BayBuzz - Be in the know

1. What is the most important perception – or misperception or baggage – your party needs to overcome to earn more votes in October?

“Time for a Change” – a change to what? Paying for quality education for the kids, paying for good public health services, no more roads built, sale of KiwiRail, Sale of ACC, Sale of KiwiSaver. I don’t think so.

[BayBuzz: To the suggestion that Labour might not be listening, or is out of touch after nine years, Fairbrother replies with a list of local improvements - from the Meeanee Road overpass to additional school funding - that he would argue demonstrate clearly that Labour is responsive to citizen wishes. His view is that if a voter is disappointed in progress Labour has made in the past 9 years, that voter needs to be reminded how badly the previous National government had botched things - particularly with respect to privatization - forcing much lost ground to be recovered. And when BayBuzz points to Key's written pledge not to sell Kiwibank "or any other state-owned company," Fairbrother asserts National is not to be trusted, citing private remarks of National's Finance spokesman, Bill English … "There's a huge tension between Key and English, and English is the man to follow on these matters."]

2. Arguably, a government that has been in power for nine years needs to admit to voters that it has made mistakes, and has learnt from them. What are the 2-3 biggest mistakes Labour made in the last nine years, and what have you learned from them?

Mistake 1 – reliance on an unregulated banking and finance industry.

Mistake 2 – reliance on the market economy to protect the savings of salary and wage earners.

Lessons learned – that ultimately, even the ‘free market’ requires government intervention. We saw it first with the government’s bailout of the BNZ then with the failure of local business to run Air New Zealand, overseas owners to run our rail business and now the failure of the lending industry and the challenges to our banking industry. These tell us what Singapore has found – good governments can and should run essential infrastructure businesses and is the basis on which even the “free market” survives.

[BayBuzz: Fairbrother expresses a very consistent philosophy grounded in his fervent belief that critical social goods must be advanced directly by the state, and not entrusted to the profit-driven private sector … "Profit needs to be treated very carefully in matters involving the public good." As he declares: "I'm a socialist … I fight privilege like a warrior, but I believe in merit."]

3. Some charge that Labour has done “too little, too late” on the environment, moving too slowly and weakly in areas like water policy, coastal protection, and alternative energy. As a result, NZ’s “clean, green” reputation is less and less deserved. Has Labour done enough to protect the environment?

Doing enough to protect the environment is a never ending task – it requires constant vigilance. Labour believes our “clean, green” reputation deserves NZ to take leadership on issues involving environmental protection. That is why we believe the Resource Management Act does not need repeal and the Emissions Trading amendment to the Climate Change Act is a vital piece of legislation.

4. Some people believe local NZ governments lack both the expertise and the political will to staunchly protect the environment … do you agree? Do you believe central government should be more proactive in setting clear and strict national environmental standards? Should the RMA be changed to better protect the environment?

See question 3 above.

[BayBuzz: Fairbrother believes the RMA sets an entirely appropriate framework for balancing competing community objectives. If some decisions take years to resolve, that's deservedly so, because, in major infrastructure and other projects, the balancing of interests is a tough job. He notes that if local and regional authorities did a better job of long term planning, there would be less uncertainty for all parties.]

5. Labour has been running health care for 9 years now. Yet every week Kiwis can count on reading some horror story about the NZ health system. On a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is world-class, how would you rate the quality of health care most Kiwis receive? What are the most important improvements that still need to be made?

The horror stories exist in all health systems around the world – public or private based. In New Zealand, these are more rare than elsewhere in the world. NZ has a top rate public health system available to all no matter their personal health or financial circumstance. Therefore, I would rate our system as a 10.

Necessary improvements are preventative health, so the many avoidable chronic diseases are avoided, and keeping the profit motivation of private health in balance with the needs of a free public health system.

[BayBuzz: According to Fairbrother, for the most part, the only people critical of NZ health care are those who haven't actually needed care, and form their opinions from reading sensational headlines in the media. And he is proud that: "Labour made public health public again."]

6. What is the single most important step required to ensure a vibrant NZ economy ten to twenty years into the future?

To encourage Kiwis to distinguish between wants and needs. Emphasis on the former leads to a greed mentality and lack of economic balance. Concentrating on our needs will enable local businesses to thrive and supply the local economy as first marketing choice and to build up New Zealand’s capital markets.

7. What are the three most important national infrastructure investments NZ needs to make over the next ten years?

1. Increase investment in our own capital markets.
2. Increase our Research and Development facilities in all areas of the economy.
3. Build a comprehensive low user cost public transport system that meets the need of a small, widely dispersed population within difficult terrain. This requires rebuilding our rail network and developing our air and shipping networks.

8. Drinking legislation is now under special review,. Most would expect some tightening of controls to occur. What further controls on alcohol sales or consumption do you support?

Alcohol abuse is part of New Zealand’s history. Controls have proved ineffective. As we have done with smoking, we need to develop a cultural change to the importance and place of alcohol in our personal and communal lives. The answer lies within the wider communities rather than central government legislation.

9. Would you advise Helen Clark to exclude Winston Peters from any Cabinet position should Labour from the next government? Should there be additional measures of the ethical standards another Labour-led government would meet?

This Labour Government can objectively demonstrate higher ethical standards than any Government for the past 60 years. The role Winston Peters will play in the next Government will be determined democratically – by the voters at this year’s general election.

[BayBuzz: Sorry, to me this response re Peters is a total evasion.]

10. Whether or not you make the decisions on these matters, your views on high profile local and regional issues define you to voters in Hawke’s Bay. In just a sentence or two, tell us your position on:

Developing Ocean Beach, as proposed by Andy Lowe and Hill Country

Opposed to this or any development of the Ocean Beach landscape and seascape.

Building the Regional Sports Park

On the record as a committed supporter.

Extending the Napier Airport runway to accommodate jets

On the record as the political driving force to make this happen.

Reducing pollution from wood burners in Hawke’s Bay

Reduction should be encouraged, but Hawke’s Bay’s climate and natural resources make them a viable, cost effective, heating option.

Banning pitbulls

As the owner of 2 dogs, I can find no justification for anyone owning a vicious dog of any breed. Strong evidence suggests dogs reflect the personalities of their owners, including violence characteristics. I don’t condone violence in any of its forms.

[BayBuzz: Fairbrother notes that in Napier, dog owners are vetted and must be registered.]