The Alliance Party says the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) could lock New Zealand into a future where economic and political decisions are made by and for a small elite.
Negotiators having been working on this trade deal since 2007 and met in Auckland this week to have another go at hammering out an agreement.
Alliance Party co-leader Kay Murray says we should not be so naïve as to imagine that anything good for New Zealanders will come out of the TPPA. Continue reading
The Alliance Party says the announced closure of Hillside railway workshops cannot be justified on cost grounds at the same time as KiwiRail is pumping cash into corporate salaries. Continue reading
The Alliance Party is appalled but unsurprised at KiwiRail’s announcement that they are to close Dunedin’s Hillside Workshops, making 90 workers redundant.
“We don’t accept this decision,” says Alliance Party co leader and former South Dunedin candidate Kay Murray.
Ms Murray says the Government must intervene right now to demand that KiwiRail keep Hillside workshop open and build their rolling stock there.
She says it is not too late to save Hillside if the political will is there. Continue reading
Dear Minister,
The Alliance Party urges the government not to sign New Zealand up to the Trans-Pacific Agreement. We are convinced this agreement is a major threat to democracy and the sovereignty of all countries involved. It will allow large multinational companies to run roughshod over elected governments and operate contrary to the wishes of the people of the country. We see evidence that this has already begun in New Zealand in the threats of legal action by the big tobacco companies to prevent plain packaging for cigarettes. Continue reading
The Alliance Party is concerned about amount of misinformation circulating about the long term unemployment. It is time for a bit of honesty both from the government and employers. Continue reading
New Zealand is widely credited with being the first country in the world to introduce a social welfare system at the beginning of last century. Once again we are leading the way in welfare but this time not in a good way, the Alliance Party believes. We have become the first country to commission an actuarial valuation of our benefit system for working age adults. Continue reading
Kevin Campbell, Alliance Party co-leader
More New Zealanders will go cold if the National Government is allowed to sell shares in our power companies.
Providing New Zealanders with affordable and reliable electricity would be secondary to providing shareholders with the maximum return on their investment. The asset sales plans have understandably met with massive opposition from New Zealanders.
Now these plans have been delayed, and are looking even more shaky and shonky.
This is the time to make sure that asset sales, including our power companies, are stopped for good. Continue reading
Alliance Party Co-Leader and former MP Kevin Campbell says the decision by the Government to keep Government appointed Commissioners in charge of the Canterbury Regional Council is a further blow for the spirits of the people of Canterbury. Continue reading
It is time to accept that rail is an essential public service, necessary to build communities and facilitate industries. Rail is there to serve the public good. It will never be a cash cow, according to Alliance co-leader Kay Murray. Ms Murray says “What KiwiRail needs to be is a high quality accessible rail network that moves both people and freight safely and efficiently.” Continue reading
The government says domestic power prices will not rise steeply if shares are sold in the three publicly owned power companies, but can they guarantee it? And what if they are wrong? This has the Alliance Party worried, according to co leader Kay Murray.