Today's Scoop Just Politics News Summary
POLITICS HEADLINES:
Comment: Pinochet's Project And The New Zealand Connection
Police: NZ First Questions Tardy Body Armour Action
ICT News: Govt Passes Broadband Bill – Promises Action On Fast Internet Speeds
Energy: Further Draft Energy Plan Launched
Legislation: New Leaky Home Bill And More
Economic News: Cullen Predicts Lift In Economic Growth
Drugs: No Decisions On Party Pills Yet
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES
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Comment: Pinochet's Project And The New Zealand Connection
The death of Agusto Pinochet Ugarte has reopened old wounds in Chile and rekindled debate about the relative merits of
his rule versus that of socialist authoritarians like Fidel Castro. A majority in and out of Chile considers him to be a
poster boy for despotism... Others, including a significant number of New Zealanders, hold him up as a champion who
saved Chile from Communism and set the bases for a stable market democracy. See... Paul G. Buchanan: On Markets and Murderers [1]
ALSO:More Comment on Pinchet's Death [2]
Police: NZ First Questions Tardy Body Armour Action
From next week New Zealand Police Operational staff will start being issued with Stab Resistant Body Armour (SRBA). The
first Districts to receive SRBA will be Counties Manukau, Auckland, AMCOS, Northshore and Northland. Operational police
staff in Counties Manukau will start being issued with SRBA from Monday 18 December. The roll out will continue on a
district by district basis. See... Roll-Out Of Stab Resistant Body Armour Begins [1]
ALSO:NZ First - King's 'Regret' Cold Comfort For Front Line [2] NZ Police - Year One Consultation Phase Draws To A Close [3]
ICT News: Govt Passes Broadband Bill – Promises Action On Fast Internet Speeds
History has been made with the passing of the Labour-led government's bill to bring New Zealanders faster, better
broadband, says Communications Minister David Cunliffe. "We now have a clear, firm mandate from the people of New
Zealand," the minister said. "Kiwis are demanding fast, 'all you can eat' broadband, which this legislation is designed
to deliver." See... Landmark broadband bill passed [1]
ALSO:Maori Party - Flavell: Telecommunications Amendment Bill [2] Internet NZ - InternetNZ welcomes passage of Bill [3] TelstraClear - Unbundling Legislation Sets Scene for a Big Year [4] Orcon Internet - Orcon delighted at passing of Bill [5] ISPANZ - ISPANZ welcomes Amendment Bill [6] Libertarianz Party - Telecom Regulation: Unjust and Misguided [7]
Energy: Further Draft Energy Plan Launched
A detailed action plan to maximise energy efficiency and renewable energy in New Zealand was launched by government
today for public discussion. The draft New Zealand Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy proposes detailed actions
to achieve energy savings in sectors such as homes, products, industry and vehicles. See... Draft plan to maximise renewables, efficiency [1]
ALSO:National - Real action lacking in draft action plan [2] NZ Shipping Federation - Coastal ship operators welcome Energy Strategy [3] Parliamentary Commissioner For The Environment - Huge potential savings in local approach to energy [4] The Clean Green Car Co - ‘Plug-in’ electric cars initiative "Impractical" [5] Alliance Party - Give corporate electricity parasites the boot [6]
More Strategising:NZ Govt - Tertiary Strategy to drive economic transformation [7] NZUSA - Education Strategy Has Huge Issues to Address [8] Association of University Staff - AUS Tertiary Update [9]
Legislation: New Leaky Home Bill And More
Leaky home owners have once again been let down by Labour, with only minor changes made to the Weathertight Homes
Resolution Service, says National Building spokesman Nick Smith. "The WHRS has been a total failure with only 7% of
claims resolved after four years, and more money being spent on bureaucracy than on fixing the thousands of affected
homes. See... Latest law change won't fix leaky homes [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Milestone for owners of leaky homes [2] Maori Party - Weather-tight Homes Resolution Services [3]
Other Bills:NZ Govt - Landmark broadband bill passed [4] NZ Govt - Pandemic legislation passes unanimously [5] NZ Govt - Major investment income tax reforms welcomed [6] NZ Govt - Major Events Management Bill introduced [7] Maori Party - Sharples: Social Security Amendment Bill. [8] Maori Party - Flavell: Law Reform (Epidemic Preparedness) Bill [9]
Economic News: Cullen Predicts Lift In Economic Growth
In a week, Treasury will release the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update. I'm confident it will show our economy is set
to grow faster this year than we believed when I read the Budget. We have weathered the slower part of the economic
cycle and we're looking ahead to stronger growth. See... Cullen: Economic outlook 2007 [1]
ALSO:NZ Govt - Finsia's ‘Government Speaks’ breakfast series [2]
Investment Tax Bill Passes:NZ Govt - Major investment income tax reforms welcomed [3] Macquarie Goodman Property Trust - New Bill Positive for MGP Investors [4] Kiwi Income Property Trust - Taxation Bill Positive for Trust Investors [5] Property Council - Property Council Delighted with Taxation Bill [6] Ernst and Young - Tax breaks for superannuation contributions [7]
Drugs: No Decisions On Party Pills Yet
Jim Anderton, Associate Minister of Health, has received advice from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) and
is still considering it, along with other relevant matters that he is bound to consider by statute. Reports that the
Minister would be putting a paper to Cabinet today on this issue are not correct. See... Anderton still considering experts' advice [1]
ALSO:National - Anderton dragging his heels on party pills [2] NZ First - Decision On Party Pills Should Be Easy [3]
MORE POLITICAL HEADLINES:
NZ Govt - NZ leads UN to new disabilities treaty [1] NZ Govt - TV to carry civil defence messages [2] NZ Govt - Goff Visit To Turkey Boosts Trade, Defence Ties [3] National - Patients suffer as radiation therapists seek jobs [4] National - National wants greater Commission accountability [5] Maori Party - Pita Shaprles: Copyright Amendment Bill [6]
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