Launch in new window

YOBS - Wasted

You are here

ACT's Simon Court

Our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, every Monday on The Wire. 

 

 

Our weekly catch-up with the Minister of Health and Pacific Peoples, Dr Shane Reti.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Virtual Parliament Sittings and Closed Butchers: September 1, 2021

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Virtual Parliament Sittings and Closed Butchers: September 1, 2021 ACT's Brooke van Velden on Virtual Parliament Sittings and Closed Butchers: September 1, 2021, 10.56 MB
Wed 1 Sep 2021

This week Zazi talks to Brooke about ACT refusing to have Parliament sit virtually and Butchers being closed during lockdown. 

On Friday, the National Party and the ACT Party rejected a proposal for a virtual Parliament, saying that democracy needs to be in-person to work. And as a result, in-person Parliament sittings have been conducted this week.

Zazi starts by asking Brooke why she thinks in-person Parliament sittings are necessary, even at level 3 and 4, when there is a virtual alternative. 

In the second half, Brooke goes on to talk about Butchers only being able to conduct contactless delivery during lockdown. She talks about supermarkets, lockdown restrictions, and the risk of transmission. 

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Parliament Sittings being Temporarily Suspended and Level 4 Lockdown: August 25, 2021

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Parliament Sittings being Temporarily Suspended and Level 4 Lockdown: August 25, 2021 ACT's Brooke van Velden on Parliament Sittings being Temporarily Suspended and Level 4 Lockdown: August 25, 2021, 20.11 MB
Wed 25 Aug 2021

On Monday The Prime Minister announced that the sitting of Parliament will be suspended for a week, due to COVID-19 restrictions. 

Other political parties since, have spoken publicly about this decision, so Zazi asked Brooke about the ACT Party's opinion in a little more detail. 

She began by asking Brooke if the ACT Party thinks it was the right decision that Parliament sittings be suspended for a week.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on NZ's Lockdown and the 48 Hour Vaccination Pause: August 18, 2021.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on New Zealand's Lockdown and the 48 Hour Vaccination Pause: August 18, 2021. , 10.06 MB
Wed 18 Aug 2021

As of last night, all of New Zealand entered an Alert Level 4 Lockdown, due to one community case that has now been confirmed to have the Delta variant. New Zealand is now being told to stay in their bubble, stay safe and to act as though they already have COVID-19 to reduce the spread of the virus. 

As well as this, Jacinda Ardern announced last night that all vaccinations will be paused for 48 hours to allow them to be undertaken safely. 

So today, Zazi spoke to ACT Party’s Brooke van Velden to hear her thoughts on New Zealand’s Alert Level 4 Lockdown, as well as talk to her about the vaccinations being paused for 48 hours.

 

ACT's Brooke van Velden on the Waikato Power Outage and Hate Speech Laws: August 11, 2021

ACT's Brooke van Velden on the Waikato Power Outage and Hate Speech Laws: August 11, 2021 ACT's Brooke van Velden on the Waikato Power Outage and Hate Speech Laws: August 11, 2021, 15.16 MB
Wed 11 Aug 2021

This week Zazi and Brooke have their regular chat, talking about the lights going out in Waikato earlier this week and the Government's recently proposed Hate Speech laws against incitement, hatred and discrimination. 

Zazi starts off by asking Brooke about the power outage in Waikato. She asks Brooke about the ACT party's reaction to it, New Zealand's current sources that are used to generate electricity and whether this power outage should start another conversation about reducing our use of, or better distributing, electricity. 

Brooke and Zazi then briefly speak on the recently proposed Hate Speech laws, discussing the ACT party's submission and whether Brooke believes that there is a way we can protect free speech and address Hate speech at the same time. 

ACT's Brooke van Velden on the Conversion Practices Bill and the Auckland Cycle Bridge: August 4, 2021.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on the Conversion Practices Bill and the Auckland Cycle Bridge: August 4, 2021. , 22.27 MB
Wed 4 Aug 2021

This week Zazi spoke to Brooke about the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill and the Auckland cycle bridge. 

