Nathalie Brunt presents the news. Labour MP Dr Bill Sutton has called for fellow MP Jim Anderton to be suspended from the Government Caucus when it meets on Thursday. This follows Mr Anderton’s opposition to asset sales to the extent of abstaining on voting on legislation last week. Meanwhile, Labour Party President Rex Jones was back on the asset sales warpath today. Mr Jones says there must be an alternative to what Sir Robert Muldoon was doing in the 70s, and what Roger Douglas is doing now. Scientists and researchers campaigning to stamp out lead contamination have welcomed the Government’s decision to set Jan 1996 as the target date for elimination of lead in petrol. Staff at South Auckland’s Kingseat Hospital say they tried to stop a man at the centre of a fatal motor accident yesterday, from discharging himself from the hospital. Telecom has announced it is axing telegrams from the end of this month. [Foreign news] The Lambeth Conference of the Anglican Church has voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing the consecration of women bishops, a vote in which NZ took part. Financial and sharemarket news.
Lindsay Perigo presents the issues of the day in depth. Three years after Labour deregulated the dollar in 1985, the debate still rages over the wisdom of the policy. One man who provoked more discussion than anyone else in recent times has recently retired. The United States Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volker. He was in Auckland tonight to talk dollars to some of the country’s top businessmen. Richard Harman reports. Paul Volker is interviewed.
Finance Minister Roger Douglas today denied the sale of assets, in particular the BNZ is contrary to Labour Party policy. But for Mr Douglas this was apparently not the day to venture into the lion’s den. At a time when the asset sales programme has Labour Party Council up in arms, Mr Douglas took his sales pitch to relatively sympathetically audiences of business leaders. Rob Neale reports.
The kiwifruit industry is embroiled in a bitter row over who is going to control it. Low returns, overseas competition, and a poor exporting performance have combined to force the industry to change the way it operates, with a decision on its future make up expected from the Government in the next few weeks. And, as Liam Jeory reports, lobbying for control of the industry has been intense.
The Government’s plans to boost health spending in this years budget include increased funding for the battle against Aids. Details of the Aids education package have yet to be announced, but health educators are delighted that the Government has recognised the importance of the work. Rob Harley looks at Aids research in the United States.
Nathalie Brunt presents the headlines and the weather.