Citizens’ select committee taking submissions

Written By: - Date published: 9:55 am, March 21st, 2012 - 3 comments
Categories: democratic participation, privatisation - Tags:

On the 1st of March a community group called Ohariu People’s Power established a Citizens’ Select Committee. This committee wants to hear the opinions of the New Zealand public on the asset sales debate and the international trade agreement called the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

This was established because of the slim majority with which the government can pass legislation allowing the partial privatisation of state assets. A Bill paving the way for partial privatisation passed its first reading at Parliament last Thursday by just one vote, that of Ohariu MP Peter Dunne. With this being the case the community group and select committee are formed around voters within Peter Dunne’s electorate. His constituency. However, whilst this is being run by voters within his electorate the committee is asking for the opinions of everyone, as we all have an interest in the outcome of the asset sales debate and the negotiations of a very influential trade agreement.

The TPPA could have potential impacts on the relations between New Zealand and foreign owned companies. This is particularly disturbing because of the agreement’s potential to make state sovereignty subservient to company interests. This could affect the level of state control over partially privatised assets.

If you would like to have your say on these important issues please email or post the Committee a 200 word message, including your name and address (this information will be kept private), explaining your feelings.
The email address is save.our.soes(at)hotmail.co.nz
The postal address is Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee
P O Box 13 367, Johnsonville, Wellington

You can also present your opinions to the Committee in person at 7:30pm on Thursday the 22nd of March,
at the Johnsonville Community Centre. Please email save.our.soes(at)hotmail.co.nz if you wish to present to the Committee in person.

To find out more about the Citizens’ Select Committee please visit our blog at peoplespowernz.wordpress.com.

Below is a link to a video from the public meeting, which formed the Citizens’ Select Committee, and a video of Bill Rosenberg’s presentation on the TPPA.

Select Committee

TPPA

3 comments on “Citizens’ select committee taking submissions ”

  • Comments are now closed

  1. Lanthanide 1
    21 March 2012 at 11:49 am

    You might want to edit the post, the first email address uses (at) notation while the second time it is mentioned it uses the proper @ symbol.

    [lprent: thanks. ]

  2. dave jones 2
    22 March 2012 at 12:03 am

    The buying and selling of NZ as a commodity has implications for the next generation as we become more exposed to the international marketplace. Without some legislation to regulate land, housing and public assets sales and purchases,those that live and work here will find housing and basic services less affordable. I believe asset sales be looked at in the wider context I am suggesting, rather than only state owned public utilities and services.

    The type of investment in “holiday” homes on the world market for example, creates extra demand on housing stocks and the services of builders, which in turn increases their price.

    With the TPPA , there is the influence of corporate power to force legislation on government to secure profits. The example of how Pharmac will be under pressure to conform to the “market” without state subsidy, leading to higher health costs.

    A worse case scenario is in the mineral exploitation field, where “externalities” like waste and pollution can be seen as interferance with the profitability of the product. It will be harder for government to monitor and regulate these industries in a regime with such an “open” trade partnership.

    I believe there are real dangers to the signing up to the TPPA for New Zealand. The threat of loosing trade with the USA (as happened with the Hobbit filming) leads government to consider changing legislation that affects workers rights, environmental law, health policy,etc. This in turn creates a real question about NZ loosing sovereinty to the so called “free market” and government being a conduit to the offloading of assets rather than a representative of the people to protect their rights and resources.

    • Robert Glennie 2.1
      22 March 2012 at 11:55 am

      The TPPA is opposed by New Zealand First. This is because the TPPA:
      1) Causes further erosion of New Zealands economic sovereignty.
      2) Is unbalanced. We have to make concessions, but I don’t see the United States or the other members doing so.
      3) Has the same problems as most Free Trade Agreements – likely to lead to outsourcing, ethically questionable and too often used to reward nations that do not share New Zealand’s principles.

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