The Wednesday Wire with Paul Deady 08/07/09

1220 - MAF job cuts - Jim Anderton

At 1220 we'll be speaking to the Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture, Jim Anderton, about job cuts announced yesterday by MAF biosecurity staff. MAF says a downturn in trade and passenger cargo has left them no choice but to respond with savings, so job cuts it is. But Anderton says he doesn't buy the government's excuse that biosecurity risks are dropping because of reduced border flows. He argues that money spent protecting our fragile ecosystem is money well spent.

1240 - Dr Rhema Vaithianathan, senior lecturer at the department of economics at University of Auckland

At 1240 we'll be taking a look at a radical idea that has popped up over the last few days. In the Labour party blog Red Alert, MP Phil Twyford asked if it's worth considering giving children the vote, or at least giving their parents the right to vote on their behalf. He points to the growing inequity between generations, particularly in light of the government's freezing of superfund payments that critics argue leaves future generations with a massive bill. The blog post was based on research by my guest (above) into the Demeny (what?) voting system, which she says could provide an answer to our problems of generational inequity. The children ARE our future after all.

1300 - David Beatson, NZ Afghanistan Commitments

At one I'll be talking to veteran journalist and long-time Afghanistan commentator David Beatson about NZ's military commitment there. The US has been leaning heavily on the NZ government to increase its Provincial Reconstruction Team's commitment in the Bamiyan province, but also to send over some combat troops. The ministers in charge are keeping very tight-lipped too, only supplying information under OIA (what?) requests. David argues this is a discussion that needs to be out in the open.

1325 - Counterclockwise

Alistair Thompson from the team at scoop joins us for counterclockwise today at 1325. He'll be talking climate change consultation - or lack thereof. He said the process of reaching a consensus on targets for greenhouse gas emissions is a great opportunity to transform our economy. And he's angry that the government has tried to bury the consultation.

1340 - Book She Read

And Sally's back for another chapter in the epic tour-de-force that is Book She read at 1340. She'll have a round-up of the hottest new releases set to grace the bookshelves of the discerning reader. Some even have fur on them.

ENDS

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