A Budget crafted by ACT New Zealand and the Green Party of Aotearoa has been released, fulfilling the terms of our confidence and supply agreement to get a budget done. ACT has reached a new stage of power, becoming on-par with our friends in the National Party and we have remedied the failure of that Ministry to deliver on a budget.
Let us clarify that we mean no disrespect to the other dedicated work the Chretien Ministry did to make New Zealand a better place, particularly in strengthening the value property rights by increasing compensation and notice when they’re violated for a Public Work and other important fields. However, the failure to deliver on a budget followed by the scapegoating and expulsion of ACT from Government was massively disappointing.
Recently, an incredulous and desperate attack ad was launched on ACT, saying that we are giving the Green Party a “blank cheque” on the budget. This is blatantly wrong and the budget speech of Party Leader stranger195 and myself prove that the budget operates firmly within ACT values and ACT principles.
We have seen a historic fall in income taxation on the majority of New Zealanders as well as needed investment into mental health services, regional stormwater repairs, teachers aides and other fields which are ACT policies and were negotiated into the budget by ACT MP’s. ACT has a history of deliverance and we maintained the right to withdraw from the Government if we couldn’t deliver.
This budget cuts taxes for the huge majority of taxpayers, giving the government less to spend and fulfilling what has been the foundation of libertarianism.
stranger195, Party Leader
This is a great budget and I look forward to seeing the positive effects delivered on New Zealand.
By Vishnu, these past few weeks were not the greatest for my blood pressure. Motivated by fear, ignorance and a combination of general concerns, we have seen the National Party expel and ridicule the ACT Party of New Zealand.
This is to imply that ACT NZ is entirely to blame for what is understandably an area where the National Party side of the Government failed in Cabinet and operates under a despicable assumption that ACT NZ is but a loyal lapdog of the National Party.
All I will say on the future, Madam Speaker, is that while the National Party seeks good relations with all parties, our confidence in the current ACT leadership is slim and we have reservations about working with them again.
PM_ME_CHRETIEN, former Prime Minister
To see the Right Honorable PM_ME_CHRETIEN decry ACT leadership the moment they even consider a good strategic merger with a party who had more to unite with ACT than divide with ACT shows a form of intellectual bankruptcy and leads us to the unfortunate conclusion that the Prime Minister cannot even see what happened in his own cabinet room.
For the uninformed, this Government’s latter half was dominated by ACT ministers and members taking actions and steps for the betterment of New Zealand where the National Party brought division and defection. As Deputy Leader of ACT, I was the only ACT MP to submit full estimates for his two ministries of Infrastructure and Education. Every other minister failed to do so except for ACT ministers. Prior to us being kicked out, a full costing for Social Development and Health was likely to be given alongside a costing for Culture policies. ACT has a history of delivering in Government and that is what we have done when compared to the failures of the National Party Minister of Finance to deliver on the budget.
The failure to deliver the budget lies not on the shoulders of ACT New Zealand, but upon the National Party.
The situation of the coalition is unfortunate, but actions taking by the ACT half of the government made it simply impossible to continue on due to their scheming to combine with a left-wing party that was not ideological compatible with their party.
PM_ME_CHRETIEN
I ask the leader of the National Party if he even read the ACTL merger agreement. The policies came from both parties and saw unanimous support among ACT Party veterans and ACT Party supporters. Both parties leaderships saw the immense benefit of such an arrangement and to think that the Prime Minister couldn’t see that disappoints me immensely.
However, unlike the National Party we will not throw our allies under the bus. The National caucus has some genuinely talented and dedicated individuals within it, including their Minister of Finance. But to see our friends in the National Party instantly go on a campaign of raw smear tactics against our party demands a clear and firm response and I am ashamed that the otherwise competent leader of the National Party would do such a thing.
ACT has delivered and continued to deliver. ACT NZ delivered on all of it’s promises in Infrastructure and Education and will continue to deliver on promises throughout next term if elected to Government.
Oddly, a recent happening has occurred on the opposition side of the house which reveals something very interesting about the inner workings of the Opposition and how the strongman of the Green Party has pushed their way into the scene and their polling has successfully couped the Socialist Alliance.
