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Labour is working for New Zealand.
It is nearly 5 years since a Labour-led government was elected and in that time we have achieved record numbers in jobs, raised the minimum wage five times and trained 3700 more teachers (including more than 2000 over and above those required for roll growth).
There are also 3.7 million New Zealanders enrolled with PHOs, we have the lowest crime rate in 20 years and we have guaranteed superannuation.
These are just a few of this Government's achievements.
Last Thursday, Armistice Day, the interment at the National War Memorial took place.
Now at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior families have a place of remembrance and New Zealand has a place to acknowledge the courage and sacrifice made in our name overseas. The establishment of the Tomb also represents a growing understanding of the part which history has played in shaping the country New Zealand is today.
The idea for the establishment of a Tomb for the Unknown Warrior goes back more than eighty years, following the end of the First World War, and the ceremonies last week were the culmination of a number of years of negotiation and planning by many individuals and organisations.
I was pleased to be able to represent our electorate at such an important occasion.
Much has been made of the perceived "surplus". This surplus shows good economic management and bodes well for the future.
Calls to "spend the surplus" are misguided and mischievous. The surplus isn't cash that is just sitting around in a bank account because:
- $1.3 billion was used on capital purchases such as new machines for hospitals, building new roads and prisons
- $1.7 billion was used for loans - such as those made to students and District Health Boards
- $1.9 billion was put aside to save for future New Zealand Superannuation costs
- $1.2 billion represents the non-cash element (such as surpluses retained by SOEs and Crown entities which they can use for future investment).
Once everything is accounted for the Crown's cash surplus for the year was $520 million. This will lower debt and therefore future interest costs ensuring a sound fiscal position in the future.
Many people will be pleased an Intimate Covert Filming Bill that will create offences covering the making, publishing and possessing of voyeuristic recordings has been announced by Justice Minister Phil Goff.
Policy decisions have now been finished and drafting will soon begin on the Bill, which will be introduced early next year.
The Bill is in line with recommendations made by the Law Commission in a report on intimate covert filming earlier this year.
Under the Bill, intentionally or recklessly making, publishing or distributing voyeuristic material recorded without consent will carry a penalty of up to three years imprisonment. Knowingly possessing such material without reasonable cause will become an offence carrying a penalty of up to one year jail.
Cabinet will also shortly consider Privacy Act amendments allowing victims of covert filming to seek redress, as recommended by the Law Commission.
Intimate covert filming is an increasing problem. It is a modern form of peeping and peering, aggravated by technology such as cell phone cameras and computers that make it relatively easy to record and distribute widely what is observed.
Currently there are no provisions specifically prohibiting such behaviour. The Court of Appeal's Living Word decision (2001) makes it clear that the Films, Video and Publications Classification Act cannot be used to censor publications purely because of the circumstances under which images were obtained.
This Bill will make it an offence to surreptitiously film intimate situations involving nudity, partial nudity, or sexual or other intimacy where people would have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Filming under people's clothing, or invading their privacy by covertly recording them in toilets, changing sheds or in their homes is totally unacceptable and must carry criminal sanctions, regardless of how explicit the images are.
International research also shows a correlation between voyeurism and sexual offending, and that it may be a "gateway" offence to more serious offending.
The Bill is consistent with action taken overseas. The United States and the United Kingdom have laws in place, while Canada and New South Wales are also considering similar legislation.
The Māori Farmer of the Year Competition Ahuwhenua Trophy is now into its third year and despite an adverse year with floods this year's competition was again a success.
Entries for the 2005 competition close on January 28 and there will be three regional sections to find next year's finalists, with Wairarapa being included in region 3.
The regional prize package includes farm products or cash to the value of $7500 and the national winner will receive an additional package to the value of $30,000.
Entry forms are available from Te Puni Kokiri and Meat and Wool New Zealand or by phoning 0800 647 000. They are also online at www.meatandwoolnz.com.
Finally my personal congratulations to Tracy Puklowski on her appointment to Te Papa. While this is definitely Aratoi's loss, it is a great move for Tracy. I'd like to thank her for her hard work and commitment during her tenure and offer my best wishes for her future.
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