Back Benches 17 April 2013

THIS WEEK ON BACK BENCHES: Watch Wallace Chapman, Damian Christie, the Back Benches Panel and special guests discuss the week’s hottest topics!

MARRIAGE EQUALITY: Although, we are pre-taping the programme hours before the 3rd reading of Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill—it currently looks as though it is set to pass. What we want to know—what will happen now? Will we notice the difference? What will Thursday look like in this new environment?

WILL MIGHTY RIVER SHARES = MIGHTY PROFITS FOR YOUR BOTTOM LINE?: The shares into Mighty River Power open to the public this week. So far 440,000 people pre-registered for shares but how many of them will actually be purchasing shares? How keen are mum & dad investors? What could happen to the Mighty River shares should the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter close? What will this mean for power prices? Can reform lower power prices? Or are rising power prices much like death and taxes-a certainty?

FEELING SUPPRESSED?: The Jesse Ryder case is one of the many recent examples where suppression laws have come into question. The men accused of Ryder’s attack have suppression but one citizen journalist is now facing charges of breaking suppression after videotaping the two men and posting the video on-line. Fair? A step-too far? Is it time to have a look at our suppression laws? Are too many people given suppression unnecessarily? Or in a country of 4.5 million—is suppression necessary to protect privacy? Are there some crimes that should be named & shamed?

There are two ways to get in on the pub political action:
First, you can join the live audience in Wellington’s iconic Backbencher Pub on Wednesday, 17th of April at 6pm. Filming begins around 6:15pm.

Or watch us that night on PRIME TV at 10:30pm!

Plus, Follow us on Facebook (BackBenchesTV) or on Twitter @BackBenchesTV.

Our Panel: Labour MP Jacinda Ardern, National MP Jami-Lee Ross, and Green Party MP Holly Walker.