robson-on-politics Fri 19 December

robson-on-politics Fri 19 December

robson-on-politics, a weekly newsletter from Matt Robson MP

Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party

Summer beckons

With only six days to Christmas many New Zealanders are preparing for a summer break with their families, as they should after a hard year's work. I acknowledge those whose holidays will have to be taken at another time of the year, particularly those providing emergency services - our nurses, doctors, police and firefighters. Child Youth and Family workers and other social services will be on hand, too, to provide assistance to those in need during what should be a time of goodwill. To all I wish you happiness in the company of family and friends, and a good year in 2004 and that you gain four weeks leave well before 2007.

Where to for the Progressives in 2004?

As I think of the future, I also look back to where we were 12 months ago. Then, our party had built a foundation, established ourselves as the people in the coalition government, and wanted to be the ones positive about people and progress. Now, the Progressives have a new executive elected at conference in September and we are organised nationwide. We've distributed hundreds of thousands of postcards and pamphlets with our brand. We know that the majority of people believe this is a good government and want to see it re-elected. The challenge for the new year the Progressives to persuade just some of those people to give us their vote, because Labour needs a stable and principled coalition partner. Plenty of work for the Progressives to do! See an example of teh pamphlets distributed at: (.pdf file, requires Acrobat viewer from www.adobe.com)

http://www.progressive.org.nz/newsletters/nl200311.pdf

Economy on track to boost support for poor

DEFU (the government's December Economic and Fiscal Update) is a document capable of making more eyes glaze over than a second helping of Christmas pud. Released yesterday, it shows good news, that the coalition has the ability to boost support for low to middle income families. That is something the Progressives have been advocating and supporting at Cabinet level. There is the capacity and the government consensus, and the money is available year on year to address this serious problem.

See http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News=article=666 and earlier this week "Employment growth highlighted in new report" at: http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News=article=659

Shared rights of all New Zealanders

The Progressives support the principles articulated in the Seabed and Foreshore document released Wednesday. We are committed to maintaining public access to the coast. The Progressives believe that Maori customary rights, particularly of hapu and whanau to continue to use areas traditionally used for cultural or customary purposes, must also be protected. The voice of Maori, on what their property rights are and have been, must be carefully listened to. The Progressive Executive will study the proposals at its next meeting in late January. Members with ideas should contact me or any other Executive member. Sad to see today that right wing parties are distorting the issues and in effect mounting a Maori-bashing campaign.

See Jim Anderton's statement at http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News=article=660

More progress in fighting the drug sourge

Jim Anderton continues to lead the government's move against the damage drugs do to our nation: cracking down on importation of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine for manufacturing meth; removing "P" pipes from the market; the use of "controlled delivery" by tracking parcels allowing for the arrest of importers; and faster implementation of "presumption of supply" decisions. All the detail is about making sure the police and customs have the tools they need to do the job so we as a society can protect the young.

See this week's announcement: http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News=article=668 and the announcement on meth precursors: http://www.progressive.org.nz/modules.php?name=News=article=646

Dear Santa, I haven't asked you for anything . . .

. . . in the last forty years or so, but this year is different. I wish you could deliver to Ahmed Zaoui the chance to breath free New Zealand air and the right to know the allegations against him. It isn't too much, is it?

This is the last robson-on-politics for 2003. We will return in January, well-rested after a good summer break. In the meantime check our website www.progressive.org.nz for more information on all the issues that matter.