INL Digital Edition April 15, 2020

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02 APRIL 15, 2020 Homelink Bill on voting rights to offenders should be scrapped Fast-tracking an erroneous Bill is beyond reason Manish Tanna It has been in the news that the government is considering to fast track the Electoral (Registration of Sentenced Prisoners) Amendment Bill in the coming weeks. This move is an incomprehensible move during a global health crisis of unprecedented dimensions. JUST SERVICES - First Home/Investment Property Loans - Refinance/Top-up/Business/Commercial Loans - Life/Trauma/Medical Insurance - TPD/Mortgage/Income Protection - Business/Commercial Insurance - Small to Medium Business Tax Returns - Rental Property Returns/LTC Setup - Equipment Finance/Car & Truck Loans HEAD OFFICE 35 Morningside Drive, St. Lukes Mt. Albert, Auckland Ph: 09 846 9934, Fax: 09-846 9936 ONE BRANCH OFFICE Level 1/203 Great South Road Manurewa Auckland www.professionalfinancial.co.nz | Email: info@pfsl.co.nz PLACE FOR ALL FINANCIAL SERVICES YOU NEED Mortgage Brokers Insurance Brokers Accountants Asset Finance Brokers Professional Financial Solutions provides the best advice on all financial matters FOR YOUR BUSINESS & LIABILITY INSURANCE Call or make an appointment for FREE QUOTE to review your current insurance Contact Ram P: 09-846 9934 | E: info@aimassociates.co.nz Ram Vashist M: 021 401 535 It is a move that stems from dubious intentions of giving rights to people who have violated laws, while denying the nation a reasonable opportunity to scrutinise the Bill in the public forum. Timing of the Bill Covid-19 is a crisis that has dwarfed all the global issues for the last few months. At the moment, the only problem that is concerning humanity is how to combat this pandemic. Many countries, including New Zealand, are in lockdown. At a time when all non-essential travel is banned, public gatherings are restricted, most avenues for a healthy exchange of opinions in groups are severely limited, an attempt Ravi Mehta M: 021 181 0076 Rohit Takyar M: 021 172 8962 Alpana Gupta M: 021 159 3453 PROFESSIONAL FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS GROUP Professional Financial Solutions Ltd. Aim Associates Ltd. to fast track a Bill is being made, which has no urgency whatsoever. Even after the Alert Level-4 lockdown is over, there is a real chance of an economic recession. The current restrictions will leave many Kiwis without a livelihood, and they will be focusing on real issues like food for their whanau, job security, paying rent and supporting their community. The only reason that any government would even think of bringing in such legislation at this time, would be that their priorities are totally mixed up. At a time when it is feared that more than 100,000 law-abiding, tax-paying, New Zealanders will need additional government support, there is no reason to bring this Bill, which will affect less than 11,000 convicts serving time in correctional facilities. Background to the Bill In 1993, the New Zealand Parliament unanimously voted to ban voting for convicts serving sentences of three years or longer. In 2010, the scope was increased to all convicts. I understand that the High Court and Supreme Court have subsequently ruled that the required majority to make such a change was not met, and hence the law was violating the Bill of Rights. This Government had more than fourteen months to rectify the error by presenting the same Bill of 2010 and get it passed through the Parliament. Instead, the Government has chosen to pass a Bill allowing prisoners to vote. I have genuine concerns about the intent of the proposed law change. Crime and Punishment In our country, a person is sent to the correctional facilities only for serious offending as most convictions result in fines and/or community service. I quote from a Ministry of Justice: “Adults convicted in 2017 were most likely to receive a monetary sentence (33%; 21,190 adults) or a community work sentence (22%; 14,171 adults) as their most serious sentence. 13% of convicted adults received an imprisonment sentence, 19% other types of community sentences, 6% ‘other’ types of sentences, and 5% had no sentence recorded.” This clearly shows that imprisonment is reserved for severe offences like assault, rape, murder and the like. These convicts have violated the civil rights of their victims and traumatised their families, in some cases even snatching their loved ones forever. Detestable provisions Morally and logically, the provisions of this Bill are detestable as it gives those who have violated human rights, broken the constitutional provisions, and have scant respect for humanity an equal footing as the law-abiding majority. Logically, there could be a time when convicts could influence the legislation in Parliament, as those who have completed their sentence do not necessarily become law-abiding citizens, given the high rate of re-offending prevalent in our country. This Bill should be opposed at all levels and a ground swell should force the government to pass the 2010 amendment appropriately so that the voice of reason doesn’t get drowned in the over-enthusiastic din of liberal and pseudo-inclusive rhetoric that dominates the narrative in media and public life in present age. Manish Tanna is Deputy Chair of the National Party’s Manukau East Electorate Editor’s Note: Justice Minister Andrew Little introduced the Bill to Parliament on February 25, 2020. It passed the first reading on March 18, 2020 and Parliament referred the Bill to the Justice Select Committee with its report due on June 24, 2020. This Select Committee comprises eight Members of Parliament, four each from the Labour Party and National Party. Public submissions are now open- until April 24, 2020. Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi National List MPbased in Manukau East Contact A P F E 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe, Auckland 09 278 9302 09 278 2143 bakshi.mp@parliament.govt.nz facebook.com/bakshiks @bakshiks bakshi.co.nz Funded by the Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi MP, 1/131 Kolmar Road, Papatoetoe.
