Bill English Archive

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  Attack on invalids is a sick policy - by Metiria Turei

  
  
  
  Last month one-time Act party candidate and full time crusader against the DPB Lindsay Mitchell released a statement criticising National for not implementing their draconian pre-election welfare policy.  According to Ms Mitchell, who writes from the leafy Wellington sea side suburb Eastbourne, what is needed is a bit more carrot and probably a rather large [...] read more
  November 4, 2009 9:00 am - 51 Comments
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  Economic debate gets Green voice - by frog

  
  
  
  TVNZ7’s much hyped economic debate (you’ve probably seen the adds by now) will have a Green voice.  Following TVNZ’s Guyon Espiner interviewing Finance Minister Bill English Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman will critique National’s first year in Government along with Roger Douglas (ACT) and David Cunliffe (Labour).  TVZN7’s economic debate screens tonight on TVNZ7 [...] read more
  November 3, 2009 9:52 am - 16 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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  Deputy PM calls for direct action against supermarkets - by frog

  
  
  
  In a surprise move, Bill English has called for supermarkets that stock palm oil products to be picketed. After a series of questions from Russel Norman on New Zealand’s complicity in the devastation of rainforests in South East Asia, Bill stepped up to the plate with his proposal for an environmental campaign:    … the primary [...] read more
  September 18, 2009 9:56 am - 23 Comments
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  Launch of anti-MMP moves selectively leaked - by frog

  
  
  
  According to NZ Herald Columnist Fran O’Sullivan the issue of a referendum on MMP was discussed at cabinet on Monday 31 August 2009.   Yesterday Ms O’Sullivan informed Newstalk ZB drive time host Larry Williams of how this information was conveyed to her – presumably by Mr Key – and how the parliamentary press gallery was [...] read more
  September 8, 2009 6:35 pm - 47 Comments
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  Beat the Bubble before it beats you - by frog

  
  
  
  Russel Norman has taken the courageous step of publically supporting a capital gains tax.  It is established Green Party policy while it is also the political ground where Labour and National fear to tread despite the good it can do for our economy. A major plus is how it can keep us out of another [...] read more
  August 17, 2009 3:10 pm - 64 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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  Overseas Investment Review will loosen rules says amateur soothsayer… - by frog

  
  
  
    Those wanting to know what the group tasked with reviewing the Overseas Investment Act will be recommending can put the tarot cards away and forget reading the entrails of that specially purchased organic chicken.  Forsooth I Frog, am a sayer of sooth and a foreteller of future fortune.  I can also google. You see [...] read more
  July 21, 2009 4:44 pm - 5 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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  Hand in hand - by frog

  
  
  
  John Key, 6 September 2008: “Economic growth and improving the environment can and must go hand in hand.” Bill English, 5 August 2008: “Don’t fall for the word sustainability – what the hell does that mean? You’ve got to make money if you’re going to stay in business.” read more
  September 23, 2008 2:13 pm - 10 Comments
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  Fiscal irresponsibility - by frog

  
  
  
  I asked at the beginning of the year how each party might respond to a recession.  The Herald gives National’s answer today on it’s front page – pretend it’s not happening: Despite global financial turmoil, National’s finance spokesman, Bill English, has indicated the party is still considering tax cuts of $50 a week. Asked on [...] read more
  September 16, 2008 9:38 am - 24 Comments
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  Warming the bench - by frog

  
  
  
  Here’s an interesting question.  Audrey Young reckons John Key might have a rotation policy for his possible cabinet. The Herald understands that if Mr Key leads the next Government, he will make several ministerial appointments conditional on the minister stepping down from the post in two or three years to make way for new blood. [...] read more
  August 26, 2008 12:13 pm - 2 Comments
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  Disguised - by frog

  
  
  
  Did anyone hear Nick Smith on Morning Report talking about the spy who taped him?  Apparently Smith worked it out quite quickly the young person was a spy: Morning Report: Why did you think it was a spy? Nick Smith: Well, it was a young person, a person in their early 20s.  I’ve been around [...] read more
  August 7, 2008 9:44 am - 26 Comments
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  National plans to privatise Kiwibank - by frog

  
  
  
  In an exclusive scoop just televised on TV3 News, a recording of Bill English from today’s conference revealed that Kiwibank is definitely one SOE heading for the chop. Possibly paraphrased: Anonymous: Will you get rid of Kiwibank? Bill English:   We will eventually, but not yet. This is consistent with the Nat’s policy of not [...] read more
  August 3, 2008 6:30 pm - 57 Comments
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  Herald misses return ship home - by frog

  
  
  
  Like the Japanese soldiers who apocryphally continued guarding their post long after World War 2 had finished the Herald continues steadfastly in its campaign to prove the Electoral Finance Act is an attack on democracy. First it has Bill English demonstrating for logic students, with this statement, the exact opposite of a tautology: “The worst [...] read more
  June 18, 2008 8:55 am - 20 Comments
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  Key puts another coin in the fuse box - by frog

  
  
  
  National Party leader John Key called yesterday for the scrapping or the delay of all the climate related fuel taxes on the agenda for the next year, citing rising fuel costs as the reason. At first glance there appears to be some logic in his argument, until you look at it fully. What he is [...] read more
  April 30, 2008 11:24 am - 48 Comments
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  How big a slice of tax cut would you like? - by frog

  
  
  
  Tax cuts. Cullen says his will be smaller but won’t negatively affect the economy or public services. English says his will be bigger but doesn’t want to play that up too much in case he gets caught in the chewing gum trap Cullen found him self in last election. Or worse, he could end up [...] read more
  March 27, 2008 1:55 pm - 7 Comments
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  A sensible amendment to the Electoral Finance Act - by frog

  
  
  
  Another interesting question time today with Bill English asking the Minister of Justice about the authorisation requirements for election advertising and, in particular, giving the Green’s Proud to be Green billboards a bit of airtime on Parliamentary TV by waving round a photo of one of them. While I support the Electoral Finance Act as [...] read more
  March 20, 2008 3:54 pm - 24 Comments
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  How to deal with a recession - by frog

  
  
  
  There’s been lots of talk about a looming recession this week.  It would be interesting to see what the other parties’ policy proposals would be in the event of a recession.  The traditional conservative response would be to balance the books by cutting expenditure; Tighten your belt and tough it out.  By contrast you’d expect [...] read more
  January 24, 2008 9:21 am - 88 Comments