robson-on-politics, a newsletter from Matt Robson MP
Deputy Leader of the Progressive Party
Tues 12 April
Drunk ten-year olds in Dunedin
Yesterday I read a story about drunk children roaming the streets of a southern city putting themselves and those around
them in danger.
Sergeant Donovan Clark was quoted saying it was an "average weekend in Dunedin" with children as young as ten getting
into fights and lighting fires.
Together with the very old, young children are a particularly vulnerable group in society. These are stories about
neglect and abuse of kids.
The Progressive Party's response is contained in the law I've drafted proposing tougher punishment for those who supply
alcohol to minors and raising the alcohol purchasing age to 20.
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Senior citizens - betrayed by Nats and allies
I represented Progressive at a multi-party panel discussion at Grey Power's annual meeting yesterday.
NZ First, United and National are trying hard to convince seniors to forget about the actual record of the NZ
First-National coalition and the National-United coalition governments of the 1990s.
The National-United government had a surtax - remember that?
The NZ First-National government delivered asset sales, remember the massive land sales? Remember the sale of our
forests by National and how NZ First was going to send the cheque back?
How about the National-NZ First coalition's sale of Auckland International Airport?
Did either of those coalition governments help superannuitants with the policies they now say they support? Of course
not!
It is wrong how the Right Wing in politics cynically raise the expectations of those on fixed incomes knowing the
reality of the Government's accounts - which are published on the Treasury's Web site.
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Make Trade Fair Global Week Of Action
Ten million people from 70 countries are protesting against unfair trade rules this week. The Global Week of Action will
see Oxfam and many other organizations call on world leaders honour their solemn past commitments to remove the unfair
barriers to global trade which are impoverishing millions across the Third World
The Global Week of Action is a show of solidarity with Third World farmers shut out of the richest markets of Europe,
North America and Japan by unfair barriers on their efficiently produced produce. It is wrong that the richest
governments in the world spend NZ$140 billion a year to protect their markets with tariffs, quotas and subsidies.
These are policies which deny many in Latin America, Asia and Africa the opportunity to fairly trade their way out of
poverty - just as Europe, America and East Asia traded their way out of poverty in previous centuries.
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Polytechnic, Uni panel discussions Tues, Wed
Today, I'm in Christchurch representing Progressive at two panel discussions to be attended by all parties on tertiary
issues and their effect on students. (Christchurch Polytechnic and University of Canterbury).
On Wednesday, I'm debating with ACT leader Rodney Hide at Victoria University.
******
Some comedians in NZ Labour
The Progressive Party got a really odd email the other day to our Web site. It was an invite to Paint The Town Red, a
Labour fundraiser for election year. "The tickets are selling well, only $40 per person, but I would hate you to miss
out - BUY NOW!!"
"To get your tickets - return your order with your cheque to Dame Ann Hercus." Anne Hercus? Is it PC to call her a dame
like that? My Labour history is rusty now, but was she in the Prebble/Dunne/Rogernomes faction?
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More real Parliamentary news stories are at www.progressive.org.nz