HEADLINES & NEWS
The former head of Work and Income Christine Rankin has lost her one point two million dollar case against the goverment. The long awaited decision was released an hour ago - it follows a sensational two week hearing before the Employment Court last month. Mrs Rankin was seeking more than a million dollars in damages for what she says was unfair and unlawful treatment by her boss State Services Commissioner Micheal Wintringham. She also alleged political interferance had blocked her chances of reappointment. Court Reporter Merle Nowland has been looking at the decision. LIVE
Mrs Rankin has declined to be interviewed on Checkpoint - but in a written statement has said she is very disappointed with the court's decision, and says sexism is alive and well in the public service. Also declining to talk to the [illegible] is the prime minister, cabinet ministers Steve Maharey and Trevor Mallard and the State Services Commissioner Michael Wintringham. However, the Attorney general Margaret Wilson has just finished a media conference, during which she made this statement. CUT
Our political editor Al Morrison joins me now. LIVE
BUSINESS NEWS WITH PATRICK O'MEARA
The former head of Work and Income Christine Rankin has lost her one point two million dollar case against the goverment. Joining us now is the Attorney General Margaret Wilson.
17 Aucklanders who have recently returned from Samoa have been diagnosed with Dengue Fever and four of them have been hospitalised. The Auckland District Health Board says the people came down with the illness over the last two months, and for the same period last year there had been only one case reported. Dengue fever is a viral infection transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. Joining us now is travel medicine specialist Doctor Marc [illegible] LIVE
The power crisis is deepening, after a six-week dry spell in the Lake Taupo catchment forced the lake down to just 15-centimetres above its minimum operational level. The low level means a reduction in water flowing down the Waikato River and its nine hydro dams. Power generator, Mighty River Power, which controls and manages lake and river flows, says the situation is serious but still manageable,. Andrew McRae reports. PKGE
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Returning to our lead story - and the former head of Work and Income Christine Rankin has lost her one point two million dollar Employment Court case against the goverment. Mrs Rankin was seeking more than a million dollars in damages for what she says was unfair and unlawful treatment by her boss State Services Commissioner Micheal Wintringham. She also alleged political interferance had blocked her chances of reappointment. Mr Wintringham and Cabinet Ministers Trevor Mallard and Steve Maharey all declined to appear on Checkpoint this evening, but have just given a media conference in Auckland.
The Social Services minister, Steve Maharey, says he is absolutely delighted with the decision in the Christine Rankin employment case. He says the government has been vindicated by the court. CUT
Christine Rankin's lawyer Michael Quigg joins me now. LIVE
Andrew Scott Howman is an employment lawyer and a senior associate with Bell Gully who has been looking at the judgement and he joins us now. LIVE
The Reserve Bank Governor Don Brash has told the Knowledge Wave conference that the welfare system needs a radical overhaul to boost economic growth. Dr Brash told delegates that getting more people into work could mean making difficult political decisions, but New Zealand can not radically improve its economic growth while people are paid benefits with no incentative to work.
He says that increasing GDP is about getting more people into paid jobs and increasing their productivity - but this isn't easy. SPEECH CUT
But another speaker at the conference, Robert Wade from the London School of Economics has rubbished Dr Brash's comments saying it's disturbing to hear him and so many other speakers endorsing the failed policies of rogernomics. Professor Wade says New Zealand needs to steer a middle road between the policies of the radical free market and Muldoonist intervention, with the Governnment identifying sectors crucial to the economy's development and then helping businesses to succeed. And Professor Wade is sounding a warning saying this country is doing extremly badly in comparision to most other OECD countries. PREREC
Industrial action is hurting Australia's big car manufacturing companies and there are concerns the dispute could hold up exports to New Zealand. About 350 workers at a Sydney based steering component company walked off the job nine days ago over a pay dispute that has halted production at Ford, Holden and Mitsubishi plants. The strike is causing unrest in other sectors of the car component industry - staff at a shock absorber plant in Adelaide walked off the job this morning, while staff at an exhaust plant are considering similar action tomorrow.
[illegible] Australia Correspondent Stephanie Baird reports. PKGE
Returning again to our lead story, the former head of Work and Income Christine Rankin has lost her one point two million dollar case against the goverment. The long awaited decision was released nearly two hours ago - it follows a sensational two week hearing before the Employment Court last month. Mrs Rankin was seeking more than a million dollars in damages for what she says was unfair and unlawful treatment by her boss State Services Commissioner Micheal Wintringham. The State Services Micheal Wintringham does not believe the decision was critical of his personal role in the whole affair. CUT
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