Indian Newslink 15th May 2017 Digital Edition

06
Electionlink
MAY 15, 2017
Parliamentarians should go beyond ethnic borders
Priyanca Radhakrishnan
There has been much ado
over representation in the
mainstream media recently,
especially since the Labour
Party list was announced.
The diversity debate lies simmering
just beneath the surface, rearing its head
during election years.
Phrases like ‘Identity Politics’ are
bandied about, while some call for
ethnic representation. Others claim that
merit is more important.
Candidates should be there because
they have earned it – as though one
cannot be both competent and ‘ethnic’
and a woman, all at the same time.
Equal Representation
Labour’s Northland candidate, Willow-Jean
Prime was spot on when she
said, in reference to her list ranking, “I
believe that I am there first for my skills
and reputation and my proven ability to
be a hard worker. If you look at my CV
and qualifications and the work I have
done I believe I am there on merit but
I am also happy to be there to ensure
that we have equal representation,
and I am happy to be there as a Maori
representative as well.”
I feel the same. Calibre and competence
have always been the bottom
line when it comes to Labour candidate
selections.
However, there is also a need to
ensure that our caucus reflects Aotearoa
New Zealand’s population.
Authorised by Mahesh Bindra, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
Priyanca Radhakrishnan with Labour Party Leader Andrew Little (Centre) and Labour MP Stuart Nash at the launch of ‘Electionlink’ pages of Indian Newslink held at Raviz
Restaurant in Botany Junction, Auckland on February 28, 2017.
About 12% of the population
identified as Asian in the 2013 Census
and it is important that the highest
decision-making body in the country
reflects this diversity.
Establishing Identity
Every Member of Parliament (MP),
whether an Electorate or List MP, must
be able to engage with and represent
different groups of people.
That is a given, and that is partly
why MPs like Phil Goff and Ross
Robertson were incredibly popular in
their ethnically diverse electorates.
When Michael Wood was campaigning
in the Mt Roskill electorate
by-election to succeed Mr Goff, some
political commentators said that his
ethnicity was a potential barrier to
his success, considering that a large
percentage of the electorate is ‘ethnic.’
They were proven wrong. Michael
Wood won in the by-election held on
December 3, 2016 with a thumping
majority, securing 66.51% (11623) of
the votes polled.
The role-models
Why do we need ethnic representation?
Firstly, role-modelling is important.
Seeing is believing.
Younger generations need role
models who look and sound like them
to know that it is possible. We stand on
the shoulders of those who have gone
before us.
Secondly, the more diverse the
Parliament is, the more experiences and
contexts the House of Representatives
would be able to represent.
Finally, why should we not be at the
table?
New Zealanders from ethnic
minority communities are as capable
and competent as anyone else. We are
not there just to tick the representation
box; we are there because we have the
same right as anyone else to participate
in the political system and the capacity
to be able to do justice.
Beyond community
I am often asked whether I will be a
strong voice for Indians in Parliament.
I firmly believe that all MPs are there
Free Post-School education
promises good times
Labour’s Policy includes training and upskilling
to serve New Zealand more broadly.
However, we also bring with us
different lived experiences, values, skills
and world views. My work experience
as a social worker, human rights
advocate and policy analyst means that I
bring specific skill sets to Parliament.
My work, engaging with ethnic
communities, means that I also bring
a keen understanding of the needs,
concerns, aspirations and hopes of these
communities, including our Indian
communities.
Changing the narrative
Late last year, I was selected by
members of the Labour Party to be
their candidate in the electorate of
Maungakiekie - a seat that is winnable
for Labour.
I am running because the values,
beliefs and principles on which I was
brought up means that I am not afraid to
fight for what is right.
I also believe that I have the skills and
experience to be an effective MP.
I am also doing this because we need
to change the narrative. Political parties
across the spectrum have historically
selected Pakeha candidates for safe and
marginal seats. It is time to change that
and I am proud that Labour is leading
the charge on that front.
Priyanca Radhakrishnan was born
in India, educated in Singapore and
New Zealand. She has been with the
Labour Party for about 11 years in
various capacities. She is the Party’s
candidate in the Maungakiekie
constituency in the general election
scheduled to be held on Saturday,
September 23, 2017.
NEW ZEALAND FIRST LIST MP BASED IN AUCKLAND
BINDRA
MAHESH BINDRA
Spokesperson for: Corrections, Ethnic Affairs, Customs, LINZ
Auckland Office
Level 1, 21 East Tamaki Road, Papatoetoe
Auckland 2025
P: 0800 BINDRA (246 372)
E: mahesh.bindra@parliament.govt.nz nzfirst.org.nz
Chris Hipkins
The workforce in the
future will need to train,
retrain, and possibly
retrain again. Anyone
who cannot or is not given the
opportunity to, risks being left
behind.
Something must change,
and under the next Labour
government, it will.
Free post-school education
Last year, Labour Leader
Andrew Little announced our
plan to introduce three years of
free post-school education for all
New Zealanders.
We are not just talking about
university. The three-year free
plan will cover all forms of
post-school education, including
apprenticeships, trades training,
polytechnic courses, and university
undergraduate degrees.
While some claim that it is too
expensive, most New Zealanders
know that we just cannot afford
not to make this investment in
our future.
With forecasts suggesting that
up to 45% of our current jobs will
disappear within the next two
decades, it is absolutely clear that
we need to provide every New
Zealander who has not yet had
a shot at post-school education
with that opportunity.
Structured Programme
The three year-free post
education will be available to all
school leavers, and it will also be
available to those currently in the
workforce who have not done
any post-school study in the past.
It will be phased in over time,
and will certainly be cheaper than
the tax cuts the current National
government have planned. It’s a
great investment in the future.
As the age profile of our
workforce changes, up-skilling is
going to be more important than
ever.
Today there are roughly five
working age New Zealanders for
every person over 65. Over the
next two decades that ratio will
shrink to almost half.
Given that the superannuation
and healthcare for those over 65
is paid from the taxes of those
still working, it stands to reason
that we need them to be doing
well and earning good incomes.
Skilled Staff
Higher levels of education lead
to higher incomes. That’s a fact.
Higher incomes lead to a higher
tax take by government. That is
also a fact.
Employers have consistently
told us that the biggest issue they
face in growing their business
and improving productivity is
the availability of skilled staff.
That is what this policy will help
address.
Current tertiary education policy
isn’t sustainable. Every year
we lend more under the student
loan scheme than we collect in
repayments, and that’s after 25
years of student borrowing. Total
loan debt will shortly clock $15b
and it’s still growing. The average
amount borrowed per student
also continues to climb as fees are
ratcheted up every year.
Removing inequities
Labour will always focus
on providing support to those
who need extra help, but we are
also committed to tackling the
root causes of inequality and
disadvantage.
Access to quality, free education
massively levels the playing
field. Of course, we will invest
in early childhood education and
schooling too - watch this space.
Just as the First Labour
Government recognised that
secondary education was needed
by everyone, we have recognised
that in today’s world, post-secondary
education and training is
essential.
Up-front investment in free
post-school education will create
a stronger, more productive and
inclusive economy.
The initial outlay will be more
than fully repaid.
Whereas National wants to
give the short-term sugar hit
of tax cuts, we want to use that
money to build a stronger future
for all New Zealanders through
this policy.
Every New Zealander deserves
the chance to better themselves
and fulfil their hopes and dreams.
This is about an investment in our
future as a country.
Chris Hipkins is an elected
Member of Parliament from
Rimutaka and Labour Party’s
Spokesman for Education.