Today's Scoop Just Politics News Summary
POLITICS HEADLINES:
Parliament: Don Brash Bows Out Of The House
Health: Campaign To Review Pharmac Crawls Forward -
Ashley Report: Nats Say Minister Should Resign
Environment: Independent Inquiry Into GE Sweetcorn Import
Legislation: Peters Confronted By Angry Herbalists
Scoop Audio: PM's Presser
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES
POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS
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Parliament: Don Brash Bows Out Of The House
Today I come to the end of my Parliamentary career, just four and a half years after it began. I well remember telling
my then press secretary at the Reserve Bank, Paul Jackman, that I was resigning from the Bank to seek election in the
2002 election. He told me that, while he'd never envied me my job as Governor of the Reserve Bank, he envied me the
chance to be a Member of Parliament... I agree with him. It's been a great privilege. See... Brash: Notes for Valedictory Speech [1]
Health: Campaign To Review Pharmac Crawls Forward
As part of the Government's confidence and supply agreement with United Future a review of New Zealand's medicines
strategy was implemented. United Future Leader and Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne took charge off this strategy
and today released a discussion document 'Towards a New Zealand Medicines Strategy'. See... New Zealand Inches Towards A Review of Pharmac [1]
ALSO:Researched Medicines Industry - Improved access to medicines? Yeah right! [2]
Ashley Report: Nats Say Minister Should Resign
It is disappointing that Damien O'Connor continues to refuse to resign despite the systemic shortfalls in Corrections
that caused the death of Liam Ashley, says National's Justice & Corrections spokesman, Simon Power. "He should be taking responsibility for these disastrous systemic shortfalls."
See... Minister in charge of department should go [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Liam Ashley's death senseless and preventable [2] Scoop - Liam Ashley Report: Findings And PDF [3]
Environment: Independent Inquiry Into GE Sweetcorn Import
An independent inquiry into the Ministry of Agriculture's management of maize and sweet corn seed imports has been
welcomed by Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton. The inquiry has been initiated following the discovery of genetically
modified sweet corn in seed consignments imported from the United States. See... GM Inquiry Welcomed - Anderton [1]
ALSO:Ministry Of Agriculture And Forestry - GM import standards to be reviewed [2] Greenpeace New Zealand - Corngate (again): Call for revision of Rules [3]
Legislation: Peters Confronted By Angry Herbalists
There were dramatic scenes outside Parliament today as NZ First leader Winston Peters was verbally attacked and shouted
down by a group of enraged people at a protest rally. Several hundred natural health product supporters met to protest
the first reading of the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, which would see control of the sector given to an
Australian agency. See... Winston looses the plot at Natural Health Protest [1]
ALSO:NZ First - Greens Peddling Snake Oil [2] Maori Party - Turia: Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill [3] Natural Products - Therapeutic Products And Medicines Bill [4] Association of Chinese Medical Herbalists - Kiwis will suffer from ban on Chinese Medicine [5]
Scoop Audio: PM's Presser
The Prime Minister outlined her views on keeping NZ carbon neutral – none of which however included the grinch like
proposals of turning off the pretty Christmas displays in various Beehive Ministers offices. Later in the press
conference the report into the murder of teenager Liam Ashley while in the care of private security firm Chubb was also
discussed. See... PM's Presser - Carbon Neutrality, Liam Ashley Report [1]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt - Cullen: Economic outlook 2007 [1] NZ Govt - Regulated services extension promotes competition [2] NZ Govt - Major Events Management Bill introduced [3] NZ Govt - KiwiSaver tax exemption extended [4] National - Noodles of trouble for NZTE Focus Store [5] Greens - New improved Overlander now needs public support [6] United Future - Support for ban on driving using cellphones [7] ACT - Coke And Frucor Decision Tough, But Responsible [8]
POLITICAL NEWSLETTERS:
Communications Line: It’s the strategy, dummy [1] Molesworth & Featherston (Weekend) – December 9th [2]
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ENDS