National's Justice spokesperson Wayne Mapp today announced that National will support Muriel Newman's Family Courts (Openness of Proceedings) Bill to select committee for consideration.

"Over the last few weeks National has canvassed public and legal opinion on this important issue. It is clear that it's an issue that needs to be properly aired.

"While we believe that the Bill as drafted goes too far, there are real lessons to be drawn from Australia. Family Courts in Australia enable publication of cases, providing details of the parties are kept private. It gives the public an insight into the working of the Court, and the principles of the decisions.

"The operations of the Court should be open to public scrutiny, but the private lives of people, especially children, must be protected. Sending the Bill to select committee will enable a sensible compromise," Dr Mapp 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>>