Bob Simcock National Social Services Spokesperson

9 February 2001

Labour fails the most needy

When Social Services Minister Steve Maharey meets with foodbank leaders today he should not be surprised to hear that the demand for food parcels is up, National's Social Services spokesperson Bob Simcock said today.

"The Labour-Alliance Government has failed the very people it most strongly promised to help. Since this Government was elected more people have needed invalids benefits, sickness benefits, special benefits, accommodation supplements and disability allowances.

"Helen Clark's strategy of 'redistribution' is redistributing more people away from independence and onto benefits," Mr Simcock 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>>