Current affairs.
“Last week Labour Party heavyweights like President Mike Williams and Junior Whip Darren Hughes were in Sydney for the Australian Labour Party Conference. The Australian Labour Party under its new leader Kevin Rudd appears to be poised on the brink of victory for the elections later this year, so what did the New Zealanders learn that they can apply here where on present polling Labour is going to have the fight of its life to retain power next year. Labour's Junior Whip, Darren Hughes, interviewed.
On Wednesday Prime Minister Helen Clark surprised everyone by agreeing to compromise with National Leader John Key over the wording of the socalled anti-smacking bill. For the past month Mr Key has been calling for a compromise which would not make criminals of what he calls good parents, but it's unclear whether Mr Key's compromise has gained the full support of those who oppose the bill. Mr Key has also been downplaying the likelihood of any future grand coalitions between Labour and National, but for the meantime he's been widely praised for his statesmanship. Interview with Key.” http://agendatv.co.nz, 20/06/2007