EAST TIMOR
Government Deciding On Refugee Numbers
- The question of how many displaced East Timorese New Zealand can assist is now being considered by the Government,
Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said. The number is expected to be about 300. See… Government Deciding On Timorese [1] in the Parliament wire. Labour Leader Helen Clark today backed the government's decision to admit to New Zealand refugees from East
Timor. See… Labour welcomes refugee announcement [2] in the Parliament wire.
Defence Minister To Farewell Troops in Darwin
- Defence Minister Max Bradford is to farewell Kiwi troops today as they leave for East Timor. They will join 35 Kiwi
SAS troops who have been there from the start and will be fully briefed on their deployment this afternoon. Twenty one
armoured personel carriers, non military vehicles and rations are leaving Wellington's port tonight on a dutch cargo
ship the government has hired. The journey will take around 11 days to arrive in Timor.
Amnesty Say Independent Inquiry Required In Timor
- Reports of hampered investigations and alleged extrajudicial executions strengthen the need for an international
independent inquiry See… Amnesty International On East Timor [1] in the General wire.
UN Military Commander Responds To Nairn Allegations
- US Pacific forces commander Admiral Blair candidly discusses the level of assistance the US is providing to the East
Timor peacekeeping operation, and the pros and cons of the US military's relationship with the Indonesian military.
See... Pacific Commander Talks US Relations With The TNI [1] in the Headlines wire.
Is Australian Rhetoric Giving ASEAN Cold Feet?
- The largely Australian International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) has been in East Timor since Sept. 20. The
initial composition of the force led to debates between the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member
countries over the long-standing principle of noninterference. While Asian nations originally leaned toward offering
troops to express Asian unity and stave off a primarily Western force in East Timor, domestic politics and inter-Asian
relations are hindering their deployment. Spurred by Australian Prime Minister John Howard’s redefinition of Australia’s
role in Asia, Asian nations are now rethinking their decisions to move into East Timor, see... Asian Contributions to ET Raise Concerns of Unity [1] in the Headlines wire.
Labour Hypocrites Over Electoral Accomodation – Nats
- “Last week Labour was criticising National for not standing a candidate in Wellington Central. Now, Labour is calling
for Alliance's Phillida Bunkle to pull out of the same contest,” said Hamilton West MP Bob Simcock. See… Opposition in disarray over pre-election options [1] in the Parliament wire.
Bradford Calls For Full Regional Banking
- Green Party Enterprise and Employment spokesperson Sue Bradford has welcomed WestpacTrust's joint venture with NZ
Post to provide some banking services to areas where there is no WestpacTrust branch. See… Greens Call For Full Regional Banking Services [1] in the Parliament wire.
Foreigners Own $126 billion Of NZ Due To Slackest Laws
- Foreigners own $126 billion worth of New Zealand because we have some of the slackest overseas investment rules in
the developed world, Alliance leader Jim Anderton says. See… Overseas investment increases because of slack law [1] in the Parliament wire.
Prebble Putting People Off Politics – Bunkle
- Wellington Central’s high number of unregistered voters is testament to public disillusionment with politics,” says
Alliance MP and Wellington Central Candidate Phillida Bunkle. See… Prebble Putting People Off Politics - Bunkle [1] in the Parliament wire.
WestpacTrust / NZ Post Join Forces In Regional Banking Experiment
- WestpacTrust is joining with New Zealand Post in a five month trial of agency banking services through selected Post
Shops. See… WestpacTrust / NZ Post Launch New Joint Banking [1] in the Business wire.
Labour Launch Tertiary Education Policy
– Labour launched it’s tertiary education policy today in one of their biggest election launches. They say the policy
signals a commitment to investing in education. See… Labour's tertiary education policy [1] . Labour finance spokesperson Michael Cullen said the tertiary sector was crucial to New Zealand’s economic future.
