Welcome to this edition of An Update from Kate! This is my chance to let you know what is going on around the Waimakariri Electorate and in Parliament.

In the House

The Electoral Finance Bill:

In an almost unprecedented move, the last week has seen New Zealand’s biggest daily newspaper publicly slam the Electoral Finance Bill as a major danger to our democracy and freedom of speech.

National has been campaigning for months against this travesty of a bill, because we recognise the very real threat it poses to New Zealanders rights to freely express their political opinion.

The bill is Labour’s desperate bid to retain power and attempts to regulate political debate for an outrageous one year in every three. From the moment you wake up on January 1st next year, we will be in an election period where free speech is tightly restricted and regulated. 

This would mean that third parties – in other words everyone who isn’t a politician, would be extremely constrained in how they participate in the political process and speak out on issues that affect them.

This attack on our democracy is not acceptable and all New Zealanders should be concerned.

Flexible Working Arrangements:

Last week Sue Kedgley’s Employment Relations (Flexible Working Arrangements) Bill passed its third reading.

While the National Party opposed this Bill, we do believe in the principle of flexible working hours. Employees and employers already bargain in good faith over flexible working arrangements and we wanted to see that practice continue.

We feel that the legislation is unnecessary. It will actually work against the provision of truly flexible working hours. Instead of being able to raise flexible working hours with their employer whenever they like, employees will only have one opportunity to do that in any given year.

National remains unconvinced that the addition of yet another prescriptive piece of employment law will increase the number of people getting flexible working arrangements, as it does nothing to increase the ability of businesses to provide these arrangements.

In the Electorate:

It’s been a busy time in the electorate with a number of visits by National Party MP’s, including Tau Henare, Anne Tolley and our leader, John Key all visiting Waimakariri in the past three months.

Each visit was a tremendous success, and a great opportunity for locals to meet the National Party team.

I am continuing to hold my regular clinics, which are a great opportunity for me to get out and about in the electorate and meet with those that aren’t always able to come and see me at the Rangiora Office.

The last clinic for the year is scheduled:

Monday 10th December, 10.00am – Kaiapoi, at the Kaiapoi Library.

Would be great to see you there!

Cheers,

 Kate Wilkinson
National MP

Posted by staff in Newsletter at 14:05

Labour Minister Trevor Mallard needs to explain why Kiwi taxpayers are effectively subsidising the coal industry in China, when China is the world’s top producer and consumer of coal.

“National’s all for proper workplace safety training, but why are Kiwi taxpayers subsidising a multi-billion dollar Chinese coal industry?”

Ms Wilkinson is responding to union attacks on a statement she issued earlier today, where she revealed the Labour Department had given the Council of Trade Unions $84,711 for ‘Safety Training for Safety Representatives in Chinese Coal Mines’.

Officials have described the Chinese coal mining subsidy as a ‘type of aid project’, said it ‘helps us utilise expertise that we already have’, and that they’d continue to consider any proposal for funding this sort of ‘international collaboration’.

“Here we have a situation where scarce taxpayer dollars are being spent improving the safety of Chinese coal mines.  While that is a worthy goal – I’m sure Kiwi taxpayers would prefer their money was being spent improving New Zealanders’ workplace safety.

“Surely even the EPMU’s mining members would prefer those taxpayer dollars were focussed on improving safety in New Zealand mines rather than mines in China.”

Ms Wilkinson utterly rejects the claim that the Labour Government’s decision to subsidise the Chinese coal industry has nothing to do with climate change.

“China is the world’s top producer and consumer of coal.  Coal accounted for 76 per cent of China's energy needs in 2005. Given that Labour has put a ban on thermal generation here in New Zealand, the subsidy being offered to the Chinese coal industry simply can’t be justified.”

Posted by staff at 13:55

National Party Labour & Industrial Relations spokeswoman Kate Wilkinson says taxpayers will be surprised to learn that their money is being used to train coal miners in China.

Ms Wilkinson is referring to answers given at a select committee today, where the Labour Department confirmed it had given the Council of Trade Unions $84,711 for ‘Safety Training for Safety Representatives in Chinese Coal Mines’.

The funding was obtained from the Government's contestable Growth and Innovation Fund, through a bidding process.

Officials have described the Chinese coal mining subsidy as a ‘type of aid project’, said it ‘helps us utilise expertise that we already have’, and that they’d continue to consider any proposal for funding this sort of ‘international collaboration’.

Ms Wilkinson says Kiwi taxpayers will clearly be surprised to learn that the New Zealand Government is effectively subsidising the Chinese coal industry.

“How does that square with Labour’s position on carbon neutrality and greenhouse gases?”

Ms Wilkinson says Labour Minister Trevor Mallard needs to say whether he supports the continued Kiwi contribution to China’s coal industry.

“I’m quite certain New Zealanders would question whether this was a wise spend of their money.  Aren’t there workplace safety issues in New Zealand that could do with taxpayer help?”

Posted by staff at 13:51