Posts by Sue Bradford

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  Audioblog: Green MPs pay tribute to Sue Bradford - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Sue Bradford delivered her valedictory speech in Parliament on Wednesday, to a packed gallery of supporters from the Green Party, unions, child welfare groups, churches, NGOs and the public, and a standing ovation from MPs of all colours. This week, as Sue leaves Parliament after ten years, the Green MPs pay tribute to one of [...] read more
  November 2, 2009 10:06 am - 9 Comments
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  Sue’s Truth: Employers on the rampage - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  I’m a bit late blogging my regular column in the Truth Weekender, as I’ve had other things taking up my time. But here it is: Employers all over the country are increasingly going on the offensive against workers who organise to bargain for their rights and conditions. The current state of industrial relations is typical [...] read more
  September 28, 2009 12:12 pm - 28 Comments
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  Sue’s Truth: Jumping Sundays to be celebrated – all welcome - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular column in the Truth Weekender this week recalls the liberation of Albert Park and the Jumping Sundays that followed its liberation, and looks forward to the 40th Anniversary event on September 19: Anyone remember Jumping Sundays in Albert Park? Forty years ago, several thousand young people – including Truth contributors Tim Shadbolt and [...] read more
  September 10, 2009 10:38 am - 22 Comments
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  Sue’s Truth: The referendum – the aftermath - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  The New Zealand Truth has become the Truth Weekender, so the publication both there and here of my regular article there will be a bit later in the week from now on. This week I focus on the aftermath of the child discipline referendum. Last week the result of the child discipline referendum came out. [...] read more
  August 28, 2009 11:55 am - 158 Comments
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  Strange saga unfolds around the Minister of Labour - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Earlier this week the Minister of Labour Kate Wilkinson gave a truly bizarre reason for not meeting with the executive of the NDU (National Distribution Union): Telecom workers were on strike. Members of the NDU executive have been trying unsuccessfully to meet with the Minister for some time. The reason given for the cancellation of [...] read more
  August 27, 2009 12:54 pm - 25 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth: Referendum 09 - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular New Zealand Truth column this week is about the child discipline referendum and the inadequacy of the legislative provisions regarding the wording of citizens initiated referenda questions: As I am sure everyone is excruciatingly well aware, we are right now in the middle of the postal referendum on the physical discipline of children. [...] read more
  August 12, 2009 2:05 pm - 168 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – Whose country is it? NZ for sale – again - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular New Zealand Truth column this week focuses on changes to overseas investment rules, and their threat to our national sovereignty: Finance Minister Bill English is dead set on making it easier for overseas investors to buy our land and assets, and last week announced a series of changes to rules around foreign investment. [...] read more
  July 29, 2009 5:42 pm - 53 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – The referendum approaches - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular New Zealand Truth column this week is about section 59 of the Crimes Act and the child discipline referendum: In just a couple of weeks we are all going to be asked to vote on the child discipline referendum question in a postal ballot. Voting opens on 31 July and closes 21 August. [...] read more
  July 16, 2009 9:36 am - 49 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – SIS, the watchers and the watched - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Hi, here’s my regular column for the New Zealand Truth – this time looking at the SIS involvement in my life – and mine in theirs: Last month the SIS released a heavily edited version of the file they kept on me from 1968 onwards. The file is evidently in two volumes, and 330 classified [...] read more
  July 1, 2009 10:11 pm - 21 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – Morals and politics - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  I’ve decided to delve into some prurient interests in my regular column in the New Zealand Truth this week: If ever there was a topic to get the juices flowing it’s this one. Just put the words ‘sex’ and ‘MP’ together and audience interest is guaranteed. While the word ‘morals’ can cover many other matters [...] read more
  June 17, 2009 5:13 pm - 30 Comments
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  Good on John Angus – Children’s Commission has lucky escape - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  I would like to be among the first to congratulate the new Children’s Commissioner John Angus for coming out so clearly in this morning’s New Zealand Herald supporting the section 59 law change. It is great that Mr Angus is not shying away from being the advocate for children that his new role demands, rather [...] read more
  June 10, 2009 10:49 am - 193 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – Section 59 and the Mason verdict - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My column in the New Zealand Truth this week focuses on the section 59 law change and the Jimmy Mason assault verdict. A couple of weeks ago a jury found Christchurch man Jimmy Mason guilty of assaulting one of his sons by yanking his ear and punching him in the face. Normally a case like [...] read more
  June 4, 2009 10:13 am - 58 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – Mt Albert, motorways and Melissa - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular column in the New Zealand Truth: The Government’s decision to go ahead with the Waterview motorway extension will certainly be doing nothing to help National’s chances in the Mt Albert by-election. If it goes ahead, the Transport Agency’s preferred option will see 365 properties demolished and $1.4 billion squandered on a motorway slashing [...] read more
  May 21, 2009 9:29 am - 22 Comments
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  Fallout from Rankin appointment continues – Families Commission for the chop? - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  The fallout from Christine Rankin’s appointment as a Families Commissioner continues tonight with news that Reference Group member Druis Barrett is resigning. In comment to TV1 Ms Barrett said “I was kind of gutted that she was appointed….I wouldn’t go as far to say she is racist, but she is damn well close to it.” [...] read more
  May 13, 2009 8:41 pm - 68 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – Banks and Bangalore - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular column in the NZ Truth this week focuses on the banking industry, and the Government’s approach to it in the context of economic recession: Late last year the Government introduced a scheme which means that all taxpayers are now guaranteeing our local banking and finance industry. You would think that in return we [...] read more
  May 6, 2009 6:25 pm - 102 Comments
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  Banks should be expected to do their bit on jobs - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  Yesterday I hosted the launch at Parliament of a petition signed by 10,500 New Zealanders calling on the Government to protect jobs in the NZ banking sector. The Green Party, the bank workers’ union Finsec – and the signatories to the petition -  believe that in return for the massive support the NZ taxpayer is [...] read more
  May 6, 2009 7:50 am - 45 Comments
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  Bradford’s Truth – An MoU and a coup - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  My regular column in the New Zealand Truth appeared again today: A couple of weeks ago the Green Party signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National-led Government. Some of our supporters have been worried that perhaps we are selling our souls to the Nats in return for a few favours. However, I would like [...] read more
  April 23, 2009 12:24 pm - 43 Comments
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  Sue’s Truth - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  A few weeks ago I started writing what will become a regular column in the New Zealand Truth newspaper. Now the Truth has agreed that I can republish it here once they have published. So here’s my Sue’s Truth from last week: When times are hard it’s easy to get uptight about migrant workers. People [...] read more
  April 15, 2009 3:16 pm - 53 Comments
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  Great to see launch of coalition vs ACC privatisation - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  With ACC under serious threat at the moment it’s fantastic to see a major coalition ‘ACC Futures’ being launched in Wellington this morning. It’s all very well trying to fight the potential privatisation of ACC from Parliament as the Green and Labour Parties continue to do, but none of us will get anywhere without a [...] read more
  April 8, 2009 10:13 am - 23 Comments
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  Section 59 debate intensifies again - by Sue Bradford

  
  
  
  The debate around s59 looks like heating up again over the next four months under the dual pressures of the August referendum and the announcement of a proposed member’s bill from ACT MP John Boscawen. Mr Boscawen is clearly keen on appealing to the sentiments stirred up by the referendum’s promoters, having lost his impetus [...] read more
  March 23, 2009 11:12 am - 79 Comments