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A summary of Green political happenings. You are welcome to send snippets that may interest other GreenWeek readers to Alison Coleman: alison.coleman@parliament.govt.nz
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Pollution plan smells like a hijack, Mr Anderton
Word for word submissions from Landcorp and Federated Farmers opposing improvements to water quality in the Manawatu and Wanganui region’s rivers to make them safe to swim in, smell of a hijack.
 Read Russel's press release.
Police enthusiasm for pepper-spray needs to be reviewed
Greens Police Spokesperson Keith Locke wants the Police Commissioner to review the way his officers are using pepper spray. The over-enthusiastic use of pepper spray in the force is particularly worrying as police are currently considering whether to introduce an even more dangerous weapon, the 50,000 volt taser stun gun.
Read Keith's press release.
Nothing to fear from energy efficient lighting
The National Party has gone on record for a second time today opposing sustainability and lower energy prices for households. Unfortunately they haven't taken the trouble to find out anything about it – they've apparently just read an editorial in a newspaper which hadn't taken that trouble either.
Read Jeanette's press release.
Open letter receives closed response
John Key has finally responded to Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette’s open letter in which she requested details of National’s preferred Emissions Trading Scheme. Ms Fitzsimons says she is extremely disappointed at Key’s uninformative response, in which he says ‘I note the concerns and issues you raised’ but declines to answer any of the specific questions put to him.
Read Jeanette's press release.
Working week set for major changes
The Greens look forward to flexible working patterns becoming the norm and the rigid nine to five working week gradually becoming a thing of the past, now the new flexible working right has come into force on Tuesday 1 July.
Read Sue K's press release.
‘UnFairfax’ should keep Subeditors in local communities
Fairfax has a journalistic responsibility to keep editing jobs in our communities and regions ahead of short term cost cutting. It’s disappointing to see Fairfax joining the trend of laying off yet more local subeditors and replacing them with euphemistically named ‘centres of expertise’ in Wellington and Christchurch.
Read Sue B's press release.
ERMA OK’s continued use of one of world’s worst pesticides
The Greens are shocked ERMA has recommended the continued use of endosulfan, a highly toxic chemical banned in many western countries, and is calling on the Minister for the Environment to review the decision.
Read Sue K's press release.
Greens criticise Government’s ‘bandaid’ welfare plans
The Greens welcome minor changes to supplementary assistance for beneficiaries announced today, but says they fail to address fundamental faults in the benefit system. In real terms benefit levels have fallen so low that beneficiaries are now worse off than after Ruth Richardson's 1991 benefit cuts. They need more special needs grants and other types of emergency assistance as their basic income is just not enough to survive on.
Read Sue B's press release.
Trucking must pay its way
It is time to stop subsidising the trucking industry and price transport on a level playing field if New Zealand is to make the transition to a sustainable economy. At the moment, truck drivers only pay 56 percent of their costs to the economy, compared to rail freight users who pay on average 82 percent and ordinary motorists who pay 64 percent, according to the Ministry of Transport’s Surface Transport Costs and Charges study from 2005.
Read Jeanette's press release.
Russel's maiden speech in Parliament
"Micky Savage once said in this House that “we might make mistakes, but we would make other things too”. As someone who has come here to get things done, I’m pretty sure I’ll make mistakes and bugger the odd thing up. But my greatest hope is that we will, as Savage said, make other things too. Make good things that we can feel proud of: a nation and people steeped in fairness, democracy, peace and hope, living graciously with and caring for these beautiful islands on this planet we love." Read the comments here.
For details on events in your area, check our website.
Green Parliamentary Employment Opportunity in Auckland
Maternity leave replacement needed for the Green MPs’ Out-of-Parliament Outreach Coordinator. Exciting opportunity in the role of support worker for Keith Locke and Sue Bradford and the Green MPs, based out of the Auckland office in Kingsland. Position starts early August, full-time for 14 weeks, until just after the election. This maternity leave cover position is full-time 40 hours a week, Monday – Friday. Applications close Thursday 10th July 5:00pm. For a full job description and/or to apply, email us, phone 09-302-0166 Post: P.O. Box 1553, Shortland Street, Auckland, or fax: 09-303-0173. Please send a CV, cover letter and references to the Green MPs by Thurs 10th July 5:00pm. Interviews are scheduled for Monday 14th July.
To see press releases on topics not covered by the items above, go to all media releases
Published by the Greens' Parliamentary Office, Bowen House, Parliament, Wellington.
Ph (04) 470 6700, Fax (04) 472 6003, green.party@parliament.govt.nz, http://www.greens.org.nz/.
Authorised by Jon Field, 73 Eden St, Wellington.
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