Seemingly out of nowhere, many members of the Socialist Alliance found themselves downgraded in exchange for new portfolios and differing positions. Greatest of them all is the much sought after title of Leader of the Opposition which has fallen into the expected grasp of the Green Party of Aotearoa. ARichTeaBiscuit is a very good MP and I’m happy for them however we must consider the swiftness these changes have occurred in.
Let us analyse some of these choices and consider whether some of these very important decisions and the impact they will likely have for the opposition.
Leader of the Opposition
ARichTeaBiscuit
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Lady_Aya
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Sylviagony
Shadow Minister for Business
Boomfa
Shadow Minister for Culture
MerrilyPutrid
Shadow Minister of Defence
UncookedMeatloaf
Shadow Minister of Education
Sylviagony
Shadow Minister for the Environment
imnofox
Shadow Minister of Finance
boomfa
Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs
ARichTeaBiscuit
Shadow Minister of Health
Sylviagony
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure
Sylviagony
Shadow Minister of Justice
MerrilyPutrid
Shadow Minister for Māori Affairs
Lady_Aya
Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs
imnofox
Shadow Minister for Social Development
Lady_Aya
Opposition Whip
ARichTeaBiscuit
Firstly, it is odd that a party (The Labour Party) are currently tied for deputy leader of the opposition with a party which holds more seats than they do. It will be very interesting to see how these perspectives can shift the dynamics of power and whether a potential Government from this rag-tag amalgamation of differing aspects of the left will find such a situation unrepresentative in the future. As well as Imnofox expanding his portfolios and focus into rural affairs (ironic as the Green Party has historically held fairly anti-rural positions), I believe the most interesting development of them all is the case which has arisen with the new spokesperson for finance and business. A relative newcomer to New Zealand politics, Boomfa has been instantly raised to one of the top jobs in Government. The Opposition must have a lot of faith to have put him there and I’m excited to see if he’s capable enough for the task.
For the ACT supporters at home, many of you may be interested in those opposing ACT ministers. The former leader of the opposition Sylviagony is opposing ACT ministers on nearly all fronts except culture which is held by MerrilyPutrid, a recent list MP. It appears ACT will be held accountable in Government purely by the Socialist Alliance and reveals a very interesting situation for Question time and perhaps may explain recent legislation from the Socialist Alliance in direct contradiction to one of ACT’s policies. This may be because of the surprising friendship which has developed between ACT and the Socialist Alliance due to our mutual opinions of self-autonomy and could be an attempt to try and further the partisan divide by the Greens.
Speaking of Sylviagony, I settled down with her to discuss the new position of the Socialist Alliance in Government and received the following response.
Gregor:
Madam Sylviagony, why did you allow yourself to be pushed out of opposition leadership when you were a front-runner previously?
Sylviagony:
“I don’t think it’s right to say I was pushed out, we are 3 parties working together to form an opposition to this government, and it is only natural that we find the best person for each position. We felt that ARTB would make a better LOTO at this moment, and I would say that me getting other portfolios in return is a fair compromise.”
Clearly the Socialist Alliance is pushing a commitment to serve as the main busybodies in a potential Green-led Government and the third ARichTeaBiscuit administration would seemingly be plagued by such Ministerial infighting and conflicts of interest.
Perhaps then the New Zealand public will realize the opposition is all talk but no bite.
Recently the Deputy Leader of the ACT Party, Gregor_The_Beggar, held a march against the vile and distasteful comments spoke by the leader of the Front for a Patriotic New Zealand and Putting New Zealand First. At this march, he intended for a bipartisan showing of support and a sign of unity for all it’s participants. Instead, he got a more divisive partisan rally which was used by many as little more than a campaigning opportunity. Worst of these offenders in Imnofox, who have broken from his party leadership in his comments and statements and further brings into question who’s running the Green Party and even, the opposition.
“Politicians like those on stage from our current coalition of cruelty who seem to take joy in screwing over the ordinary worker”
Right Honourable Imnofox, Green List MP
Now, while his comments are clearly wrong and arrogantly ignores the very real viewpoints and arguments presented by the Government to justify policies to help the workers which the Green Party has opposed, I would turn to the sheer hypocrisy of his statement and how he broke the viewpoints of his party leader to achieve a divisive, partisan agenda to try and besmirch his fellow marchers and turn the entire march into being about himself.
