National Conference National Social Concerns report 2008
 

During the last two years,  I have really enjoyed this position and (on your behalf) responded to the following issues and topics.
 

Starting with the most recent action Item which was the Employment Relations (Breaks and Infant feeding) amendment bill. This bill requires employers to provide appropriate facilities for employees who wish to breastfeed or express milk while at work. Entitlement is two ten minute breaks and a 30 minute meal break. Penalties for employers for non-compliance range from $5k to $10k.
 

The Flexible working Hours Act commenced a couple of weeks ago – 1 July Most businesses had commented that they have worked flexible working hours for a long time.
 

In May this year, we read the schools Plus Discussion Document. This followed the Prime Minister’s suggestion that young people should be still enrolled at school until their 18^th birthday but still available to either study (school); be placed with a trade or a service for learning in order to receive a form of qualification. Principals up and down the country decided to boycott this plan. 
 

Where were money, people, buildings and other resources to be found?   Everyone spoken to agreed that
·        We don’t need more young people on the dole.
·        Couldn’t see any benefit to anyone.
·        These teenagers should have found a niche for themselves long before 18 years.
·        Isn’t that what schools are for – to recognize strengths and abilities of students by year 5/6?
·        Instead of all that money going into this plan, it would be a better idea to finance pre-school education in “at risk” areas.
·        There seems to be a no cohesion between departments for these families CYPFS/Education/Health/Labour/Corrections
·        Poor use of tax payer dollars for under-achievers.
Teachers were horrified at the badges promotion by the education Department which cost $75k+
 

In February this year the Justice Department introduced Summary Offences(Tagging and Graffiti Vandalism) Amendment Bill. The aim of this bill is to reduce vandalism and tagging by  
·        Creating a specific offense for graffiti vandalism, tagging and defacing;
·        Limiting the sale of spray cans to those 18 years and over;
·        Requiring that spray cans be kept “under the counter”;
·        Giving judges the option in sentencing of a community sentence to provide an opportunity for offenders to clear graffiti vandalism and tagging from their local community.
It is pleasing to report that this is happening in my area and, no doubt, you have all witnessed improvement. In the Waikato Times last week (early July 2008) the city council has a telephone hotline for citizens to “dob in” -24/7 – taggers and illegal graffiti. It is 0800 824 287.
 

The fiasco with Party Pills in December (when there was a legal hitch) finally reached legislation in March. I hear that they already been replaced!
 

The Sale of Liquor to Youth bill did not survive a second reading in parliament.
 

Submissions to the Alcohol Advisory Council Amendment Bill – a levy on alcohol should match the alcohol content – were due 26 June. The levy is to pay for education on alcohol abuse.
 

Then we have the continuing discussions and debate on the Biofuel Bill. It is extremely complex and difficult as far as legislation goes for New Zealand. But, it is the product and supply which is the question really. It seems to me – and plenty of others – that it is quite illogical to grow trees to provide biofuel; to grow crops of corn and sugarbeet to provide biofuel; to harvest copra to provide biofuel; consider the erosion, landslides and human tragedy. The depleted food supplies will create shortages and, in turn, must cause high prices. (We are experiencing a minor form of all that already.) In turn, starvation for more millions of people already suffering. One comment was “it is a shame that the $700m R & D government money this budget wasn’t put into this problem five or ten years ago in regard to researching the whole question of biofuels.” A quote from the Waikato Times said (March 11 2008) “It is very hard to imagine how we can see the world growing enough crops to produce renewable energy and at the same time, meet the enormous demand for food.” It would seem that the world prefers to feed its cars rather than feed its people.
 

I will just touch on some of the issues of old:
·        The Young Offenders *Serious Crime) Bill of 2006 was scrapped in 2007!
·        The Police Review Act has been completed and report filed.
·        Home Equity Conversion Scheme: Advice was to keep everybody in the loop.
·        Embryonic Stem Cell Research continues at our Nathaniel Centre in Wellington. Please keep these scientists/researchers in your prayers.
·        Easter Trading – a written submission to select committee in 2006.
·        ACART(Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Techniques) – a written submission 2007
·        Easter trading and Holidays Legislation: Interfaced between Shop trading Hours Repeal Act 1999; sale of Liquor Act 1989 and Holidays Act 2003. The idea was to address the inconsistencies and anomalies between those pieces of legislation. I suggested that all three be treated together as Anzac Day – open at 1pm and close as convenient. Unions to agree of course.
 

I presume you all know about pre-birth testing – several have been with us a long time.
·        IVF – In Vetro Fertilisation process
·        Amniocentists
·        Chorionic Sampling
·        Ultra Sound Scans
·        Relevant Blood Test
Now we have PGD – Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis. The Bioethics Council – Toi Te Taiao has just released a report – “Who Gets Born” the cultural ethical and spiritual aspects of pre birth testing which you would have heard about recently. Despite media attention about designer babies, gender selection and family balance, these labels are not completely true. The purpose of the research was to analyse extra IVF embryos to find cells of genetic disease – eg Down Syndrome, cystic fibrosis, etc. Parents decide to continue or discontinue. Talk about social engineering! Of course, both IVF and PGD happens outside the women’s body before the 14 days of extraction are complete. Both procedures are contrary to our Church teaching, as you probably know. Just because they can is no reason to do.
 

Lastly wasn’t it great news recently when a senior judge criticized the manner in which New Zealand abortion laws are applied? Please pray for more enlightened people.
 

I thank you for your attention this morning. I look forward to serving you in the future.
May God Bless you in the work you do in Faith and Service. 
 

Pat O’Neil.