1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: Barris so for senior political political correspondent, will wrap the 2 00:00:03,640 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: political week that was for us. Welcome back, Barry, Hello again. 3 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Have I farmers will be feeling the love this week? 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,880 Speaker 2: Ah? Well, they will be, and what a time to 5 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 2: feel it when you're at the field days in Hamilton 6 00:00:14,240 --> 00:00:17,440 Speaker 2: and the government down in Wellington making all sorts of 7 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 2: moves on their behalf, first of all taking them out 8 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 2: of the eighty years. And that's a big deal for farmers, 9 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 2: even though as you heard me say earlier, Willie Jackson 10 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: seemed to think there had been a broad agreement on it, 11 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 2: that was never really an agreement on it. Farmers didn't 12 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 2: like it. No one knew how much this tax was 13 00:00:36,960 --> 00:00:40,519 Speaker 2: going to be. Farmers are already under the pressure, and 14 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 2: suddenly now a bit of that pressures off. There's been 15 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 2: other things that have taken place as well this week 16 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 2: that will make life a bit easier for farmers. And 17 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 2: I think they should. We should start thinking of them 18 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 2: as treasures, not tyrants. Are They are the backbone, the 19 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: economic backbone of this country. And the sooner we get 20 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 2: used to that, the better, because the exports, farming exports 21 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,360 Speaker 2: way and above outweigh anything else in this country, so 22 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 2: let's look after them. 23 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:16,119 Speaker 3: Basically, we need their money to afford the toils Darmac buys. Yeah, yes, exactly, 24 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 3: I'd be grateful for it absolutely. Hey, do you reckon 25 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 3: the rules need to change that allow currently MPs to 26 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 3: claim an accommodation allowance when they own their own property 27 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:26,360 Speaker 3: in Wellington. 28 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. I think there's about twenty three that do it. Essentially, 29 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: what the taxpayer is doing is paying their mortgages when 30 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: they own a property in Wellington. I guess there's an 31 00:01:38,040 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 2: argument both ways on this. Isn't there that if they 32 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:46,800 Speaker 2: didn't own the house, they would be staying in an apartment. 33 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 2: They have to be paid for anyone they're not going 34 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 2: to render. 35 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: Changing the rules will not save us a dollar, that's. 36 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:56,480 Speaker 2: Right, And because it is a set amount, and you know, 37 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 2: I think that the perception is not a good one. 38 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: Looks as though MPs unlike anyone else, can come to 39 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 2: Wellington and pay their mortgage of courtesy the taxpayer. But 40 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,679 Speaker 2: it's not as simple as that. And Chris Luxon said 41 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 2: at the beginning of this argument, he said, really it's 42 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 2: the remunation authority to have a look at The Speaker 43 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 2: can look at it. But it's really the Remuneration authority 44 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 2: that sets all these rules and regulations, although the Speaker 45 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,480 Speaker 2: does have a fairly significant input to them. But the 46 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 2: old story is heather to change something like this in 47 00:02:31,480 --> 00:02:34,959 Speaker 2: a parliament where people are benefiting very difficult. 48 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 3: So tell me, well, I mean, yeah, absolutely right, they're 49 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:39,799 Speaker 3: not going to They're not going to deny themselves in 50 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 3: the interim some free money. 51 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: Do you think. I mean, they are not doing anything wrong, 52 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: and it will change the rules, will not save the 53 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 1: taxpayer a dollar. But for the perception, which is so 54 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 1: bad and people clearly hate it, is that sufficient to 55 00:02:55,200 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: change the rules? 56 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:02,239 Speaker 2: I'd say probably no, really yeah, because it's not saving anything. 57 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 2: And when people understand the reasons why this allowance is paid, 58 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 2: and a lot of people don't, as you say it 59 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 2: to one over lightly, the media point the finger at 60 00:03:12,440 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: the politicians for somehow making money on the backs of taxpayers. 61 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: It's that they're not doing that. They they work away 62 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:23,840 Speaker 2: from their homes, they'll be paying a hotel bill. You know, 63 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 2: there's no benefit in it at all for anyone. 64 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: Do you not think there is some benefit in just 65 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 1: having just the perception. And the problem with the politicians 66 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: is they always there is always this perception that politicians 67 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 1: are screwing the scrum in their own favor, feathering their 68 00:03:39,320 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 1: own ness, and for that reason alone, that is sufficient, 69 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: just so that we continue to respect that institute. 70 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: I think the problem is, particularly in recent years, that 71 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: you've got some people going into Parliament that many would 72 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: consider a morons and they shouldn't be in the place anyway, 73 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: and yet they're earning very good money. What a hundred 74 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: eighty thousand dollars a year. I've got all sorts of perks, taxis, 75 00:04:03,760 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: when they get to the airport into Parliament, air fears. 76 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: I mean, they get a lot of perks, but they've 77 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 2: got to get to Wellington, let's face it. So you know, 78 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 2: I think people are annoyed that they probably don't get 79 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: what they expect out of politicians in their own area. 80 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 2: Not necessarily the government, but when they look at their 81 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 2: own politicians. Yeah, exactly what are we getting back from that? 82 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: Okay? Do you think that this Chinese visitor is I mean, 83 00:04:31,320 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: obviously it's a good sign. Is it going to change anything? 84 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 2: Though? I think it's more of a flagway of being exercise. 85 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: I mean, the premiere was he was in Australia before 86 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 2: he came here. And it's good. I think, you know, 87 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,159 Speaker 2: high level visits like this does say that China takes 88 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 2: New Zealand seriously and values our relationship, and so it should. 89 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,440 Speaker 2: I mean, New Zealand was the first Western country to 90 00:04:56,480 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 2: get into a major free trade agreement with China. They 91 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:04,239 Speaker 2: recognized China. Remember back in nineteen seventy three, a long 92 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: time ago, more than fifty years ago. We were the 93 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: first Western country to recognize China. So you know, I think, 94 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: I think, you know, visits build on a relationship that's 95 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: pretty strong anyway. And the premiere himself, who's a very 96 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 2: powerful man, number two in China, said essentially, what we 97 00:05:25,160 --> 00:05:26,960 Speaker 2: have differences and we respect that. 98 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,679 Speaker 1: Barry, thank you so much, really appreciate you. I'm Barry Soper, 99 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: Senior political correspondent. 100 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,840 Speaker 2: For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen live to 101 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 2: news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays, or follow 102 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:39,799 Speaker 2: the podcast on iHeartRadio.