See… Tertiary sector vital to nation's economic future [2] . Labour’s Leader Helen Clark says the tertiary policy will encourage a more strategic direction for the entire
tertiary sector in order to maximise the benefits the nation can gain from tertiary education. See… Labour releases tertiary education policy [3] . The Alliance say there are many issues in the tertiary sector that must be addressed. See… Today's issues in tertiary education [4] while ACT say Labour’s policy will double student debt. See… Labour's Proposal Will Double Student Debt [5] . Labour's tertiary education policy blows Michael Cullen's own budget, Acting Minister for Tertiary Education
David Carter said. See… Labour's student loans promises blows budget [6] . All in the Parliament wire. The Aotearoa Postcompulsory Student Union today congratulated the Labour party on its tertiary education policy,
describing it as a “real step to addressing the real issues”. See… Labour Tertiary Policy Sets Right Direction [7] in the Education wire. Young Labour say the announcement is great news for students. See… Labour's policy good news for students [8] , also in the Education wire.
Maternity Services Review Delivered
– “It is reassuring that our maternity services are delivering for the majority of New Zealand women,” Minister of
Health Wyatt Creech said at the release of a report into New Zealand’s maternity services. See… Maternity Services Positive For Women [1] . Georgina te Heuheu, the Minister of Women’s Affairs, agrees. See… Our Babies - Our Future [2] . Both in the Parliament wire. However the NZ Medical Association says in the review the National Health Committee (NHC) has accepted the demise
of general practitioner obstetrics in this country and done nothing to reverse the situation. See… Maternity Review Spells The Demise Of GPOs [3] in the General wire.
The Issues Behind The Labour Logging Decision
- The Labour Party has bought a fight on the West Coast of the South Island not only over its proposal to end
indigenous logging if it gets elected, but also over the way it made its decision. Scoop's West Coast correspondent,
John Howard, reports. See… The Issues Behind The Labour Logging Decision [1] in the Headlines wire.
Shipley Right Not To Visit Dili
– ACT MP Richard Prebble says the Prime Minister is wise to have taken his advice not to visit Dili. He has included a
letter he wrote to Mrs Shipley outlining his concerns. See… Prime Minister right not to visit Dili [1] in the Parliament wire.
New Research On Women in Economy
- The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Georgina te Heuheu, today welcomed the release of ground breaking research on
women’s access to finance, their share of assets and their relative wealth. See… Women’s economic security vital for society [1] in the Parliament wire.
Report Into Strategic Studies Appointment Clears Bradford
- Defence Minister Max Bradford said today he had been vindicated by the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select
Committee’s inquiry into an allegation of political influence or involvement in the appointment of the Director of the
Centre for Strategic Studies. See… Report Vindicates Bradford [1] . National MP Annabel Young says the CSS Director has also been cleared. See… CSS Director Vindicated [2] . However Labour’s Phil Goff says although no interference was proven, Bradford showed poor judgement in the
appointment. See… Bradford slack, unprofessional over CSS [3] in the Parliament wire. All in the Parliament wire.
Bradford And Students Dispute Loan Repayment Times... And Other Things...
– Tertiary Education Minister Max Bradford says a campaign by Victoria University Students’ Association claiming women
take 51 years to repay a student loan is incorrect and that it takes closer to 14 years. He says he has leaked e-mails
from the New Zealand University Students Association that show students know this. See… ‘Area 51 Day’ Should Be Renamed [1] in the Parliament wire. However Canterbury University Students Association say this is completely untrue. See… Bradford Dodging Student Debt Question Again [2] in the Education wire. APSU also say the Minister of Tertiary Education appears to be confused about Student Loan repayment times
released by APSU Student Union. See… Minister Confused - Again [3] in the Education wire. New Zealand Univer
sity Students' Association says Max Bradford's claim that Students' Associations are “playing with the truth” regarding
repayment times for Student Loans are ironic, given his secretive and uninformed approach to tertiary policy. The
co-president of the national students body, Karen Skinner, is also surprised the Minister doesn’t appear to even know
who she is. See… Minister Should Practice What He Preaches [4] . Chris Hipkins of the Victoria University Students Association said it was a very sad day when a highly ranked,
highly paid Minister of the Crown chooses to spend his time speculating on student protests that haven't happened yet
and solicit leaked emails from student leaders. See… Bradford Gets It Wrong Again [5] . Both in the Education wire.
