The leader of the Labour party talks politics from the sunny steps of parliament today. Issues discussed include a possible grand coalition deal between National and Labour on the Emissions Trading Scheme, Mining on Department of Conservation Land and the Super City.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on Mining, Emissions and Super City
Labour leader Phil Goff tackles the political issues of the day including a possible review of legal aid, Fiji booted out of the commonwealth (again) and gang patches in Wanganui.
Labour leader Phil Goff reflects on what went wrong with a terrible week that saw what could have been popular messages turn into blunders.
Goff blames National’s spin machine for sending the media off message when he floated the idea that workers sacked during the recession should get the dole and the unemployed man who was supposed to be the poster boy for Labour’s dole plan backfired. Goff does concede that the delivery of last week’s message could have been better and there are lessons to be learnt.
The Government announced yesterday it was ditching the planned Waterview tunnel in favour of a surface motorway. Phil Goff is outraged at the decision and says the Government has been using creative accounting to make the tunnel project look unaffordable.
The new project will probably require the demolition of almost 500 homes and will also destroy the existing green belt. Mr Goff says this move will not bode well for Melissa Lee who is trying to get elected in Mt Albert on the National ticket. Also discussed was Christine Rankin’s appointment to the Families Commission.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on rage
The opposition leader is having a tough time getting noticed and recognised as the new leader of the Labour Party and as a viable option for Prime Minister.
In a TV3 poll Phil Goff rated below Helen Clark as preferred PM. So what is he going to do to lift his ratings? The Labour campaign for the Mt Albert seat has begun in earnest but there is currently no candidate. And did the Labour Government do enough to protect New Zealand against the Swine?
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Labour leader Phil Goff says the Pacific Island’s forum needs to step up and carry through on it’s threats of smart sanctions against Fiji.
Mr Goff made the call after Fiji authorities expelled three foreign journalists and arrested a local reporter in a crackdown on reporting of the nation’s political upheaval. Mr Goff also called on Fijian peacekeepers to be withdrawn from their duties outside of Fiji but stopped short of calling for economic sanctions against the rogue state though suggests John Key enter into talks with partners in the EU and the US who provide aid money to Fiji.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on the problem with Fiji
The Labour leader say that the party will be selecting a strong candidate to face off whoever National chooses to run in the soon to be vacated Mt Albert seat when Helen Clark takes up her new job at the United Nations. Mr Goff also answers the accusation from investigative journalist Ian Wishart that Helen and the Labour Government effectively bought Helen’s job at the UN through increased Aid donations over their term in power. Mr Goff also reports that he has just returned from a progressive solution summit in Chile.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on the progressive solution
Last week The Business Roundtable said any climate change measures should wait until economic recovery is firmly established. However Labour leader Phil Goff says there is no time to delay in implementing a “New Green Deal” and to tackle climate change with bold initiatives that also create jobs.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on The New Green Deal