ACT's Simon Court

Last week the Government released its five point climate action plan. This follows recent decisions from the government such as a reversal on the oil and gas exploration ban, and the removal of the clean car discount, both of which have been met with backlash from many environmental groups. 

For our weekly catch up I spoke to the ACT party’s Simon Court about this climate action plan. We also talk about renewed calls from the party to abolish the Human rights commission. As well as a new member's bills that would prohibit regional councils from considering climate change in their decisions. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT party, Wire host Sofia Roger Williams spoke with ACT MP Laura Trask. She started the interview asking about the over 6000 public service roles that have already gone, or are expected to go. 

With the number expected to continue to climb, last week ACT Party leader David Seymour said he thinks the government has still not slashed enough public service roles. 

Additionally, she asked Laura about the government introducing a new Young Serious Offender declaration in an effort to reduce youth offending. 

This could see some serious youth offenders being sent to a military style academy, or bootcamp, which have been met by criticism for their failure to address root causes of youth offending. 

Lastly, she asked her about the parliamentary select committee recommending last week that the Māori wards bill go ahead. 

The bill, which would reverse changes made to increase Māori representation in local government by reverting the Māori ward rules to restore the referendum mechanism, has also been met with criticism, namely with the Waitangi Tribunal saying it breaches Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

Last week, the coalition government confirmed it would deliver on its election commitment to take agriculture out of the Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Emissions Trading Scheme is a key tool for meeting New Zealand’s domestic and international climate change targets, by requiring businesses to measure and report on their greenhouse gas emissions, to surrender one ‘emissions unit’ to the Government for each one tonne of emissions they emit and by limiting the number of emissions units available to emitters.

Wire host Sofia Roger Williams asked the ACT Party’s Simon Court about this in terms of upholding New Zealand’s international obligations as well as how the new Pastoral Sector Group will tackle biogenic methane. 

She also asked Simon about reports of the ACT Party’s ‘culture of fear’ in its election campaign leadership and how the party is addressing them. 

Lastly, she asked about the ACT Party’s rally last Sunday where ACT leader David Seymour set a goal of 15% of the vote at the 2026 election. 

Last week ACT Party Leader, David Seymour, announced 153 million dollars in funding for the establishment of 50 charter schools. This covers 15 brand new schools and the conversion of 35 state schools. 

Between 2011 and 2017 less than 20 charter schools were open in Aotearoa, before they were disestablished by the Labour government in 2018. Seymour himself has said that previously the schools were both difficult to establish and run. 

For our weekly interview with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to MP Simon Court about what will be different this time, and why the party thinks these schools are the best option. 

They also talked about some recent conflicts of interests that have arisen surrounding the already contested Fast Track approvals bill.