It is with distaste, however, that I have noticed an increasing amount of members use vitriolic language during these debates and haven’t spared from levelling personal attacks against the author of said legislative business or an individual remarking on said business.
ARichTeaBiscuit, leader of the Green Party
In my opinion it is unbecoming of someone in this chamber to use such vitriolic and aggressive language to attack someones character, and it serves as a point of disrespect to the people of New Zealand.
ARichTeaBiscuit, leader of the Green Party
Clearly, Imnofox has broken the very tenants and beliefs of his own party leader and shown a clear disregard for principles which his leader stands for and should reflect nobly upon the rest of the party. My interactions with ARichTeaBiscuit and UncookedMeatloaf have been kind, sincere and always ended with a hint of mutual respect between two dedicated politicians. Imnofox has broken that completely and appears solely to push his own agenda as the Leader of the Opposition in all but name. To think that he would turn a united stand against racism, for our migrant communities and decry the migrant on the stage as cruel and greedy shows the lack of self-awareness which was shown in the members course of action
I have hope for Imnofox and I have hope that he may reform and as I stated in my closing speech, I truly do love him for showing up to the rally anyway and affirming a stance against the Front at the very least. It appears that his own Party Leader believes he may reform, though whether he does so will manifest in time
I hope that those involved in such incidents will reflect upon their behaviour in future and change course, thank you.
ARichTeaBiscuit, Leader of the Green Party
Let us all hope that callousness like that demonstrated during the march is a tool of the past and let us look forwards to the future.
Recently in the House, the leader of the Front for a Patriotic New Zealand has said some frankly revolting comments and as no one else has bothered to raise the issue yet, I believe that as one of the only non-christian religious MP’s it is a solemn duty of mine to represent the outrage these views should cause and have caused.
The Member asks if other religions offer the same “warmth, companionship and beliefs which are good and noble” as Christianity. To answer him in a word: No.
Sober_King_Robert, M.89 Motion to Affirm Commitment to Christian Values
While I’ve always been tolerant and lenient of the views in my colleagues despite my disagreements and have not been one to dismiss the Front offhand like many members have, this a frankly unacceptable statement and the very large community behind religions which are not Christianity demand an immediate apology by the leader of the Front.
Members of the Public should realize the abhorrent statement for it’s consideration but let me break it down for you all. The leader of the Front has pushed their religion upon the house and this nation through the original motion and now has further directly stated that no other religion offers good and noble companionship and warmth as Christianity does. This means the community environment of a Mosque, of a temple and of any other religious institute does not have that same community spirit as a church. This is wrong. I can attest to it and the large non-christian religious community in Waitematā can attest to this as well.
New Zealand is a secular nation now and we have already gone many of the Christian beliefs which are espoused in the bible through homosexual law reform and other measures. We, as a society, have recognized that religious policy shouldn’t matter compared to moral, considered public policy for the betterment of society. Therefore, I hope that not only will members of the House will join me in demanding an apology from the member but also hope that members of the public will join me in my protest against the leader of the Front in Auckland starting from the Bhartiya Mandir Temple and ending at the Al Falah Mosque in East Tamaki. I already know that at least 35 of the people in my Electorate and committed to the march and hope to see many readers there. Further details will be notified via Facebook, Twitter and other services or you can contact ACT staffers via our website.
“Madam Speaker, my question is for the Prime Minister (/u/PM_ME_CHRETIEN). Does the Prime Minister believe that the Chilean government has used reasonable measures against protesters in the country? “
ARichTeaBiscuit, Question Time 74
The above question was the source of a recent Green Party attack on the Government and my colleague, the Hon. Winston Wilhelmus the Third. Now my colleague raised a legitimate point of order surrounding the above question stating that the question which involves our diplomatic relations to Chile would perhaps better be suited to the Minister of Foreign Affairs which I admit they later would. The Minister of Foreign Affairs knows the subject far better and I have worked with him in this regard surrounding his own private meetings with the ambassador from Chile voicing the Government’s concerns to taking in anecdotal evidence from a close friend who are from Chile surrounding the brutality of the Government in this regard. Now, with this vast repertoire of knowledge we both are trying to acquire surrounding the subject, then it would be logical such a question about a New Zealand foreign affairs standpoint would be asked to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Now, I do not deny the right of the member to voice their question to whom they see fit between the two choices but to imply my colleague raising such an issue in a point of order would amount to him implying the Government is a figurehead is blatantly wrong. However, the speaker ruled on the issue and we have seen some resolution on the matter at the very least.
