ACT's Simon Court

The government has announced that it will introduce legislation for a four year parliamentary term - subject to referendum. 

Most parties are largely in favour of a four year term - feeling that it gives more opportunity to develop policy and make changes. 

As part of their coalition deal, the ACT party designed a caveat to be included in the legislation that would put more ‘checks and balances’ on the government. 

This essentially means the opposition would have more powers in select committees. If this legislation is passed and voted on, a four year government term would not be mandatory - but would instead be decided after the government was elected. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about the legislation and why the party supports a four year term. 

They also talked about the government giving retailers and members of the public more power to detain shoplifters under legislative reforms. Otherwise known as citizens' arrests.

ACT MP Simon Court has come under fire in the last few days for comments he made to a submitter in a select committee meeting about menstrual products. 

During a hearing on benefit sanctions a female submitter was outlining concerns about period poverty and the impacts menstrual products can have on a low-income family budget. 

In response to these concerns Court asked if she was aware of, or had people around her aware of, a menstrual cup - outlining its cost and where to buy it. He was heavily criticised by Te Pati Maori, and later Labour for ‘mansplaining’, calling his comments ‘deeply offensive’ as he doubled down. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party Producer Evie spoke to Simon Court about these comments. They also spoke about the Destiny Church protest at Auckland Pride over the weekend, as well as the Director General of Health’s resignation, the third key health role resignation in recent weeks. 

A rampant item in the news headlines late last year was David Seymour's promise to cut costs but revamping the Ka Ora Ka Ako healthy school lunch programme. 

He claimed that by changing to larger providers $1.5 million would be saved. Now the school year has officially kicked back off, the lunches have been put into action. 

But last week, hundreds of students in Auckland were left hungry, when their lunches arrived hours late. Teachers pitched in their own money to feed the children and hoped for a better outcome after voicing their complaints. The next day, the industrial kitchens the lunches were cooked in experienced technical issues… delaying the lunches delivery until after lunchtime once again. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director, and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Simon Court about these issues. 

They also asked him about the first Oral Submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill which began last week. As well as comments made by Shane Jones and Winston Peters, attacking migrant MPs.

Last week officially marked one year since the coalition government came into power. 

It’s been a busy year for all three parties, with many new bills introduced, and many more repealed or abolished. 

For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie checks in with Simon Court to see how well the party thinks they’ve done this past year. We explore what they have and haven’t been able to do, and whether they’ll continue to push for these things throughout the rest of their term in government. As well as how well the coalition parties have been working together. 

She also asks about the government's gang patch ban legislation coming into effect, and how effective it’s really going to be.