APRIL 15, 2020 Homelink Debate rages over exiting Level 4 as Covid-19 cases fall But many urge caution to avoid the second wave Venkat Raman The number of new Coronavirus cases fell to 17 (of which only eight were confirmed) as per reports at 1 pm on April 14, 2020 prompting calls from several quarters to pull out of Alert 4 but Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that the lockdown will run its full course until April 22, 2020. “We are working with various officials and experts and I hope to make an announcement as to where we stand on Monday, April 20, 2020. Now is not the time to squander the good work that every one has put over the last 20 days,” she said speaking to reporters at the Beehive Theatre following the remotely held weekly Cabinet meeting. Media performance questioned However, the lengths to which freedom of speech can extend is being heard on talkback shows across the country. “Denmark is moving out of lockdown, why can’t we?” one talkback host asked Ms Ardern. But the facts are otherwise. The Danish government has announced that children up to 12 years of age can return to school two days after Easter and that some employees can return to work but under strict conditions. The country’s borders are however closed. Parents are already resisting, saying that they do not want children to become experiments. Another expert said, “Since doctors and nurses can wear masks and other gear and work together with patients, we should also be allowed to work in our offices.” There is increasing opinion that some of our media commentators and media companies are irresponsible and scare-mongering. People and government Opinion Polls suggest that a majority of New Zealanders support Ms Ardern and her government. “We are breaking the chain, but this is not the time to take the leg off the pedal. We are studying a number of scenarios of the post Covid-19 period. Meanwhile, the government will announce further financial incentives for small and medium companies. We are also aware of the hardship caused to our large media companies. We are talking to them,” she said. New Zealand recorded four deaths on Monday, April 13, 2020, taking the total number of the virus fatalities to nine. The number of people who have recovered was placed at 628. “This is a reminder of how much worse the spread and death toll would have been had we not taken the action to break the chain of infection,” Ms Ardern said. She said there had been 1452 breaches of the level 4 rules, and Police had made 169 prosecutions. Cash pay out to Students Ms Ardern said that many students will be able to borrow an additional amount of $1000 on their student loan to tide them over the difficulties they may be facing in the current situation. “The increase to the student loan amount available is part of a wider support package for tertiary students who may be struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said. Full-time students will be able to borrow up to $2000, up from the current $1000, for course-related costs. The government will continue support payments for students unable to study on-line for up to eight weeks. It will also change the rules so no-one will be disadvantaged if they have to abandon their study this year because of Covid-19, for example under the fees free scheme. Certainty in education Education Minister Chris Hipkins said that the government wanted to give students as much certainty as possible so that they can continue to engage in their education. “They will be supported adequately until such time that tertiary education providers ● First Home ● Investment Property ● Residential or Commercial ● Building / Extending / Renovating ● Re-Finance/ Restructure ● Buying an Apartment ● Low Deposit ● Self Employed ● Business Loan ● Property Development For all your home loan and insurance needs talk to us... Rakesh Bansal Era Bansal Manisha Kumar Jatinder Singh 021 030 8135 021 066 7598 021 154 4327 info@kiwimortgages.net.nz era@kiwimortgages.net.nz Jatinder@kiwimortgages.net.nz Ex-Banker for years Ex-Banker for years Toll Free: 0508 33 22 11 M:021 030 8135 09 903 3602 116b,Cavendish Drive, Manukau City E:info@kiwimortgages.net.nz | w:www.kiwimortgages.net.nz 03 can put in place alternative ways of delivering teaching and learning,” he said. The initiative will allow students who cannot access their courses online to receive their student loan payments as normal throughout the four-week lockdown period, and for up to four weeks thereafter. “This flexibility is already available for student living allowances,” Mr Hipkins said. Domestic students enrolled in full-time tertiary study can access these supports from April 15, 2020. The total cost of the package is $133 million. Mr Hipkins said that the student loan changes are being financed from the Covid-19 Response and Recovery Fund and the fees related changes can be met from existing budgets. Contact us for FREE consultation Accounting and Taxes ● Are you up-to-date with your end of year accounts and tax returns? ● Are you paying the right amount of tax? ● Are you growing the value of business? ● Is your business struggling to make profit? ● Have you priced your products or services correctly? 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