Open mike 15/10/09
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6:00 am, October 15th, 2009 - 28 comments
Categories: open mike -
Tags: play nice
We’re trying a daily “Open mike”.
This is a place for anyone to post comments on topics that might be of interest, and for any discussion following up on the comments. Over to you…
28 comments on “Open mike 15/10/09 ”
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- Greyhound racing industry ban marks new era for animal welfare
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- Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh
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- Govt introduces archaic anti-worker legislation
The Green Party is appalled at the Government introducing legislation that will make it easier to penalise workers fighting for better pay and conditions. ...2 weeks ago
- Winston Peters – Kinleith Mill Speech
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- Internationally-trained doctors jump at chance to boost health workforce
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- New housing developments able to progress more quickly
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- Ending contracted emergency housing in Rotorua
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- Vocational education and training decisions support return to regions
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- Reducing the environmental impact of synthetic refrigerants
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- Appointments to the ENZ board
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- Government to celebrate Waitangi Day around NZ
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- More gangs added to Gangs Act list
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- Fire and Emergency New Zealand final levy rates confirmed
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- More AML relief on the way for Kiwi businesses
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- Wide ranging legislation to make justice system more efficient
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- Diverse skills in community trust appointments
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- Torture redress for survivors of the Lake Alice Unit
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- A busy year in the House
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- Consultation opens on working with engineered stone
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- Greater reporting on Treaty settlement commitments
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- New appointments to the Charities Registration Board
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- Building consent processing times improve
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- Faster access to support through Innovation Fund
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- New Zealand to assist Vanuatu on earthquake response
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- Government takes steps to reduce card fees for Kiwis
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- Review recommends ECE regulation shakeup
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- Offshore Renewable Energy Bill passes first reading
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- Local Government (Water Services) Bill passes first reading
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- Gene Technology Bill passes first reading
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- Israeli-American historian describes attacks on Gaza as ‘war of annihilation’
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Modern men wimps.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/2965078/Modern-men-called-wimps
Intelligence is far more important than physical ability.
ACC – Loss of income if accident happens while committing a crime.
1. If your injuries are as a result of a motor accident in which you are found guilty of breaking the speed limit… will you be affected?
2. How many fellons would be gainfully employed before they committed their crimes – one assumes they have never been eligible for compensation? Must be a fantastic saving to ACC there.
I think the proposal only cuts in if you’re sentenced to two years or more in prison.
It’s probably one of the less worrying of the cuts – certainly far less worrying than the cuts to seekly compensation for seasonal and casual employees and the vocational independence changes that will see highly qualified people booted off weekly compensation if they are found to be able to do some low paid job.
Sue Bradford referred yesterday to an aircraft engineer who had his weekly compensation stopped because he was found to be able to work as a carpark attendant, and a merchant seaman who had his stopped because he was found to be able to work as a meter reader.
That sort of stuff used to happen – and will happen again, thanks to Nick Smith So much for ACC being about providing “fair compensation for loss from injury”.
How about 2 years jail or $2000 dollar fine, get those white criminals too.
Is subversifpoet going to have to re-write Johnnie’s Boys in a less gender-specific fashion to include Melissa Lee?
This one had me chuckling the other day.
TheStreet.com reports:
Seems there is more than one Melissa Lee into fast money.
our one has never been known to be moderate though.
what about her yelling out ‘idiot’ in parlaiment on tuesday? what an embarrassment.
Another John Key lie spotted by Russell Brown on Radio Wammo – 9:00 minutes in.
Blip: Does Mr Key’s comment qualify as misleading the House?
Dunno. Bloody well should. The last time the Goober misled the House he said that his cycle track had undergone “rigourous costings” when, in fact, nothing of the sort occurred. In that case, Lockwood said the statement did not mislead the House.
Shippers say $1.5b subsidises trucks
Original PDF report here
A study commissioned by the New Zealand Transport Agency on freight transport in New Zealand, including an analysis of the prospects for coastal shipping.
OOB: The ACC Minister is at pains to show that the users should pay the cost of their higher risk. For example motorcyclists. Should trucks reduce the billions that they cost us by paying for the true cost of road usage? $1.5bn could reduce ACC costs.
Yet Joyce says
“It’s just not correct to say there’s any form of subsidy.”
in one breathe, and
“I don’t think there’s any future for the country by widening subsidies to different modes.”
in another. Sounds like he doesn’t know what he is talking about – I’m pretty sure he is wrong, and there is a subsidy for trucks. The cost they pay is less than their share of the total cost and the difference is picked up by the taxpayer, which seems like a subsidy to me.
Not that I am against subsidies, I just want to see that they are applied as fairly as possible across the various transport modes.
It frustrates me that the subsidy is in addition to the subsidies that the transport industry will get under the ETS, which again favours trucks.
Of course the pre-election donation from the Road Transport Forum has had no effect on Mr Joyce’s opinions.
The rise in ACC levies for motorcyclist seemed to have been justified on pretty weak grounds to me. Sure, the costs of motorcycle accident injuries is higher than for car accidents, because cars provide much more protection to their occupants.
But I would be interested in some data on the causes on motorcycle accidents. The proportion of costs created when a car or truck driver is at fault and caused the accidents should be assigned to cars and trucks. Only single vehicle accidents involving motorcycles and the proportion of accidents caused by motorcyclist error should be included in motorcycle ACC levies.
This morning on radio the figure of 30% motorcycle accidents caused by car error.
Was there any information on whether the costs had been assigned between car drivers and motorcyclists, depending on who was at fault? Or were the costs all lumped on to motorcyclists?
I will be happy with a “do your own research” reply.
Armchair:I believe the figure came from a motorcyclist on the end of Morning Report (i think?) and he said that 30% of bike accidents were car error but the figure was listed as bike accident with no weght given to the cars. All lumped together. Sorry that I can’t be more specific. Old age you see.
Granny has something up now.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603342
Sounds like ACC haven’t thought this through properly, and that like Mr Joyce on RUCs, Mr Judge doesn’t understand what constitutes a subsidy either.
Came across this in the granny herald today:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10603270
Sounds as though Rodney Hide will be on his way to ballsing up a useful jobs initiative if he gets half a chance….
And in other news, the Nats have decided to hear all oral submissions on the ETS revisions today, less than 48 hours after submissions closed. They will be hearing only 27 submissions in 4.5 hours, which tells you everything you need to know about National’s “fuck you” attitude to democracy.
Jeebus.
WTF is Lockwood Smith doing stripping supplementary questions from parties during question time?
Because he can. Trevor must really annoy him.
I was listening rather than watching and my guess is that Lockwood made a slightly impetuous decision and his voice subsequently reflected some regret. (I can’t get it out my memory the image of Lockwood as quizmaster on TV all those years ago when he held the CONTROL and always seemed smug when he knew the answers and they did not. 🙂 )
I was listening too, the internet is too slow here for live streaming video but audio is mostly okay.
No doubt both sides were pushing the boundaries today, and I’m happy for some form of sanction to be taken against misbehaving members, but removing supplementary questions doesn’t seem like a good thing. Wasn’t there a “freedom of speech” issue just yesterday?