The passing of the Climate Change Response (Zero Carbon) Amendment Bill will help ensure a safe planet for our kids and grandkids, the Minister for Climate Change James Shaw said today.
The landmark legislation which provides a framework to support New Zealanders to prepare for, and adapt to, the effects of climate change delivers on the Government’s Coalition and Confidence Supply agreements, and is a key part of the Government’s plan to tackle the long-term challenge of climate change.
Green Party Co-leader James Shaw has expressed his exasperation at the decision by the United States to officially withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
“It is incomprehensible that a time where California is ablaze, the United States has pulled out of an Agreement that seeks to stabilise our climate,” James Shaw said.
“The time to act has never been more pressing, and as a global community we should all be working together to ensure a safe planet for future generations.
“In withdrawing, the United States has ceded its traditional position as a global leader.
The Green Party has negotiated important civil liberties changes in the proposed Terrorism Suppression Bill which will now establish human rights and process safeguards.
“We’ve ensured that foreign convictions and deportations won’t be accepted without proper scrutiny and we’ve ended the use of secret evidence without an advocate,” said Golriz Ghahraman, Green Party spokesperson for Justice.
The Green Party is pleased to see progress on Fair Pay Agreements, a crucial step towards greater fairness at work for everyone, with Minister Iain Lees-Galloway announcing consultation on a discussion document today.
“Fair Pay Agreements are a crucial tool to provide greater fairness at work for everyone,” says Jan Logie, Green Party Workplace Relations spokesperson.
“As we move to a zero carbon economy, we need businesses to be focused on innovation rather than driving down wages and conditions to save money.
The future for New Zealand’s threatened indigenous freshwater fish looks brighter with the passing of the Conservation (Indigenous Freshwater Fish) Amendment Bill in Parliament today said Minister of Conservation, Eugenie Sage.
“Until now, our freshwater fish legislation has been 20 years out of date. We have lacked effective tools to look after fish spawning areas, ensure that culverts and drains don’t block fish passage in rivers and streams, and manage fishing on conservation lands.
The Green Party has welcomed the Council of Trade Unions’ call for a people-led, people-focused response to climate change, including increasing benefit levels and implementing the recommendations of the Welfare Expert Advisory Group.
“We must ensure people are supported to live good, fulfilling lives as we deal with the consequences of climate change,” says Marama Davidson, Green Party Co-Leader.
The Green Party has welcomed the government surplus announced yesterday as an opportunity to take stronger action on the critical issues New Zealanders face.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw said today:
“This government has clearly established its economic credentials. Now we can seriously take on the task of eliminating poverty and inequality, strengthen our public services and infrastructure which were so severely run down by the previous government, and take the strong climate action which is so crucial to all of our wellbeing.
“We can’t afford not to.”
Takahē may be flightless but their population is flying high with the official count reaching 418 after a record breeding season that produced an estimated 65 juveniles, the Minister of Conservation Eugenie Sage announced today.
“The population reaching a high of 418 is great news for takahē which were considered extinct until rediscovered in 1948. It demonstrates what can be achieved when we give nature a helping hand,” said Eugenie Sage.
The Green Party have welcomed the Immigration Minister’s announcement that the Government will drop the discriminatory ‘family link’ policy that excluded refugees in Africa and the Middle East from New Zealand’s refugee quota unless they already had family here.
“This decision gives us a principled refugee policy that puts fairness and inclusion first,” said Golriz Ghahraman, Green Party immigration spokesperson.
Today’s climate strike has shown the power of young people demanding more of their politicians and gives us hope for the future, Green Party Co-leader James Shaw said today.
“We agree with the five core demands of the School Strike for Climate,
“We’ve called a motion in the house to declare an emergency, only to be blocked by the Opposition, and continue to work in Government to deliver a wide ranging action plan that recognises the scale of the challenge.