On the 30th of July, the Government announced The Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill, following through with Labour's election promise to ban gay conversion therapy. To begin with, Brooke spoke about the Party’s stance on this bill, why they have hesitations, and what they would like the next step to be in terms of developing the bill further.

In the second half, Zazi and Brooke talk about the Auckland cycle bridge, its Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR), and whether Brooke believes that catering to cyclists is important. 

ACT's Brooke van Velden on White Privilege in Education and the Government spending thousands on Covid-19 Polling: July 28, 2021.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on White Privilege in Education and the Government spending thousands on Covid-19 Polling: July 28, 2021. , 32.44 MB
Wed 28 Jul 2021

This week Zazi talks to Brooke about the Te Hurihanganui Professional Development Programme for Educators, and how the ACT party believes there is a 'white privilege agenda' behind it. 

In the second half, Zazi and Brooke discuss the Government spending more than $250,000 polling United Against Covid-19 branding and campaign. 

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Paul Goulter's Appointment and the Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF): July 21, 2021.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Paul Goulter's Appointment and the Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF): July 21, 2021. , 36.11 MB
Wed 21 Jul 2021

This week Zazi talks to Brooke about Paul Goulter's appoitnment and the Public Interest Journalism Fund (PIJF). 

Zazi starts by asking Brooke why the ACT party has an issue with Paul Goulter being appointed as one of the new directors on the Air New Zealand board. She brings up Grant Robertson, Labour's relationship with unionists, and Paul Goulter's merits.

Brooke then covers ACT's stance on why the party has concerns over the government funding news outlets and journalism. 

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Koha for a Drug Rehabilitation Centre and Jobs for Nature: July 14, 2021

ACT's Brooke van Velden on Koha for a Drug Rehabilitation Centre and Jobs for Nature: July 14, 2021 ACT's Brooke van Velden on Koha for a Drug Rehabilitation Centre and Jobs for Nature: July 14, 2021, 16.48 MB
Wed 14 Jul 2021

 

Today on the Wire, Zazi talks to the ACT party's Brooke van Velden about a Government funded rehabiliation programme and Brooke's thoughts on its association to the Mongrel Mob. 

Brooke then goes on to talk about the Jobs for Nature programme, and the ACT party's current concerns with the amount of money it has spent.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on He Puapua, Māori businesses and problematic terms: July 7, 2021

ACT's Brooke van Velden on He Puapua, Māori businesses and problematic terms: July 7, 2021 ACT's Brooke van Velden on He Puapua, Māori businesses and problematic terms: July 7, 2021, 25.07 MB
Wed 7 Jul 2021

This week James puts the hard questions to Brooke with his final chat primarily around the rights and support of indigenous people.

James starts of by talking about He Puapua and the United Nations Decleration of Rights for Indigenous Peoples, which ACT has opposed.

James then challenges Brooke and the ACT parties views on supporting Māori businesses through governement bids.

To finish off his tenure, James asks why the ACT party uses terms such as 'divisive' and 'ethno-state'.

ACT's Brooke van Velden on The Compensation of Waikeria Prisoners & Proposed Hate Speech Laws: June 30, 2021

ACT's Brooke van Velden on The Compensation of Waikeria Prisoners & Proposed Hate Speech Laws: June 30, 2021 ACT's Brooke van Velden on The Compensation of Waikeria Prisoners & Proposed Hate Speech Laws: June 30, 2021, 22.11 MB
Wed 30 Jun 2021

This week James talks with Brooke about the compensation of Waikeria prisoners and proposed hate speech laws.

ACT has opposed the compensation of prisoners and has recently said that if prisoners are compensated, all voctims should be compensated.

Brooke then explains the ACT party's stance on hate speech and the porposed laws, as well as how the governement has communicated it so far.