17 January 2001 Media Statement

Shipley's Imagining Cabinet Papers

"Last year she imagined Pacific Islanders climbing in her windows at night – this year she is imagining cabinet papers," says State Services Minister, Trevor Mallard.

"Jenny Shipley still hasn't learnt the difference between fact and imagination. A central part of being opposition leader is being bright enough to check your facts and not to say the first thing that comes into your head.

"She claimed the issue of state sector bonuses was discussed at a cabinet committee meeting in August. Two papers on wage bargaining went to a cabinet committee in August. They related to collective employment agreements for secondary principals and caretakers and cleaners. Neither of these agreements has a bonus component.

"State sector chief executives have been briefed by both the Prime Minister and the State Services Commissioner about the need for frugality within the public service. They have also been reminded of the need for a fair and transparent remuneration system. Bonus payments – especially those made on a department wide basis – are unlikely to fit those criteria.

"While she was State Services Minister, Mrs Shipley set up a system whereby bonus payments and other ad hoc remuneration systems took the place of good faith bargaining and transparent contracts.

"She has left us with an unsatisfactory situation and this government is sorting it out.

"Perhaps Mrs Shipley should make a late new years resolution to check her facts before she blurts forth again," Trevor Mallard said.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>