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Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The disgraced lawyer at the centre of the Russell McVeagh #MeToo scandal has been granted a new practising certificate by the Law Society, which says he’s fit to return as a barrister. Do we believe in second chances? The Government has pushed out the return to surplus for another year - and Ruth Richardson has responded by calling off the debate between her and Nicola Willis. What do we make of this? Auckland Council has moved to scrap a proposed trial for fortnightly rubbish collection in some Auckland suburbs. Do we think this is the right move? Will the new MCERT mega-Ministry actually improve anything? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online marketplace Trade Me has been hit with a $138 million write-down of the value of its marketplace business unit. This comes as revenue continues to drop for the online retailer. Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang says Trade Me still leads its current market, but its status is under threat. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, of course you heard it here first last Monday - the surplus has been pushed out again. It's like waiting for Christmas when you're a ten-year-old, the whole month of December feels like an eternity. This lot have now pushed it out three times and changed the definition of surplus. Not only have we moved the goalposts, we've lowered them, too. Next year's deficit is almost $14 billion, that's $1.8 billion worse than they thought it would be in May. We're not back in black till 2030 now, instead of 2029. That's what happens when you borrow a bunch of money you have to pay back and then fail to grow your way out of it. Basically, Grant Robertson went and bought a brand new lambo on the credit card and then when he buggered off, we got Nicola who promised she'd get us some more work to pay for the debt so we wouldn't go broke.  But that extra work hasn't quite happened yet - so here we are. The good news is - it is coming, they tell us. More than 3 percent next year. In theory. All going to plan. And Willis is promising to get the surplus by 2029, even if the books don't show that yet. I think it's enough to get them re-elected, providing no surprises from Winston, because people know what the alternative is. And that's more debt. On ghost visits to the doctor for billionaires who don't need it with GPs we don't have. Yes, they could please Hooten and slash spending - I'd be here for it. But this is MMP and they're an unashamedly centrist party that needs to win the centre. And winning the centre means not spooking the horses, which is what massive cuts would achieve. So, another fiscal result we were mostly expecting telling us what we mostly knew was coming. Like the last two polls of the year, the pre-Christmas treat for Luxon and co. is - the growth is coming on stream, finally, in an election year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update has painted a concerning picture for the Government books. It forecasted the deficit will peak at $16.9 billion dollars, and only drop to $60 million in the 2029-2030 financial year.  Independent economist Cameron Bagrie says this forecast doesn't come with many surprises. "If you look at the bigger picture, we're now going to have a decade of deficits. And if you look at the last two years, the situation's actually been worsening."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lawyer representing victims of a former Russell McVeagh partner, whose behaviour helped ignite New Zealand’s #MeToo movement, says it’ll be up to clients whether they want to work with him. James Gardner-Hopkins was found guilty of six misconduct charges by the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal in 2021 - and suspended for three years. He’s now been granted a new practising certificate by the Law Society, which says he’s fit to return as a barrister. Steph Dyhrberg says the decision will put some clients off, but others may not see it as a barrier. "That's the thing about having a practicing certificate, you've sort of got a brand on you from the Law Society that you're a fit and suitable person." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council's trashing a plan to trial fortnightly rubbish collection - but the idea hasn't yet been removed from the picture. The trial would've included 10,000 households in Te Atatu Peninsula, Panmure, Tamaki, Clendon Park and Weymouth. Of more than 5,000 submissions, 78 percent opposed the trial. Councillor Daniel Newman says the possibility for fortnightly collection lives on in the current Waste Management Minimisation plan. "Some of us were trying to permanently move the whole region to a weekly service next year when the matter comes up, and we'll have to consult on it then. it's very painful." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bondi hero who wrestled the firearm off a gunman has a long recovery ahead. Syrian-born Ahmed al-Ahmed has catapulted to international fame for intervening during the terror attack that killed 15 and injured more than 40. A GoFundMe page has raised more than $2 million to help the 43-year-old father of two, who's in hospital, shot in the shoulder. Australians for Syria Association spokesperson, Lubaba Alhamidi Alkahil says there was a lot of fear the Muslim community would get the blame. "But who was the one who rushed to help? Who endangered himself? It was the Muslim one, right? So he proved that we are not terrorists." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's still aiming for a surplus this decade, despite today's bleak economic news. Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows more delay to getting the books back to black.  The deficit's expected to deepen more to a high of $16.9 billion and not narrow to $60 million dollars until 2029-30. Nicola Willis says a 2029 surplus is very achievable. "What that will take is just a small revision to the growth upwards, combined with fiscal discipline. And those are two things that our Government is committed to."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A painful wait could be worthwhile for Nathan Lyon, if he rediscovers his form in the third Ashes cricket test starting tomorrow. The veteran off-spinner's been sitting on 562 test wickets for five months, one short of equalling Glenn McGrath as Australia's second highest wicket taker. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Condolences and support from New Zealand MPs for Australia's Jewish community, after Sunday's terror attack. Parliament's held a moment's silence - marking the 15 people killed when two gunmen opened fire during Hanukkah celebrations at Sydney's Bondi Beach. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says speakers from all the major political parties paid tribute to the victims.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.