There’s honestly not enough space in this column to talk about this Government’s war on the environment. Conservation jobs cuts, Fast Track powers to build American superhighways, and the removal of half-price bus fares just scrape the surface.
Also, surprise! Your fees are probably going up 6% because the Government can’t be bothered to fund Universities properly and they’ve decided to take that money from you.
The Government has left no space for Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Whether it’s the ACT Party’s Treaty Principals Bill, disrespect for taonga or and attempts to limit Māori political action.
Your landlord can kick you to the curb for any reason they choose with the reintroduction of no-cause evictions. All while rents are rising faster that David Seymour’s erection and we’re all getting fucked.
The main question I get asked as your fearless Political Rep is, “What is going on and why should I get involved?” I get it man, life is busy. In between getting pissed and then pissing, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to talk about the direction of our nation.
If you don’t think that the decisions I’ve described here reflect you and your values… tell somebody; whether that’s a random at a party, your local MP or us on the Exec! In fact, I’m providing you the exact opportunity to let me know through the OUSA’s Political Census which you can access here.
I know that political burnout is real, and that we’d all rather talk about Brat Kamala and Walz as a Midwest Princess, but here at home we have three more years of a Government that has demonstrated it doesn’t care about students, Māori, renters or the environment. If we want to live in an Aotearoa we can be proud of, we have to build it ourselves, one brick at a time.
Bless up, Otago
Liam
Political@OUSA.org.nz