19 April 2001

PAY RISES FOR DEFENCE STAFF WELCOME BUT ONLY ONE PART OF THE PICTURE

The announced pay rises for defence staff are welcome and will address the now chronic problem of poor retention and skill shortages within our defence forces. However, it is disappointing that the pay rise moves are not part of a more integrated strategy to restore morale and pride in our defence forces, says United Future leader the Hon Peter Dunne.

"The pay rise is well overdue. It signals this Government is at least prepared to address the issue of pay for our service men and women.

"The protests from the National Party claiming the pay rise is insufficient ring totally hollow, given their appalling record in this area," says Mr Dunne.

He says the issue highlights the need for a comprehensive defence strategy agreed across party lines to address the issues of service personnel retention, equipment, wage rates and the future focus of defence operations.

"Such a multi-party agreement would go a considerable way to restoring confidence in the future for service personnel and the public who are undoubtedly wary of the political football defence has become.

Pay rates are indeed a positive move. It is just a shame they can't be part of a wider strategy that addresses the problems in defence and provides a future direction," says Mr Dunne.

END

© Scoop Media

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>>