Labour has released the major planks of our plan to get the economy working for New Zealanders; taking the tough decisions for the long term, keeping assets, addressing the spiralling cost of living, and giving kids the best start in life.
But there has also been a lot of other policy, big and small, released that shows the hard work done by spokespeople across our portfolios to address the issues in specific sectors. I know there is a lot happening, so here are ten policies that have already come out that you might not have heard a lot about, but address issues that are of significance to many New Zealanders. There are of course loads of other policies, and inclusion in this list is no indication of relative importance, just to give you a flavour. You can check out all the policies, here.
1. Labour will provide an additional 5,000 fees-free training places for 16 and 17 year olds over 3 years, including 1,000 that have a M?ori mentoring element and 1000 with a Pasifika mentoring element. (YOUTH AFFAIRS)
2. Labour will work with the ITO sector to develop a Creative Industries Apprenticeship, as part of the Modern Apprenticeships Scheme. (ARTS, CULTURE and HERITAGE)
3. Labour will amend the Holidays Act to 2008 settings to protect the rights of workers to time off for rest and recreation and ensure that all NZ workers have access to 11 days off on pay for recognised public holidays, including Anzac and Waitangi Day. (WORK AND WAGES)
4. Labour will invest $75 million over four years in “e-learning? for low-decile schools, with priority going to schools with year 7 -13 students and the capability to deliver an effective programme . This includes Government funding for students to have individual use of a
mobile device. (EDUCATION)
5.Labour will immediately restore $13 million cut from ACE funding to improve access to adult and community education. (TERTIARY EDUCATION)
6. Labour will create a world sanctuary area in the EEZ around the Kermadec Islands by way of giving this area marine reserve status.(CONSERVATION)
7. Labour will therefore direct Solid Energy not to proceed with its liquid fuels lignite mining proposal.(ENVIRONMENT)
8.We will continue to participate in Trans-Pacific Partnership talks but reiterate our commitment to retaining Pharmac in particular as a bottom line item which must not be traded away. We feel similarly strongly about intellectual property provisions. (TRADE)
9. Labour will increase all one-officer Police stations to at least two officer stations. (SAFER SOCIETY)
(and for Clare) 10. Labour will bring the TV broadcasting industry together to establish a consensus for new Technical Delivery Requirements and a unified national standard for (volume on TV Ads) all broadcasters that reflects international best practice. (BROADCASTING)
a) Re: TONY RYALL PRODUCES GHOST DOCTORS, Friday Nov 18th.
and others (b and c)
Thank you for giving me a new title! as I understand RETIRED is non-PC in NZ.
I was a Family Doctor in Wellsford until 2002 when my late wife developed Kidney Disease and needed first dialysis in Auckland and later a friend-donor Kidney Transplant in 2004, sady she died shortly afterwards.
When I felt I was ready to return to work as a Doctor, I was informed by the Authorities in Wellington that I had beern out of Medical Practice for too long (over 3 years) and had to retrain.
On Thursday 2nd September 2010 I discussed setting up an emergency RETIRED Doctor and Nurses Pool to be used in Major Incidents with the MOH in Christchurch. He said he had it covered and wished me the best of luck. SATURDAY 4th SEPTEMBER @ 4.35am….you know the rest.
b)
I HAVE VOTED as a SPECIAL VOTE in Auckland
So I have voted for Brendon BURNS in Christchurch Central,
I have voted LABOUR PARTY VOTE
I am against MMP, Referendum Vote Choice A
I could not use the referendum for an Alternative (Vote Choice B)
I think that there should be 70 Electoral MPs and we should be able RANK the PARTY LIST for the 20-30 remaining LIST MPs. It is not a true Democratic Vote if we allow Party leaders to CHOOSE who are the replacement MPs under MMP.
c) I do not know what your plans are for increasing the SUPERANNUATION payments, as I get a top-up here from my Jersey Pension.
With prospect of RATE increases (already up $2 a week on current figures due to CV increases)
Increase in Insurance
Severe fall in Savings (Dividends and Bank Interest rates)
Proposed CAPITAL GAINS TAX (remember Dr Cullen put perceived CGT on all “grey-area” (ie NON Australasian) shares in 2007.
Unable to work even as a Ghost Doctor
What is a old fella to live on?
I hope that all goes well for you, Brendon and The Party today.
Dr Peter Tillman,
Retired Voted