reduce global emissions

The Prime Minister’s blinkered view on natural gas exports could cause New Zealand to miss a significant opportunity in contributing to a reduction in global emissions, National Party Energy and Resources Spokesperson Jonathan Young says.

“Switching from coal to natural gas reduces emissions by 50 per cent. If Jacinda Ardern would support the export of New Zealand gas to coal dependent countries, we’d be doing far more to reduce global CO2 emissions than we would by making this industry the sacrificial lamb of her climate policy,” Mr Young says.

“We must reduce global CO2 emissions, but the Prime Minister ought to think outside the classical Greenpeace bias.

“Global energy-related CO2 emissions stopped increasing for a third straight year in 2016 for two reasons –  an increase in renewable electricity generation and also the switch from coal to gas.

“Climate Change Minister James Shaw has refused to support the export of New Zealand natural gas to coal dependent countries. Not only would such a move help reduce global emissions but the economic return for New Zealand would help our own transition.

“We need a Prime Minister who is pragmatic and won’t disregard genuine and significant opportunities to make a difference in the battle against rising emissions. Ending an industry won’t change our liquid fuel emissions profile.

“There is no need to throw an industry and over 8,000 New Zealanders under the bus. There is a win-win here. Let’s not miss it.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Consultation on Auckland taxes a sham

Yesterday’s announcement from the Government that Aucklanders are about to be slapped with a fuel tax show just how little value both it and the Auckland Council place on consulting ratepayers, National’s Local Government (Auckland) Denise Lee says.

“Auckland ratepayers have been asked to submit on a Budget that proposed a number of new rates, including a regional fuel tax, without knowing what this tax system would look like.

“Now, with five days of public consultation still remaining, the Labour Government has introduced a Bill giving Council the ability to introduce this tax.  It is clear that this was always going to be the end result.

“Given a Ministry of Transport impact report says a cost benefit analysis has not been done and that ‘fuel companies have not had time to accurately quantify the costs of collection of the regional fuel tax’, the consultation process has been an absolute sham.

“To add insult to injury, the Council’s Budget is dependent on this tax being implemented by mid-2018, meaning that this Bill will likely have to be rushed through Parliament without the full investigation of a Select Committee.

“Both the Labour Government and Auckland Council are yet to release their priorities for transport.

“Auckland residents should not have to shoulder the burdened of new taxes, without being told where their money will be spent,” Ms Lee says. 

Source: National Party – Headline: National supports social obligations for offenders

National is seeking Government support for a law change that would see benefits cut to offenders who don’t comply with court-ordered community service, MP Brett Hudson says.

Mr Hudson currently has a Private Member’s Bill in front of the Social Services and Community Select Committee that seeks to provide the Department of Corrections with the option to request an offender on community service have their benefit reduced for non-compliance.

“We’re very surprised NZ First isn’t backing this Bill,” Mr Hudson says.

“New Zealanders expect people to comply with their sentences and it’s right that they would expect Parliament to support that.

“It’s disappointing that Government members cannot see the benefit in having a way to respond to a person’s failure to meet those obligations other than locking them up.

“Community sentences offer opportunities to offenders other than jail time.  With those opportunities come responsibilities.

National Party Social Development Spokesperson Louise Upston says the Bill offers a very simple measure to ensure offenders comply with their community sentence.

“It’s consistent with the previous National led Government approach to welfare reforms, which places social obligations on those being supported by hard working taxpayers.

“It’s effectively another tool in the toolbox for Corrections. By offering an alternative management tool, this Bill would mean not subjecting offenders to the stigma of further prosecution.

“Community sentences are an important part of the justice system, however there is an expectation from the public that those who are sentenced, they will serve their sentence,” Ms Upston says. 

Source: National Party – Headline: Govt handing Akl Council the ‘tax and spend’ keys

New legislation from the Government today means all Auckland motorists will be taxed 10 cents a litre more in just three months’ time, National’s Transport Spokesperson, Jami-Lee Ross says.

“The last thing Aucklanders need is a new fuel tax making it more expensive to get to work, school, or around their neighbourhoods.

“The problem with Labour’s new fuel tax is that it is not necessary. This Government is just letting Auckland Council off the hook for its runaway costs.

“Auckland Council’s spending has increased by around $800 million over the last four years. The increase in its wage bill alone over this time is more than the fuel tax would raise in its first year.

“Phil Twyford and Grant Robertson’s solution is to let Auckland Council tax its way out of this problem.

“Auckland Council should be tightening its own spending before being handed the ability to tax motorists.

