People's Power in Ohariu - a challenge to MP Peter Dunne on state asset sales.On Saturday the 18th protesters tied ribbons and balloons to every power pole between Ohariu MP Peter Dunne’s Johnsonville electorate office and Parliament. This was the first step in a ‘People’s Power’ campaign in the Ohariu electorate to challenge Peter Dunne’s support of the National Government’s partial state asset sales by setting up a Citizens' Select Committee. Since Peter Dunne's single vote may decide the outcome of the asset sales debate his constituency, and other members of the public, need to be given a forum through which they can have their voices heard.
A YouTube video is available at this link.
On the 1st of March a public meeting at the Johnsonville Community Centre, at 7:45pm. NZ Council of Trade Unions economist Bill Rosenberg will be making a presentation on the sale of state assets and the implications of free trade and investment agreements like the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA). Peter Dunne will be invited to attend the public meeting.
This public meeting will appoint the committee members, who will then be calling for public submissions on asset sales and the TPPA. Last year the Government refused a request to hold a Parliamentary Select Committee on the TPPA.
Written submissions will be invited, and oral submissions will be heard at the Johnsonville Community Centre on Thursday 22 March.
“We have heard the strong opposition to asset sales in the Ohariu electorate”, says John Maynard. “Democracy is not just voting every three years and ours is only one example of the campaigns building in opposition to the selling off of state assets. We are encouraging local voters to support any of the campaigns and we will also be assisting those who may want to make written or oral submissions to the Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee”.
Written submissions of only a few sentences or up to 1000 words can be made anytime before 22 March to:
The Ohariu Citizens’ Select Committee
P O Box 13 367
Johnsonville
Wellington 6037
good, its good that we can hold Peter Dunne accountable to New Zealanders. Asset sales will be a thing of the past soon.
ReplyDeleteAs David Laing introduced Nuclear free [ which I didn't give a fuck about] so too will ordinary new Zealanders finish asset sales.