United Future aims high for 2013
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future):
New Zealand has been through some pretty tough years of late. Whether it be the outcome of the Christchurch earthquakes or the international global economic meltdown, Kiwi families have had to face some pretty tough decisions in their lives. A number of their dreams have been overturned, and a number of their plans for the future have had to be completely revisited. As a consequence of all those things, they have become pretty understandably intolerant of mere words being offered as solutions—be it from their insurance companies, their employers, their trade unions, their political leaders, or whoever. What the people of New Zealand, as a result of their experience of recent years, are desperately seeking is a sense of reassurance and a commitment that policies being promoted will be achieved and put in place to their benefit. So although they might have enjoyed some of the comedy associated with the various state of the nation speeches of re |
'Protecting Privacy in an Age of Joined-up Government Services'
The end of the political year 2012 probably cannot come quickly enough for the Government.
Even though it remains comfortably ahead in the opinion polls, it would be the first to concede this has not been its best year.
Flush from its election victory last year – the most substantial by any party under MMP – the Government might reasonably have expected 2012 to be a year of consolidation, in which the economy began a clear recovery, and the start of a second term in which it was able to focus on its policy agenda, while a shell-shocked Opposition came to grips with its worst defeat since the mid 1990s, got used to its new leadership, and started to lay its plans for the future.
Instead, although the Opposition has still been ineffectual with continued unresolved leadership doubts, the Government has found itself bedevilled by the ongoing depth of the Global Financial Crisis, the slower than anticipated domestic recovery, including delays on the rebuilding of Christchurch; and, a se |
Dunne: PPP good news for Transmission Gully plan
Dunne: Nats come through on UF Transmission Gully PPP plan
UnitedFuture leader and Ōhariu MP Peter Dunne has welcomed Cabinet’s support for Transmission Gully to be financed and built by way of a public-private partnership.
“A PPP for Transmission Gully was a key plank of our 2011 Confidence and Supply with National and we are delighted to be able to tick that achievement off,” Mr Dunne said.
“UnitedFuture has fought tooth and nail over a long period of time for Transmission Gully; in fact getting this road to reality has been a key plank in the three confidence and supply agreements we have negotiated since 2005.”
“Regardless of its flavour, each subsequent government has been committed to progress Transmission Gully due to the dogged perseverance of UnitedFuture.”
“That commitment is something I am very proud of, and the people of Wellington and the lower North Island will benefit from this road in the not too distant future,” he said.
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Dunne calls for name, shame and boycott of unethical legal high traders
Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne says it is time for communities to name, shame and boycott businesses that prey on young people with unethical marketing of legal highs.
“In six months this will be sorted with law that will make the industry prove its products are safe before they can be sold, and will put restrictions on how and where they can be sold,” Mr Dunne said.
“In the meantime, I think consumer power and very public opprobrium is a very appropriate response to the likes of the Hawke’s Bay dairy selling a legal high and lollies together.
“It is not illegal, but it is clearly a low-life and unprincipled way to go about your business and it is preying on your own community.
“Personally, I would not want to give a cent to such a business and I think that kind of consumer power is a legitimate response to unethical trading – particularly when it is exploiting young people,” he said.
“If you do not like that kind of behaviour from a business, then don’t give |
