E R I C R OY M P

Building Our Future

NEWS FROM THE BEEHIVE

MARCH 2012

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Waituna -Positive News From The PM

We had some great news earlier this month with the announcement by the Prime Minister that the Government would contribute $780,000 towards the clean-up of the Waituna Lagoon. Waituna Lagoon is an iconic Southland lagoon that is seriously degraded after decades of neglect. I made representations to the Environment Minister to seek support for local efforts to clean-up the lagoon, and am pleased they have resulted in this funding. The project involves a contribution from the Governments Fresh Start for Freshwater Clean-up Fund of $780,000. This represents 50 per cent of the total project costs.

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From Eric
I am continually encouraged by the numbers of people who attend ANZAC services and parades from the Dawn Service and throughout the day. One thing that has been annoying me and others was the Cadet Guard parading with wooden cut out rearms. Its undignied for the young cadets, and the wooden replica is a total insult to our forebears who served their country in the theatre of war. What they faced should not be overtaken by the politically correct. The good news is I spoke to the Minister of Defense, Jonathan Coleman, and he has granted permission for cadets to serve guard duty at ANZAC Day with real ries. Its a triumph for common sense and shows the respect our armed services and veterans deserve.

Less People On Benefits

The number of people on benets fell by more than 21,000 in February. 5,651 fewer people are on Unemployment Benets, which is a 9 percent drop. Many beneciaries are showing real determination to get work, with 7,700 going off benet into jobs last month, 2,500 of who were young people. Through Future Focus, the new part time work expectation for people on DPB with children six years and older, has seen an extra 2,300 working part time. Prior to Future Focus there was no work expectation till children turned 18. But clearly the rst stage of welfare reform to be introduced this month is needed to address the wider issue of long term dependence. Getting people off welfare and into work is a major focus for the Government and our economic recovery.

Economy has grown for 9 of the last 10 quarters. 170,000 new jobs forecast by 2015, with wages growing faster than ination. 9616 training places available in 2012 for 16 and 17 year olds Latest quarterly results for the six National Health Targets show record improvements. We are reducing or removing compliance costs on business.

Ofce: 97 Dee St Tel: 03 218 7749 e: ericroymp@xtra.co.nz

Stewart Island Visitor Levy Bill Close To Passing Into Law

I have been very pleased that the Bill I am sponsoring on the visitor levy for Stewart Islands infrastructure has had 100% support from all political parties. The Bill has passed its second reading, and I am trying to have the committee stage removed so we can go straight to a third reading and then have it passed into law. The Southland District Council (Stewart Island/Rakiura Visitor Levy) Empowering Bill 2010 will be used to fund, wholly or in part, activities used by visitors,activities on the Island for the benet of visitors, and to mitigate the adverse effects of visitors or excluded visitors on the environment of the Island. It will help meet infrastructure costs of tourism on the island, in other words. The island gets about 36,000 visitors per annum. This levy will help greatly with costs that currently fall on the Islands small rating base, and improve facilities.

Authorised by Eric Roy, 97 Dee St Invercargill

ER I C R OY M P
Submissions are now open on the MMP review, and I encourage you to take this opportunity to provide input into how our voting system works in the future. New Zealand voted to keep MMP in last Novembers referendum on the voting system, and the Electoral Commission is undertaking a review of how MMP works. The Electoral Referendum Act 2010 sets out the issues the Commission must consider in the review, including: what thresholds parties should have

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wins more electorate seats than it would be entitled to under its share of the party vote, and the effects of population growth on the ratio of electorate seats to list seats. Submissions (if you want to be heard by the Commission in person) close on April 5. All other submissions close on May 31. You can nd out more at www. mmpreview.org.nz

Have Your Say On The MMP Review

to cross to qualify for an allocation of list seats in Parliament whether list MPs should be able to stand as candidates in a by-election whether a person should be able to stand as a candidate both for an electorate seat and on a party list whether voters or political parties should decide the order of candidates on a party list what should happen when a party

Young Nats Branching Out In The South

SuperBlues continue to meet on the rst Friday of every month, apart from April 2012 as it is Good Friday. Our April meeting will therefore be on the 13th with guest speaker senior Government whip Michael Woodhouse. In May we will hear from Alfred Ngaro MP, the rst Cook Islander elected to Parliament, and in June Scott Simpson, MP for Coromandel. Our membership of over 180 is staying rmly stable with new members joining nearly every month to replace those who leave. Attendance at our meetings is between 85-105 people. If you would like to join SuperBlues please contact Bill Neill (President) 03 218 2896. Its good to see a renewed interest in the Young Nats organisation down South. Some committed individuals are revving up the Young Nats brand down here to be involved in inuencing policy and advocacy at all levels of decision-making. The Young Nats are creating an environment to attract and engage a youth membership interested in thinking bigger and brighter and with New Zealands interests foremost. If you want to nd out more about the Young Nationals Southern Region, check them out online (see links below) or contact Invercargill representative Garry Thomsen (garry.thomsen@national.org.nz) or call/txt:027 463 4441 Follow the Southern Region Young Nats: On Facebook: facebook.com/YoungNatsSouthern On Twitter: @sryoungnats Online: youngnats.org.nz

STILL GOT THE KNACK - had a bit of

exercise at the Edendale Crank Up Day this year, but nothing the sheep or I couldnt handle....

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Authorised by Eric Roy, 97 Dee St Invercargill