News Worthy - 17 September 2004
17 September 2004 No. 12
Political correctness Every Government has its brand. This Government will be remembered for its political correctness.
The illustrations are legend. Here are three (and I plan to provide more in subsequent issues:
* November 2003 - the Government passes a law requiring mandatory micro-chipping of all dogs in New Zealand by 2015 -
the flow-on costs to local councils, who are charged with maintaining the scheme, are enormous.
* August 2001 - It is revealed that all Cabinet papers going before the Cabinet's Social Equity Committee are being
vetted by the Ministry of Women's Affairs to ensure they are "not gender harmful".
* July 2002 - About 50 endangered Archeys frogs are flown from Te Kuiti to Christchurch accompanied by three Waikato
Kaumatua. They were given a powhiri upon their arrival at Canterbury University. The Department of Conservation spent
$2355 flying the three Maori elders to Christchurch with the frogs. A long -suffering public is moving to a point where
"enough is enough". Civil Union Bill This highly controversial legislation and its linked Relationships (Statutory
References) Bill is currently before the Justice & Electoral Select Committee. There are 3,263 submissions and another 3,000 form submissions. There points are crystal
clear.
* The Bill is Labour Party manifesto policy
„h For heterosexual couples there is no significant difference between civil union and marriage. That is because the
solemnisation of a marriage under the Marriage Act need not have any religious element. So the true purpose of the Bill
has been masked - it is intended that the State sanction and endorse so-called same-sex marriages.
* As the NZ Law Society has pointed out, the implications for de-facto relationships are very far reaching. If the Bill
is passed, people in such relationships will be treated as if they were in marriage, yet that is often the very reason
why they have chosen not to marry. Charities Bill The Government has finally realised what I (and others) have said from
the outset. This Bill is hopelessly flawed. The Government now concedes "it is too heavy-handed and has too much red
tape".
If one looks back at Labour Government measures to control charities, it is a sorry history. There are 37,000 charities
in New Zealand. They range from the Cancer Research Foundation and the Heart Foundation to kindergartens and sporting
clubs. Earlier plans involved taxing the trading operations of charities in the same way as other businesses and for
charities to pay FBT. Those plans were abandoned.
Then the present Bill was introduced to amend the tax exemption for charities so that the charities had to first
register with the Government before being entitled to a tax exemption. A Charities Commission was to be set up. Now it
seems those plans are to be shelved. We should be encouraging the building of philanthropic frameworks in New Zealand
and recognising the unique contribution of the charitable sector. The short point is that there is no need for the Bill.
Political Quote of the Week If the King asks you to form a government you say 'yes' or 'no', not 'I'll let you know
later!', Clement Attlee - British Prime Minister. Richard Worth Upcoming events
18 September Korean Cultural Treasures Day Chile National Day Auckland vs Taranaki rugby match. 19 September 10.00am
'Politicians Sunday' at Assembly of God - 1 Taylors Road, Morningside Taiwanese Hwa Hsia Soc of NZ 2004 Moon Festival
Charitable Multicultural Concert 20 September 6.30 pm Greenlane Branch Epsom Electorate - Wine and Cheese public meeting
at St Paul's Methodist Church Street Vincent Ave Remuera Tickets $15 contact Richard Gardner 524 0055. Door prizes
21 September Richard speaking at Auckland City Sunrise Rotary Club meeting
24 September Opening Golden Raindrop Chinese TV - Inaugural NZ-China Environmental Conservation Conference
25 September 1st anniversary of NZ Guangdong Assn
Opening of Mt Eden and Cornwall Park Bowls 2004 season
26 September Eden Roskill RSA 72nd AGM
Indian Cultural & Health Expo - Mahatma Ghandi Centre
30 September 55th Anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China
Visit my website for more information at: www.richardworth.co.nz
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ENDS