Covid-19 NZ: National and ACT keen for Parliament to return during lockdown
There is a brewing standoff over whether Parliament should come back next week under level 4, with Judith Collins saying if Breakfast TV could be filmed she couldn’t see why Parliament shouldn’t sit.
Collins said she was fine with the House being suspended for a week but didn’t see why it should stay out of action throughout level 4.
“It’s quite alright for Parliament not to sit next week, but Parliament should sit the week after. We are a democracy,” Collins said.
ACT are also arguing that the House should be able to sit.
As much as it pains me to say it, Judith is right, Parliament has to stay open.
Not in the full house, but some type of oversight Committee that can challenge the Government and continue to hold it to account.
From that perspective ACT & National are completely right however National’s position on this is hardly ethical.
By refusing to give agreement in the Business Committee, National are forcing the PMs hands to declare Parliament shut so National can milk the resulting media backlash and paint it as some type of totalitarian power grab by Labour.
Note ACT are not playing these silly bugger games and that’s why Seymour keeps eclipsing Judith.
Our Democracy demands a process where the Opposition can hold it to account, unfortunately the largest Opposition Party is too focused on manufacturing their next headline outrage by purposefully being obtuse to paint Jacinda our as a dictator.
If Simon Bridges doesn’t take back the Leadership soon there won’t be a Party left to resuscitate.
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If Simon Bridges is to be National’s mesiah they are in worse shape than even I thought! Given the long list of wanna-be leaders, who ever finally steps-up can expect the back-stabbing and leaking to continue, not to mention enduring the wrath of Judith Collins.
Well, its a social gathering nonetheless so they had all better set the example and yell at each other through their masks including Mr Speaker, practice social distancing and make sure they do their covid swabs regularly before sitting!
Either that or all use skype !
Parliament comitees can meet via zoom.
In fact … Since mps are constantly telling us about climate change and the need to within our means ….
Parliament can meet forever on zoom or a more secure nz govt version of zoom.
No more travel perks no more two houses and housing subsidies to wellington. You don’t need to fly anymore you don’t need to be there in person. Sell your wellington house to a charity and unless you’re a minister stay in your electorate.
Turn parliament into a gigantic homeless shelter or sell it to the corporates… They own the occupants anyway.
Ha ha one can dream…. They’d never go for that cos going to wellington and getting pissed makes them feel important and hell half of them would have to give up their mistresses
Brilliant leadership continues, Labour, not National.
John, losers got to hate the PM,i get my second shot on Tuesday at 9.30 am, after that rightwing anti-vaxxer freaks can die in the gutter for all i care
Don’t forget to scan in when you enter the Beehive little dears
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