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PM's Press Conference 26/9/16: Syrian Peace And Fishy Advice
PM's Press Conference 26/9/16: Syrian Peace And Fishy Advice
Prime Minister John Key began his weekly press conference by discussing his chairing of last week's UN Security Council meeting on Syria, to 'focus the world's attention' on the crisis. He described subsequent attacks on civilians in Aleppo as 'despicable' and said New Zealand would do all it could to end the conflict in our remaining three months as Security Council chair. During questions he said he did not expect a political settlement in Syria to include Assad long term and would require institutions capable of supporting peace.
Key welcomed the priority the US administration was giving to passing the TPP. He later said he was "uncertain but optimistic" that this might be achieved and the process was defintely not dead in the water. Key also mentioned his speech to the Council on Foreign Relations and said he had indicated the trade positions of both US Presidential Candidates would be a step backward for free trade. He reported positive discussions on trade with EU and Saudi Arabian representatives.
Other topics included National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi's "unfortunate turn of phrase" regarding Indian students, the Supreme Court ruling against Corrections' calculation of prison sentences (cabinet had yet to receive 'full' legal advice), the report into MPI's non-prosecution of commercial fish-dumping (he understood the report to have concluded one case, where MPI though evidence was not admissible, could have been prosecuted), the Electricity Authority's plans for transmission charge changes, the non-urgency of negotiations on the Kermdec sanctuary, low decile school students taking more non-academic NCEA credits, the Ngāpuhi treaty negotiation mandate, Australia's adoption of the social investment welfare model, mandatory Māori local body seats in the Taranaki settlement (the question was referred to the Treaty Negotiations Minister), renters being priced out of the housing market (Key suggested some might afford a $400,000 house), and Helen Clark's chances in the next UN Secretary-General straw poll.
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