A lot of media comment today on Phil’s speech to Grey Power in Palmerston North. Some of it does not bear much relation to the actual content. It is vital that we can have a mature debate about difficult and challenging issues, and the media have an important role to play in that. This does not mean agreeing with every word, just that it is reported fairly. Please do follow the link above, have a read for yourself and make up your own mind.
For an example have a look at Gordon Campbell’s take on the speech. He does not agree with all of it, but he debates the substance. A sample
The one area where Goff’s speech did hit home cleanly was over the failure of the ETS deal to meet the environmental challenge. The rewards for big polluters, Maori and pakeha, are indefensible. So however is the response that calls Goff’s speech an instance of ‘playing the race card.’ Unlike Don Brash at Orewa, this speech dealt with specific and substantive issues – and if its faults are also substantive, they should be attacked on those terms.
After all, if the Maori Party are going to become the kingmakers in future New Zealand elections, they – and we- are going to have to learn how to debate their shortcomings without being called racists for doing so. The fact racists will undoubtedly prey on such criticism is not a reason for remaining silent, or for giving the Maori Party a free pass.
Posted in Media, Climate Change and Maori. |
Parliament has just passed into law a bill that will allow for the establishment of private prisons in New Zealand. Labour has strongly opposed this bill on the grounds of both principle and practice. We believe that the act of taking away someone’s liberty and freedom is one of the most invasive state responsibilities, and as such needs to be handled as a core state role. Public prisons have a moral accountable to taxpayers to support community safety and to rehabilitate, private prisons have an accountability to their shareholders to make a profit. If National really believe that prisons should be run by the private sector, why not the defence force and the police too?
In practice the evidence from around the world is that private prisons have not been more cost effective, and have most certainly not delivered in terms of safety or accountability. When National last was in government the Auckland Central Remand Prison was run by a company with a dubious history in private prisons. The result was in fact more costly, and staff on the ground reported that corners were cut. Practical examples of shortcomings in private prisons from the US, Australia, the UK and Canada have been ignored by National in their headlong rush to drive their privatisation ideology.
As an aside National MPs in the debate showed very little enthusiasm, and did not even take all their speaking slots. They failed to put up any evidence to support the privatisation argument. Sandra Goudie the Select Committee Chair for the Bill said they just wanted to “give it a go”. Sigh. In contrast Dr Pita Sharples gave two very good speeches about the need for more innovative, early intervention approaches. But there is no reason that these approaches have to translate to private management.
For me, the bottom line is that New Zealand has far too many people in prison- one of the worst incarceration rates in the western world. What we need to do is focus on people not getting to prison in the first place. But if we are to have prisons we need them to be publicly controlled to ensure safety and accountability.
Posted in Justice and Private Prisons. |
A story has come through this morning that there is a revolt among the Maori Party ruling council against the Maori Party MPs support for National’s ETS.
According to the report the Council will meet this afternoon. The concerns being raised by members are the ones that many Maori and others have been expressing
Even though there is a signed deal on the table between the Maori Party and National, the third and final vote is yet to be taken,” a senior party source said.
“The Maori Party membership are becoming increasingly aware of the huge debt that our people are going to have to pay, despite all the window dressing going on by the leadership about deals struck with Iwi and the $4 per week being saved with cheaper petrol and electricity prices for two years.
“That figure fails in comparison with a 40 year debt of anything between $110 and $220 billion
This is the big issue here. There is great concern that the deal done with the Iwi Leadership Group will in fact see the increased costs transferred from heavy emitters to ordinary Maori families. This is causing serious concern among the Maori Party.
“Many Maori Party supporters are threatening to leave the party, as the real issues behind this legislation are becoming known by the wider public.
“Our people are gutted that their opinion has not even been sought by the caucus, let alone listened to.
“This legislation could spell the end of the Party – the caucus have two days to regain the support of members
It does not get much more serious than that.
Posted in ETS and Maori Party. |
Parliament is debating Part 1 of the government’s emissions trading scheme. It is hard work debating a bill that only appeared this morning and is more than a hundred pages long. In my preparation for the debate I came across this gem
The importance of getting this legislation right cannot be overstated. [The development of an ETS] represents the most significant economic reform since the deregulation of the economy in the late 1980s. Getting this bill right is also important for the environment. Poor policy can also have unintended adverse environmental consequences.”
Moreover, “the legislative process has been rushed and inadequate given the bill’s complexity and significance. The public has not had adequate time to examine and submit on the bill, and it is inevitable that serious mistakes will be made that will adversely affect New Zealanders”.
Thus, “this process has not been conducive to getting such an important bill right nor in getting the cross-party support needed to ensure the stability and longevity of New Zealand’s ETS”.
That was Nick Smith last year after Labour had taken a year to pass our bill, with a number of external fora and consultation period before the Bill was introduced. Breathtaking hypocricy as the government rams this through under urgency.
Hat Tip: Rod Oram
Posted in Uncategorized. |
It was American politician Hubert Humphrey who said
It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick and the needy
I have long felt that this summed up a key aspect of my own political philosophy. The first two categories (children and the elderly) are the focus of much government action, and rightly so. While political parties might disagree on the nature and extent of the work with the very young and old it takes up much of the time of government.
Those who live in the shadows of life are not always so fortunate. People who fall outside the system are often not given the attention they need. This is one reason why I am very pleased to see that my colleague Moana Mackey is leading a call for a parliamentary inquiry into homelessness.
This is a much misunderstood issue. It starts with the definition. It is not just people living under bridges (though there are many of those who need support and assistance). It is people who with a variety of health and social problems find themselves unable to hold down permanant accomodation. They might be alcoholics who”couch surf” from one risky situation to another, they might be mental health consumers who spend time in sub-standard boarding houses or night shelters. They are almost certainly not getting the help they need to address the issues that have driven them to this situation. There is a huge human cost here- but also an economic one, with cost borne by the health sector, police courts and correctional systems and social service agencies.
As a society we do not always want to know about these problems. If we see people living on the street we feel an urge to look away. The recent response to the proposed Wet House in Island Bay in Wellington is a case in point. While the specific proposal may have had some shortcomings, the attitude of many in the community is to want to wish the problem away.
We can’t do that if we want to live in a caring and humane society. We can’t do that if we don’t want to throw millions of dollars at the consequences rather than the causes of issues like homelessness. Last night I attended the 40th anniversary of the Downtown Community Ministry in Wellington. For 40 years they have looked after those who live in the shadows of life. Their work is inspiring and often under the radar. As a wider society we need to acknowledge it, and take steps to ensure we all play a part in responding to the social needs of the most vulnerable in our community.
Posted in Poverty, Housing and Inequality. |
