I am profoundly disappointed in National’s proposal to repeal the so-called Smokefree laws. This will effectively ensure our new Prime Minister will hold office for only one term, if that. The only positive is that in destroying National, he will also take out Act and NZ First.
I find it incredible Christopher Luxon does not understand the primary and over-arching responsibility for any government in any country is to ensure the security and safety of its citizens. I find Nicola Willis’ homily about the cost of the existing legislation specious and cannot see any other expenditure she may propose which will have such an impact on the health of the country. Surely, she understands the real cost of tobacco products to the country and I am certain the ultimate cost will be much higher than any notional increase in revenue.
If Dr Shane Reti accepts the post of Health Minister, he is clearly breaching the Hippocratic and Physicians’ oath. I for one would have expected better and hope when the legislation to repeal the current positive laws comes before Parliament, enough members of the Government will cause it to fail ignominiously.
Rod Lyons, Kumeu.
Up in smoke
Bravo! A select few get income tax cuts and landlords are rewarded with depreciation and interest claims. The trade-off — the end to smoking is pushed down the track. More respiratory disease and lung cancer, more hospitalisation and drugs, more suffering and death. Thank God this lot didn’t run the place during Covid!
Shane Reti should collect his badge as Health Minister and immediately resign, acknowledging the damage he would otherwise oversee.
A Black Friday indeed! As black as a smoker’s lungs.
Allan Bell, Torbay.
Long wait for little
And it came to pass that the high priests laboured for 40 days and 40 nights to build the sacred Cabinet. On the 40th day they saw that it was good and they rested.
When the Cabinet was revealed to the multitude, they were sore afraid and there was much gnashing of teeth when they realised that the Cabinet held little that would ease their suffering.
David H. Fisher, Howick.
High threshold
Now that the coalition Government has been finally formed with the assistance of NZ First, but still with a very slim majority, Act supporters seem to think this has given them a mandate to have referendums aimed at redefining how the Treaty of Waitangi should be incorporated into the laws of New Zealand. Because this will have a big effect on the future governance of New Zealand, and the relationship between Māori and the Government, it is important that any changes are voted in by an overwhelming majority. Therefore, in order to achieve that, any referendums should require a majority of at least 75 per cent and possibly more.
David Mairs, Glendowie.
Reward for effort
Finally, a government that rewards effort and achievement by students. Financing university fees in the final year of a three-year university degree just makes sense.
Why waste taxpayers’ money on 20 per cent of students who drop out in their first year?
Better to alleviate some of the burden of those who have persevered to make it to year three.
Keith Moran, Hong Kong.
Violent crime
Over the past year we have seen numerous incidents involving guns, violent crime and numerous confrontations involving gangs.
Yet for most of this year, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has not appeared in public to address these issues. Why?
Janie Weir, Remuera.
