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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Nathan Smith nzinitiative.org.nz It is a pity Kiwis cannot build a mirror image “New Zealand v2” somewhere in the Pacific to test controversial policies like cannabis legalisation. Actually, that’s why the US is such a great political system. It was only last century that Americans began calling
Michael Dowling Chairman Council of Licenced Firearms Owners We got so close, and got the High Court to recognise, for the first time, that the historic common law human right for compensation when a Government takes property, is legally equivalent to the ‘modern’ human rights contained in the New Zealand
Say Nope to Dope saynopetodope.org.nz Another erroneous claim made by drug advocates is: “The law just creates a black market”. In areas where marijuana has been legalised, the evidence is overwhelming as to how misleading this claim is. Organised criminal syndicates and gangs adapt to changing political and
Michael Dowling Chairman Council of Licenced Firearms Owners fairandreasonable.co.nz You may recall emails from Nicole last year expressing concerns about a series of Police raids of the homes of licenced firearms owners following the Mosque shootings, apparently associated with social media postings. Earlier today, the Independent Police Conduct
Rhona Winnington Auckland University of Technology When New Zealanders go to the polls in September, they will also be asked to vote in a referendum on assisted dying. Parliament already passed the End of Life Choice Act in 2019, but the referendum will decide whether it comes into force. We
Jordan Williams Free Speech Coalition The power of public bodies to de-platform speakers deserves to be thoughtfully considered and we say it’s a matter of public concern. Unusually the permanent Court of Appeal panel will be hearing the appeal here in Auckland – it will sit in the old
