EMBARGOED UNTIL 12:00 AM, SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2013

DUNNE MARKS 100 DAYS IN EXILE

This weekend UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne is marking 100 days in exile since his Ministerial resignation by setting out the major issues he has been involved in since then:

They include:
·         The passage of the Psychoactive Substances Bill which he developed as Associate Minister of Health to regulate the legal highs industry;
·         The release of a Government Discussion Paper on UnitedFuture’s flagship FlexiSuper policy, allowing people to take a reduced rate of superannuation from age 60, or an increased rate if they defer to up to age 70;
·         The preparation of a Member’s Bill to require the Electoral Commission to count on-line party memberships for party registration purposes;
·         Securing significant amendments to the GCSB legislation to make it more transparent and accountable, and subject to review every five years;
·         Working jointly with the Māori Party to stop the government’s proposed changes to the principles and purposes of the Resource Management Act;
·         UnitedFuture’s re-registration as a political party by the Electoral Commission, and re-recognition by the Speaker as a Parliamentary party;
·         Obtaining government assurances that the establishment of the Game Animal Council and the phasing out of heli-hunting remain priorities;
·         Lobbying the Minister of Police over proposed changes to the Arms Act regarding “free standing pistol grips” which adversely affect recreational shooters (over 1,000 messages received so far on this, compared to a total of 393 on the GCSB Bill);
·         Securing a commitment from the Police regarding the location of the Regional Crime Squad at the Johnsonville Police Station.
“While I am not as busy as I was as a Minister, the last 100 days have still been pretty full.

“However, I am frustrated that not being a Minister is making it a little harder to implement  fully the provisions of the National/UnitedFuture confidence and supply agreement.

“I have also been active on many local issues, such as care of the elderly in the wake of the Malvina Major Retirement Village incident, and many individual constituent cases.

“And then there has been the ongoing saga of the ill-fated, voyeuristic Henry inquiry …..,” he says.

Mr Dunne joked that achieving a successful solution to the Syrian crisis was on his next 100 days agenda.

“That might be easier than bringing the warring factions of the Labour Party together after the leadership vote,” he says.

Ends

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