It may seem odd then that the Greens would try and run this issue as a disloyal cabinet which doesn’t trust the Prime Ministers answers. This could not be further from the truth. We believe that the Minister of Foreign Affairs would have been better suited to the question at hand and to imply that the point of order had foul intentions against the Prime Minister’s reputation is frankly wrong. The Government firmly believes in having the person best qualified or capable for the job hold the job and that same logic applies to question time. To try and pose this as a ‘gotcha’ moment is frankly wrong and I hope the members Imnofox and ARichTeaBiscuit realize that as they both were Prime Ministers themselves and therefore know the value of delegating responsibilities and roles and the importance of ministerial accountability over specific and complicated issues.
Recently, the former Prime Minister Imnofox has chosen to attack ACT New Zealand directly through the policy which this Government holds surrounding the construction of a new Motorsports facility in Waikato. Due to the degradation of our party, I saw fit to respond via the newly formed ACT press office.
Firstly let me clarify something which I feel the member from the opposition has clearly forgotten. This is not an ACT policy and to target ACT in this way just shows their electioneering tactic to attack the party they most fear of making good policy decisions in this Government. It’s looking like the member is taking any opportunity to go for a swing towards me and my party though few know what it is motivated by. Maybe Imnofox is attempting to remind us of the old days of when he was Minister of Infrastructure and invested $200 million into rather unneeded light rail between the CBD and Auckland Airport or when his government pulled the already high cost of superannuation even higher by increasing all benefits by 20% which would have had a long-going cost upon New Zealand taxpayers. Perhaps they shouldn’t speak of taxpayer cost when the Greens have been responsible for wasteful overspending towards RNZ, towards blimps and towards other programs which they justify like we do with our own. Now, this Government has a commitment to spend $1.6 billion into the region on the Waikato motorsports facility which will come with funding for necessary infrastructure into the region which has traditionally been forgotten. May I make this perfectly clear in case the member of the opposition is unaware but the $1.6 billion isn’t going solely to the facility. This is a project which will be an investment into the Waikato regions infrastructure and offer a tourist location for the community to attend. As Minister of Infrastructure, this seems to be the best option to not only comply with the deal we have crafted with the Kiwi Party but also to ensure the most benefit to the region as possible. Let us consider that Tourism is one of our most important sectors and such a development will benefit that tourism immensely. The new developments will build a regional transport link, which I’m sure the member would want, and to create something truly special for New Zealand sporting. The motorsports facility will create new jobs in the region and generally better the wellbeing of thousands of New Zealanders. Our project is idealistic, it’s bold and it’s to better New Zealand’s entertainment sector and New Zealand’s people.
The member is concerned about CO2 emissions and I fully understand that, Climate Change is a massive crisis which is presently putting my birthplace of Fiji under immense risk. This is why we will attempt to work with motorsports companies on electric solutions and solutions which will be more helpful towards this nations CO2 emissions. We will be investing in carbon-friendly methods of transportation to the venue as well and work towards ensuring that we consider every climate option. Imnofox doesn’t need to lecture me on the importance of Climate Change, I’ve seen it’s effects firsthand. To think that Imnofox would nigh condescendingly lecture me on those effects feels wrong and I hope he did not mean his comments in that light. Carbon emissions and taxpayer costs were my two largest concerns and priorities with this project and I’m working to try and limit both of them or dedicate the latter towards positive growth for the region.
Perhaps the Greens may want to buy some more blimps for a carbon friendly solution to transport? Perhaps they could also work towards some actual practical bills or supplementary order papers which work towards making New Zealand better place? To think how quickly Imnofox went from retired to Leader of the Opposition, perhaps he can use that same speed in producing viable alternatives to government bills?
The Bugle of Liberty 