23 May, 2001

Commerce Minister Paul Swain has welcomed the passage of the Commerce Amendment Bill (No 2) saying it's a significant piece of legislation for New Zealand business.

"The Bill beefs up the Commerce Act giving the Commerce Commission more teeth and bringing New Zealand in line with its key trading partner Australia," he said.

"This is important – last year we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Business Law Coordination with Australia. The MOU promotes similar rules as far as possible between New Zealand and Australia so that business on both sides of the Tasman can do business with greater certainty.

"It is good news for the competitive environment in New Zealand, especially for small to medium sized businesses and ultimately consumers. It is one of a number of moves by the government to build confidence in the New Zealand market.

"I am very pleased to see this bill passed through parliament and look forward to a more competitive environment in New Zealand as a result," Paul Swain 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>>