“Labour has promoted its policy as an ‘Auckland Fuel Tax’, but this Bill also opens up the ability for other regions around New Zealand to introduce fuel taxes in a few years’ time.

“This legislation will encourage the same tax-and-spend behaviour at the local level as we’re seeing from this Government.

“Unlike other new taxes Labour is proposing there is no standard select committee process, not even a working group, given the timeline Phil Twyford is working to.”

“Soon Labour will have a new way to tax New Zealanders all around the country,” Mr Ross says.

Source: National Party – Headline: Labour’s promises of funding for CHCH now uncertain

Megan Woods appears to have contradicted her Prime Minister in walking back her promise to Christchurch of $300 million being readily accessible for the city’s rebuild, National’s Spokesperson for Greater Christchurch Regeneration, Nicky Wagner says.

“Before the election Jacinda Ardern committed that ‘Labour would be putting $300 million on the table, readily accessible for projects’ but in Parliament today the Minister for Greater Christchurch Regeneration said that the funding was not readily accessible, but may be included in the Budget,” Mrs Wagner says.

“A Budget bid does not mean the funding is guaranteed as we were promised.

“I asked Megan Woods whether she could confirm the funding so that it can be included in the Christchurch City Council Long Term Plan, which is currently being drafted. This is the exact time that the Council needs certainty of funding so they can make informed choices about where to invest.

“If the Government is serious about the fund they should come out and guarantee it so that the Council can plan for it now, otherwise they risk delays with its roll out in the months or years ahead.

“Megan Woods has been very vocal about Labour’s commitments to providing certainty and transparency for Christchurch, and Christchurch residents voted for Labour based on those promises. Now Ms Woods is the Minister responsible for the regeneration of our city, she has to deliver them,” Mrs Wagner says.

Source: National Party – Headline: Scrapping deciles a chance to fight disadvantage

A Member’s Bill by East Coast Bays MP Erica Stanford to replace the school decile system with a needs index to better target funding to students at risk of underachievement has been drawn from the ballot today.

“By scrapping the decile system, we will remove a blunt instrument and replace it with a fairer school funding system that better reflects the needs of children and young people,” Ms Stanford says.

“My Education (Social Investment Funding and Abolition of Decile System) Amendment Bill will replace the decile system with a needs index that more accurately indicates which students are most at risk of not achieving in school and therefore in need of more support.

“This bill is about ensuring that schools are better equipped to have the funding and resources to help students with additional learning needs. It was developed because the decile system is not well targeted and has led to schools and students being stigmatised and unfairly judged.

“The needs index reflects a social investment approach and will better target funding to schools with students that evidence-based indicators show are most at risk of not achieving. These indicators would be determined by the Minister and must be updated annually.

“My bill will ensure that data is anonymised and safeguards are established to protect privacy. While it won’t be possible to identify the children that generate the funding, I have confidence that principals and teachers will know which young people need support.

“Under the policy National campaigned on, additional investment would be made to ensure that no school would see a reduction in their funding as a direct result of this change.

“Decile funding makes up less than three per cent of a school’s total funding and I would expect that schools receive at least the same level of funding that they would under the decile system, though some would gain significantly more.

“I trust the Government will keep an open mind about my bill, especially because it has talked about having a cross-party approach to child poverty – what better way to achieve that goal than to agree on targeting school funding to children who need the most support.

“I will be working with National’s education team to meet with schools across the country about my bill because I’m committed to ensuring that we have a fairer system that better supports every child to succeed.”

Source: National Party – Headline: Member’s Bill to tackle litter drawn today

Proposals to hike fines for littering could be a step closer following the drawing of MP Scott Simpson’s Private Member’s Bill today.

Mr Simpson says an increasing frustration at the level of litter and fly-tipping has motivated him to take action.

“The current laws allow Councils to issue infringement offences for littering, but people don’t seem to be getting the message.

“Councils need more tools to help prevent littering and keep our communities safe and clean. This Bill will see the maximum infringement Councils can impose increase from $400 to $1,000. This will send a clear message to those who litter that it is entirely unacceptable.

“By increasing the maximum fine there will be a greater deterrent for littering while avoiding using the Courts which is expensive and time consuming.

“I acknowledge that catching people in the act is an issue, but I’m hoping that in promoting this Bill and raising greater awareness, we will remind people to keep an eye out for those who may be illegally dumping waste.

“We are a clean and green country and need to be tougher on litter to ensure we remain so,” Mr Simpson says.

Mr Simpson is keen to engage with the community on other measures that will lead to a decrease in litter.