Police Locked Out
- There was a police lockout on Tuesday afternoon. The police were locked out of their IBM supplied computers when a
component of INCIS failed, Labour police spokesperson George Hawkins said. See… INCIS computers lock out the police [1] in the Parliament wire.
Aratere Fails Again - Scares Passengers
- Troubled Tranz Rail ferry Aratere scared passengers in Tory Channel yesterday morning when fire alarms went off and
everyone on board was told to wear life jackets. The scare came after smoke was found near the engine room at 11.25am
and the journey halted for 30 minutes before the ship was cleared to resume the journey. Passengers were given travel
discounts and free drinks and food for the rest of the journey.
Govt Commits To Electronic Government
- The Government is committed to providing leadership in the opportunities the Internet and other new technologies
present, Prime Minister Jenny Shipley and Information Technology Minister Maurice Williamson said. See… Electronic Government [1] in the Parliament wire.
Lomu Back In Starting 15?
- Indications from public training runs suggest that Jonah Lomu will start on the wing in the first World Cup match
against Tonga on Monday, with Christian Cullen moving to centre. There are also reports that Ruben Thorne has the inside
running for the number six jersey.
Tax Waste Not Work – Greens
- The major political parties' media arguments today over tax issues missed the point over whether politicians were
even taxing the right things, the Green Party says. See… Politicians missing the point in tax discussion [1] in the Parliament wire.
Alliance Launch Tax Policy
– The Alliance launched their tax policy today with an announcement that those who missed out on tax cuts would receive
an extra $20 per week. See… $20 a week for those who missed out on tax cuts [1] . Lockwood Smith instantly dismissed the policy saying workers would end up paying more tax. See… Workers To Pay Tax More Under Labour-Led Govt. [2] . United New Zealand leader, Peter Dunne, challenged the Labour Party to renounce the Alliance’s tax policy. See… Is Labour Brave Enough To Renounce Alliance Lunacy [3] . Labour have responded by distancing themselves from the policy, reaffirming that Labour’s tax policy was only one
increase to personal tax rates. See… Labour will keep faith on tax policy
[4] . Alliance leader Jim Anderton described ACT and United’s reaction to the policy as ridiculous. See… Act and United don't care about low income earners [5] . Winston Peters MP today said the release of the Alliance’s tax policy was significant only for the way in which
it highlighted the farcical Alliance/Labour non hostility agreement in action. See… Farcical Non Hostility Agreement Highlighted [6] . Treasurer Bill English said the tax policy confirmed that higher taxes for everyone earning over $9,500 would be
a key election issue. See… Higher Taxes Key Election Issue [7] . All in the Parliament wire.
Fallout Over Announcement For Brief Genetic Engineering Moratorium
– The advice from the Independent Biotechnology Advisory Council (IBAC) to stop all environmental releases of
engineered crops has been widely supported, although not unanimously. The Green Part say the announcement is a
‘clayton’s moratorium’ designed to diffuse genetic engineering as an election issue. See… Genetic engineering decisions put off for election [1] . Environment Minister Simon Upton says the call was a sensible one. See… Upton Comments On IBAC's Call [2] . Labour agree. See… Labour urges caution on GM plants [3] and so does the Research Science and Technology Minister. See… Keeping Biotech Options Open Important - Minister [4] . All in the Parliament wire. However Federated F
armers disagee, saying the announcement is a concern. See… IBAC Advice To Delay Concerns Farmers [5] in the Business wire.
Genetic Engineering Giant Backs Off
- The Green Party have welcomed news that genetic engineering giant Monsanto has bowed to international pressure and
offered to help plant breeders create crops using traditional methods. See… Another Victory For GE-Free As Monsanto Backs Off [1] in the Parliament wire.