Some 2013 posts
As I did for 2012, I thought it would be useful to highlight some of the posts in the last year where I have disagreed with the Government, or said things unhelpful to it. While I obviously support and want National’s re-election, I have and will continue to say what I think on issues on their merits.
- I agree with the concerns of principals on Govt changes to school powers of search
- I support Grant Robertson’s call to give the Electoral Commission power to penalise electoral law breaches
- I call on the Government to automatically release all Cabinet papers
- I criticise the Government’s intention to over-rule the Commerce Commission on copper Internet prices, calling it the wrong decision
- I say the OIA should apply to Parliament for financial matters
- I say the Government should regionally trial plain packaging, rather than just hope it works
- I blog that I support the Clare Curran amendment on the Patents Bill
- I praise the Young Nats for criticising the Government
- I blogged several times in support of Louisa Wall’s Same Sex Marriage Bill
- I support David Clark’s Mondayisation Bill, opposed by National
- I call on the Government not to do a deal with Rio Tinto
- I criticise the Prime Minister for phoning Ian Fletcher to encourage him to apply for the GCSB job
- I support No Right Turn in calling for BORA opinions on all stages of a bill
- I congratulate David Clark and Grant Robertson for getting a law change in opposition
- I call for Cabinet to be reduced from 20 to 12, agreeing with Trevor Mallard
- I criticise the Govt for their use of urgency (and in fact had it wrong)
- I say that National should back changes to MMP thresholds
- I again criticise the use of urgency
- I support the Fair Deal Coalition and their work on the TPP
- I agree with Russel Norman that waka jumping laws are bad
- I back a land tax
- I back the CTU over the EMA that the trial period should be 90 days not 180 days
- I criticise Parliamentary Service for releasing Andrea Vance’s swipe card details
- I support congestion charging on Auckland roads, which the Government rules out
- I criticise Nick Smith’s decision on a tunnel to Milford Sound
- I attack the proposed exemption for some quota holders from requiring FCVs to be flagged in NZ
- I support a comprehensive no exemptions Capital Gains Tax
- I call on the Govt to scrap Part 6A of the ERA
- I call the possible limit of three snapper, ridiculously low
- I label the proposed changes to copper pricing a “copper tax”
- I label the Rio Tinto deal as “screwing taxpayers for $30 million”
- I say Labour’s proposed Super age of 67 is a modest step in the right direction
- I’m mildly critical of LVRs
- I endorse David Cunliffe for the Labour leadership
- I’m disappointed the Government is not pushing for a unified independent media regulator
- Kiwiblog joins the Coalition for Fair Internet Pricing
- I praise David Cunliffe for his Chief of Staff appointment
- I say Iain Lees-Galloway’s bill on the blood alcohol limit should be supported at first reading
- I support Gareth Hughes’ call to review the Parliamentary Prayer
- I propose changes to standing orders
- I call on the Govt to fast-track e-voting option for local goverment elections
- I support Russel Norman’s bill on Reserve Bank OCR decision making going to a select committee
- I’m critical of the extension to the parallel importing ban on movies
- I call on MPs to support Brendan Horan’s amendment so MPs salaries are fixed for each term of Parliament
- I praise Jacinda Ardern for Labour’s policy to scrap the Families Commission
- I co-found and help launch the NZ Taxpayers Union which will scrutinise central and local government spending
- I praise Crown Law for taking on the John Banks prosecution
- I praise Labour for considering a referendum on moving to a republic
- I criticise the new regulations around pool fencing
- I praise Labour’s selection for Rangitikei
I recall the quote of Keith Holoyoake who said he only agreed with around 80% of what National did, even when he was Prime Minister! I suspect with Muldoon, he agreed with 100% of what his Government did!