Press ReleasesMaori voices against privatisation must be heardYoung Labour today reiterated their call for an end to National’s planned sale of our state assets and encouraged young Maori all around the country to speak up against the selling off of our most important state assets. Young Labour Maori Vice-President Morehu Rei said “The recent breakdown between the Maori Party and National is yet another sign of the deep unrest that this plan for state asset sales has generated”. (more…) Young Labour congratulates new leadership team“Young Labour welcomes the election of a new leadership team for our party today and congratulates David Shearer in his new role as party leader and Grant Robertson’s election to the deputy leadership role” said Young Labour President Ella Hardy. “David and Grant are just what Labour needs to revitalise the party and we are confident that they will lead Labour to victory in the 2014 election. They will work well together and have complementing skills”. (more…) Young Labour calls for marriage debate in New ZealandSeventeen Young Labour delegates from around New Zealand are attending the Australian Labor Conference in Sydney this weekend. Ella Hardy President of Young Labour said, “We are excited to be here and learn from our sister party, we are learning how to push for progressive policy advances, about different party structures and what we can do better to bring a progressive New Zealand.” (more…) Labour leadership contenders invited to meet with Young LabourYoung Labour today thanked outgoing Labour leadership team Phil Goff and Annette King for their tireless work over the past three years, and welcomed the opportunity to take part in an open and inclusive process to decide the new party leadership. “Phil and Annette have fought tirelessly for Labour values,” says Young Labour President Ella Hardy, “and Young Labour thanks them for running a brave, energetic campaign. Under Phil’s leadership, Labour proved that we were willing to make the tough decisions for the sake of New Zealand’s future.” (more…) Young Labour declares Karapiro Dam “Not for Sale” with giant bannerToday Young Labour unfurled a massive banner over Karapiro Hydroelectric Dam to send a message that “young people want to own our future”. The banner, 20 meters wide and 10 meters deep, reads “NOT FOR SALE”. Young Labour activist Rory McCourt said “Our generation is standing up and making it clear that we can not afford another round of privatisations. It’s time for New Zealand to own our future, and that means holding on to valuable assets like Karapiro.” (more…) Return to youth wages is an attack on young kiwisThe National Party has today announced a despicable plan to attack young people’s right to earn a decent living wage, with a return to youth wages, which will be a serious blow for young people already struggling to make ends meet. Young Labour President Ella Hardy said “National would love to see young people starting their working life in poverty just so they can help their multinational business mates like McDonalds and Subway make a little bit extra. This appears to be a deliberate push to widen the gap between rich and poor.” (more…) Young Labour gets creative with campaign launchYoung Labour marked the beginning of their election campaign last Friday and throughout the weekend with a series of events around the country. The campaign launch focused on new and innovative ways to engage young people in the political process. Young Labour President Ella Hardy said ”We’re going to have some fun and explore some new ways that we can get our message out this election and our campaign launch was based on some of these new ideas. We want to find innovative ways to bring young people into politics. Despite what is often said about young people, we do care about the issues but don’t always see the political process as the way to address them.” (more…) Labour’s Tertiary Plan a Clear ContrastYoung Labour welcomes the release of Labour’s tertiary education policy which will give students a clear alternative to the failed approach of the current National Government. “Labour today announced it would increase university funding, reinstate universal students’ association membership to protect students’ associations, retain the fees maxima scheme to keep fees down, and reinvest in adult education and apprenticeships” says Young Labour President, Ella Hardy. (more…) Young Labour calls for an honest debateYoung Labour is welcoming public debate on drug law reform in the mainstream media, but has concerns that the conversation has denigrated into name-calling and scare tactics. Recent comments by ACT Leader Don Brash calling for the decriminalisation of cannabis have been rubbished as insincere and desperate. But today Young Labour has urged both the media and politicians to concentrate on the issue that has been raised, not the messenger. (more…) National continues to let down studentsStudents and concerned members of the public gathered together today at Parliament in a final attempt to call on the National Government to reject the controversial Voluntary Student Membership Bill that has its Third Reading today. Ella Hardy, Young Labour President says that “today is a sad day for students as we see the passage of legislation that will work against students and severely damage the future of their Students’ Associations. The support these associations provide to students will be irrevocably damaged.” (more…) |