O’Connor has $8.4m spending (on grass science) to announce before flying to India – but other ministers are splashing out, too
The travel plans of one Minister of the Crown is among the questions answered on the government’s official website today. Trade and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will depart for India tomorrow for bilateral talks “to advance the economic relationship” from 27-29 August.
He will then travel to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from 29 August – 1 September, for discussions on trade and economic matters with his Ministerial and Gulf Cooperation Council counterparts.
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson tells us who has landed jobs on the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori board – e māhorahora ai te reo (which most Kiwis refer to as the Māori Language Commission).
Most of the other fresh announcements from the Beehive essentially tell us which ministers are bragging about something they have accomplished within their portfolios:
Education Minister Jan Tinetti is enthusing that the government has opened 2,250 new classrooms since 2017. Moreover –
Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson tells us who has landed jobs on the Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori board – e māhorahora ai te reo (which most Kiwis refer to as the Māori Language Commission).
Most of the other fresh announcements from the Beehive essentially tell us which ministers are bragging about something they have accomplished within their portfolios:
Education Minister Jan Tinetti is enthusing that the government has opened 2,250 new classrooms since 2017. Moreover –
- Over 500 schools affected by North Island severe weather have been repaired
- Nearly every school in the country has been upgraded through the School Investment Package.
Transport Minister David Parker is chuffed about the performance of NZ’s commuter train service during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. More than 173,000 people were moved to and from FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in Auckland and Wellington, “showing what an efficient rail operation can achieve”.
Justice Minister Ginny Andersen is chuffed about the government delivering changes “for fairer access to legal assistance”.
She is alerting the public to the passing of the Legal Services Amendment Bill, which will result in:
- The removal of interest on unpaid legal aid debt, and
- The removal of the one-off $50 user charge paid by most people who receive civil and family legal aid, when their application is successful.
Andersen does mention cost. She says the changes are part of the Budget 2022 package of $148.7m to strengthen the legal aid system.
The 2018 review found that the $50 user charge fee disincentivised some applicants from applying for legal aid.
Ginny Andersen is further triumphing in the passing of new alcohol laws
“… that will ensure the voices of communities are heard in alcohol licensing decisions, contributing greatly to a reduction in alcohol harm.”
It is gratifying to learn that Parliament has gone into urgency to pass “new” laws, rather than old ones.
Andersen was talking about the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Community Participation) Amendment Bill, which passed its third reading today.
According to the points she highlighted, it…
- Removes the ability for parties to appeal provisional local alcohol policies
- Removes the ability to cross-examine at alcohol licensing hearings
- Allows any person or group to object to a licence application, with a narrow exception for trade competitors
- Extends the timeframe for objecting, to give people more time to prepare evidence.
“The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 introduced by the previous National government has contributed to the silencing of community voices and favouring of those with interests in the alcohol industry,” Ginny Andersen said.
“It was always envisaged that people would have the opportunity to be heard when it comes to how, when and where alcohol was sold in their own neighbourhoods, but unfortunately this hasn’t eventuated.
“We know many communities are struggling with the widespread and damaging effects of alcohol-related harm. By changing the law in this way, we are empowering communities to have their say.”
The Bill addresses three persistent issues identified by communities:
- council authorities having difficulty adopting and applying local alcohol policies (LAPs) due to constant appeals by those representing the alcohol industry
- individuals and groups being excluded from objecting to licence applications
- licensing hearings being overly legalistic and formal, with community members feeling harassed and intimidated while under cross-examination
Andersen has other portfolios, and …
As Digital Economy and Communications Minister Ginny Andersen has announced millions of dollars in Government investment has resulted in the completion of a new fibre cable between Te Anau and Milford Sound.
The cost?
She didn’t say, but …
“The completion of this important telecommunications infrastructure project, with the support of the Government’s $35.4 million Westland connectivity package, is a huge win for regional New Zealand.”
Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister Carmel Sepuloni brought good news for visual artists.
The Resale Right for Visual Artists Bill passed its third reading unanimously today, entitling visual artists to a share of the lolly when their work is sold on the secondary art market. The regulations to support the new legislation have also been confirmed, giving clarity to artists on how this scheme will operate.
The Bill will enable the collection of a 5 per cent royalty each time an eligible artist’s work is sold on the secondary art market.
Only artworks that sell for $1,000 or more will include a royalty payment.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced two cost-sharing arrangements to help towards recovery from Auckland Anniversary Day floods and Cyclone Gabrielle.
One agreement is between government and Auckland Council, the other between government and Gisborne District Council.
The two press statements are liberally adorned with figures which inform taxpayers of the costs.
Agreements with the Auckland Council, Gisborne District Council and Hawke’s Bay’s five councils, will result in the government contributing up to $1.7 billion on top of the $342 million allocated from across central Government agencies, as at 4 August.
Oh – and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor had a bit of spending to announce before heading overseas to do his thing for economy-boosting.
He said the government is contributing $8.4 million over seven years to a climate-resilient pasture programme.
The funding will be channelled through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures).
Barenbrug, Grasslands Innovation Limited (a joint venture of which PGG Wrightson Seeds is a major shareholder), and DairyNZ will contribute the balance in cash and in-kind. AgResearch is the key research partner. Barenbrug and PGG Wrightson Seeds will implement the research findings.
The work builds on a successful Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment partnership programme called Pastoral Genomics, which demonstrated how effectively genomic selection could be applied to ryegrass.
Damien O’Connor said climate change is forcing a change to ‘business as usual’, and the seed industry acknowledges the importance of working together to find solutions.
Latest from the Beehive
25 AUGUST 2023
Breeding pasture designed to thrive in a changing climate is the focus of a new ‘Pasture Accelerator’ programme backed by the Government, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today.
Millions of dollars in Government investment has seen connectivity delivered to one of the largest State Highway mobile black spots in the country.
The Chris Hipkins Government has made major progress in upgrading and building classrooms and other school property across the country.
24 AUGUST 2023
Commuter trains moved more than 173,000 people to and from FIFA Women’s World Cup matches in Auckland and Wellington, showing what an efficient rail operation can achieve.
Access to justice has today been improved with the passing of the Legal Services Amendment Bill, which will see the removal of interest on unpaid legal aid debt.
Trade & Export Growth and Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor will depart for India tomorrow for bilateral talks to advance the economic relationship, from 27-29 August.
The Government has delivered new legislation that will ensure the voices of communities are heard in alcohol licensing decisions, contributing greatly to a reduction in alcohol harm.
A cost-sharing agreement between the Government and Auckland Council will see the Crown contribute $877 million towards Auckland’s recovery following the Anniversary Day floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, earlier this year.
“Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi. Engari taku toa, he toa takitini”
The Government and Gisborne District Council have agreed to a cost sharing package to further support the Tairāwhiti region’s recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Resale Right for Visual Artists Bill has passed its third reading unanimously today, guaranteeing that visual artists reap the rewards when their work is sold on the secondary art market.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
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