Press ReleasesYoung 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…) Palestine must get New Zealand Government’s supportYoung Labour is calling on the New Zealand Government to commit to supporting full United Nations membership rights for Palestine, should a vote arise at the United Nations. The group’s President Ella Hardy says this is a humanitarian issue in which the rights of the Palestinian people must be acknowledged. “Palestine must be given a global platform to progress their continuing struggle for recognition and basic human rights” she says. (more…) National ‘doesn’t have a clue’Young Labour spokesperson Rory McCourt called today’s welfare policy released by National “an out of touch, misguided attempt to penalise a small number of independent young people for a completely unrelated problem –youth unemployment.” “It is a leap of logic to assume that youth unemployment would fall due to the creation of a big-brotheresque card that prevents 16 and 17 year old New Zealanders from buying products which they are already prohibited from purchasing” “While Young Labour agrees that the Government has a role in reducing cigarette and alcohol consumption by underage people, we question whether this policy will have any impact on improving youth health or wealth. It will impact 15,000 young people at most, while there are up to 80,000 youth unemployed.” (more…) |