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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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Green Party wins major improvements to ETS
The Green Party Caucus has decided that the substantial changes we have won to the Emissions Trading Scheme justify voting for it. We have always said the scheme needed to share the effort much more fairly. Along with the one-off financial payment, this goes a long way to compensating households for their higher prices, and reducing energy waste and carbon emissions. Revenue from the ETS will be recycled into a billion dollar fund to make New Zealand homes warm, dry and cost-effective to heat.
 Read Jeanette's press release.
Watch a video of the announcement and press conference
What is an ETS?
MfE lawyers blocked dioxin testing at Mapua
Correspondence and other information given to the Green Party shows the Ministry for the Environment used lawyers to argue against Tasman District Council testing for dioxin during the recent toxic site clean-up at Mapua.
Read Russel's press release.
National’s road toll policy would punish the poor
National transport spokesperson Maurice Williamson’s proposal for high tolls on new motorways would only hurt poor people in the absence of adequate public transport alternatives. "Road tolls can be useful to encourage people out of their cars, but first we need much better public transport alternatives, otherwise we are further punishing the less well-off Aucklanders."
Read Keith's press release.
Commissioner’s consultation over Tasers a travesty
Keith says Police Commissioner Howard Broad’s day long consultation with MPs this week before deciding to introduce Tasers is a travesty. "My high hopes that Mr Broad was serious about hearing MPs have been dashed by this sudden decision," Keith said. "This is a 50,000 volt weapon that can and will kill people – as we have seen many times overseas. This is not a normal operational matter such as the design of a police car. Introducing such a fearful weapon would be a big move towards the more violent US style of policing."
Read Keith's press release.
Housing at crisis point for many
News that increasing numbers of families in the far north are being forced into mortgagee sales should be a wake up call to Government and all political parties about the seriousness of the current housing crisis.
Read Sue B's press release.
Greens moot tougher penalties on polluters
This week’s new trade deficit figures showing a massive increase in the cost of importing petrol and other oil products dramatically illustrate why the Government must reduce New Zealand’s dependence on oil.
Read Russel's press release.
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Keeping pollution from waterways is much better than fines - Russel visits a model community scheme where farmers got together to fence off and plant the whole Sherry River catchment near Tapawera in the South Island. |
Situation critical for thyroid sufferers
The Green Party is calling on the Government to intervene to help hundreds of New Zealanders who are experiencing significant adverse reactions to a new formulation of thyroid medication Eltroxin. "Surely," said Sue this week, "when almost 600 patients report significant side effects to this drug, it’s time for Medsafe to tell the drug manufacturer that the new formulation is not acceptable for many New Zealanders, and that they should provide an alternative drug."
Read Sue K's press release.
Rugby legend strikes out on S59
This week the Herald reported former All Black coach Sir Brian Lochore as saying, ‘Yes, I smacked my children, but I’ve never hit them. Yes, I smacked other peoples’ children, but I never hit them.’ Sir Brian is repeating the common fallacy that somehow ’smacking’ or ’spanking’ someone is not hitting them. "I would love to know how he’d feel if a grown man ’spanked’ or ’smacked’ him on some dark Auckland street tonight. I rather suspect he would see it as an assault, on both his person and his dignity." comments Sue Bradford. See the 159 comments - and counting - here.
For details on events in your area, check our website.
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 Michael Pringle, 2A Zande Terrace, Wellington.
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