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Cannabis Legal Reform – Arguments for and Against: Part 1

Cannabis Legal Reform – Arguments for and Against: Part 1

James Farmer QC jamesfarmerqc.co.nz I have consistently believed that cannabis is a harmful substance and that people who use it for “recreational purposes” would be more sensible to choose a healthy form of recreation that doesn’t put them and those dependent on them, i.e. their children

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laughing people in party

New Tenancy Laws Backfire

It didn’t take long for Labour’s new tenancy laws to backfire. Landlords had expressed their concern that antisocial behaviour would skyrocket as bad tenants were now protected from any consequences. Three written warnings are required within a 90-day period to begin the termination process. We predicted that the

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On Euthanasia: Part 2
Law

On Euthanasia: Part 2

As in the Netherlands, where the statistics all point upwards, the major risks of euthanasia for New Zealanders are a loss of respect for life, misuse and ‘scope creep’. Our nation records very high levels of depression, refusing to accept any connection with marijuana use – which is (ironically, or not,

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On Euthanasia: Part 1

On Euthanasia: Part 1

On election day, Saturday 19 September, voters will take part in a referendum on the End of Life Choice Act 2019. This referendum, which will be binding on the government, is likely to make euthanasia and assisted suicide legal in New Zealand. Pro-euthanasia campaigners argue that the issue is to

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More Landlord Bashing from the Government

More Landlord Bashing from the Government

I confess. I am a landlord. There, I have said it. I need a support group. Actually, all landlords need a support group, because the government has the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act in front of the House at the moment. If passed, it will make life harder than ever for

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High Court Challenge Tests WA’s COVID Restrictions

High Court Challenge Tests WA’s COVID Restrictions

Just as the Ardern government apparently acted illegally in at least the initial stages of its lockdown, questions have been repeatedly raised in Australia about the constitutionality of various state government responses. Legal experts have especially questioned whether border closures are in breach of section 92 of the Constitution. As

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Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australia is perhaps unique among Western nations in not having guaranteed freedom of speech. The United States is famous for its First Amendment, Great Britain has a common law right, even New Zealand has its Bill of Rights (which its government seems increasingly determined to ignore). But Australia? Nothing. Nothing,

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Cannabis Advocates Wilfully Misleading Public on Medicinal Marijuana

Cannabis Advocates Wilfully Misleading Public on Medicinal Marijuana

Press Release: Say Nope to Dope The Say Nope To Dope campaign says that the supporters of cannabis legalisation are willfully misleading the public when they pretend to be concerned about patients and the use and availability of medicinal cannabis. “There has been a deafening silence on the drawing out

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Two Referenda

Two Referenda

Dr Muriel Newman nzcpr.com In early July the Electoral Commission sent out 3.27 million personalised information packs for this year’s General Election. On Saturday 19 September we will not only be asked to vote for the party we would like to be the next government and the

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Crown Lawyers Ask Judges to Play Politics

Crown Lawyers Ask Judges to Play Politics

Crown lawyers are asking the three judges deciding the case of lockdown legality to play politics. That’s grubby, definitely, and corrupt, probably. The suspicion arises of political finger-dipping in our High Court with Crown Law urging Justices Thomas, Venning and Ellis to consider the “unintended consequences” of their decision,

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No Jokes, Please, We’re Scottish

No Jokes, Please, We’re Scottish

As Theodore Dalrymple points out, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is a nationalist and a socialist: “a national socialist”. Which might, perhaps, explain her government’s hyper-sensitivity to erstwhile national socialist leader Adolf Hitler being mocked by silly-looking dogs. When YouTube comedian Mark Meechan, aka “Count Dankula”, posted a video

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Free Speech Dividing Lines

Free Speech Dividing Lines

As election rumblings grow louder it’s worth reviewing some of the key fault lines of the last three years. Some of these cracks in the public square will inevitably re-open in the next term, especially in the (unlikely!) event that the current government is returned. Among the most significant

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Federal Court of Australia Delivers Severe Blow to Free Speech

Federal Court of Australia Delivers Severe Blow to Free Speech

Patrick Corish Co-ordinator Free Speech Coalition While the Free Speech Coalition focuses exclusively on freedom of expression in New Zealand, we like to keep tabs on free speech developments in our Western democratic cousins. Sadly, last week the Federal Court of Australia heard an appeal against a professor’s right

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