Standing Orders Review 2011 - Debate - Dr Kennedy Graham

Greens Try To Water Down 'Extreme' Earthquake Law Marie McNicholas at 5:38 pm, 14 Sep 2010

The Green Party wants to water down emergency legislation setting up a special regime for speeding the earthquake recovery in Canterbury but the rest of Parliament intends to pass it into law tonight.

The Government introduced the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Bill with the backing of all parties in Parliament today but the Green Party limited its support for what it calls "shock and awe" legislation to the first reading.

Courts (Remote Participation) Bill in Committee Part 1 Dr Kennedy Graham

I listened with considerable interest to what the Minister has just said by way of explanation. I have to say that with respect he has not persuaded me in any way at all. I think in my year and a half in the 49th Parliament this is the most serious attack on constitutional rights that I have experienced. This Parliament has adopted 114 Acts reflecting Government legislation.

I pay tribute to the hard work that goes into that. I think it is important, while we are on this semi-jocular note that we do not denigrate the dignity of this discussion by introducing ad hominem, endless, interminable arguments about whether the previous Attorney-General was a lawyer, because that is a red herring, and this issue is far too important to try to politicise it and get red herrings going.

ICC Review Conference & the Crime of Aggression Dr Kennedy Graham

I rise to draw the attention of the House to the quite extraordinary breakthrough that came out of the Review Conference of the International Criminal Court in Kampala last Saturday.

At this Conference, the states parties agreed, against all expectations, to adopt aggression as a justiciable crime in international law. There are many caveats entered into this agreement, and there is a considerable time delay before it becomes justiciable. But the fact that agreement has been reached, on this most critical of all issues of international law, is nothing short of remarkable. I believe it will come to be seen as the most important advance in international peace and security since 1945 when the UN Charter was adopted.

International Non-Aggression and Lawful Use of Force Bill

Green Party MP Kennedy Graham's Member's Bill, the International Non-Aggression and Lawful Use of Force Bill, is legislation that prohibits our country unlawfully engaging in armed force against other countries.

Dr. Graham believes that strengthening the rule of international law, through national action as provided for in the UN Charter, is the most effective way of promoting global and national security for all nations and their peoples. His Bill is drafted for that end.