On filibustering and public political meetings

• lprent
• 15 years ago
• Categories: auckland supercity

Labour is filibustering in the house on the Auckland super-city enabling legislation. The would-be dictator of Auckland’s future for the next year and a half, says

Mr Hide says the amendments are a waste of time, as the Government has the numbers to defeat them.

Correct for this particular battle. However it is the war that counts.

However Rodney and NACT have been doing everything in their power to avoid debate on the super-city. Most recently by refusing to release the legislation to the opposition until shortly before the bill went into committee under urgency. Presumably this was to ensure that there was insufficient attention paid to the detail of the bill, which must make even hardened National MP’s worry about its scope.

It looks like Labour have done the correct thing for that type of bad parliamentary behaviour both over the bills, and over the rushed and inadequate consideration that NACT have done on the super-city. Hell NACT still haven’t costed the transition costs to what they are proposing in the next two bills.

Labour have made the appropriate response and slowed the pace to allow more consideration within the framework of rules. This will continue for the next 18 months as Aucklanders fight to regain the control of their city that this legislation removes. Rodney, expect a whole lot of submissions to the select committee in the next phase.

Update: The bill is here (PDF)

In the meantime, it looks like National MP’s aren’t that good in public meetings. Here are some to go to and express your mood.

National MPs and the Hon John Carter, Associate Minister of Local Government, are beginning a series of

public meetings to hear your views on the proposed changes to local government in Auckland.

• Dr Lockwood Smith, 17 May, 4.00pm Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre Brightside Road, Whangaparaoa
• Paula Bennett, 20 May, 7.00pm, Kelston Community Centre Cnr of Awaroa, Great North Roads, Kelston
• Nikki Kaye, 19 May, 7.30am, Leys Institute Hall 20 St Marys Road, St Marys Bay
• Nikki Kaye, 20 May, 12.30pm, Surfdale Community Hall 6 Hamilton Road, Surfdale, Waiheke Island
• Nikki Kaye, 5 June, 1.30pm, Grey Lynn Community Centre 510 Richmond Road, Grey Lynn
• Nikki Kaye, 10 June, 7.00pm, Pioneer Women’s Hall, Corner High Street and Freyberg Place, Inner City
• Dr Jackie Blue, 11 June, 7.00pm, Hillsborough Room, Fickling Centre 546 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings
• Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, 18 May, 7.00pm, Ellerslie War Memorial Hall 138 Main Highway, Ellerslie
• Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, 19 May, 6.00pm, Onehunga Community Centre 83 Church Street, Onehunga
• Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, 25 May, 7.00pm, Panmure Community Hall 7-13 Pilkington Road, Panmure
• Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, 9 June, 7.00pm, Papatoetoe Cosmopolitan Club 53 Rangitoto Street, Papatoetoe
• Dr Paul Hutchison, 25 May, 5.00pm, Hunua Electorate Office 13 West Street, Pukekohe

Have fun…