The Government's decision to have the State Services Commissioner conduct an inquiry under the State Sector Act and the Judge Advocate General conduct a further inquiry is a whitewash, National's Defence spokesperson Max Bradford said today.

"The Minister of Defence is dreaming if thinks the public will be fooled into thinking these are independent and transparent inquiries.

"The only way to get to the bottom of the problems within defence is a formal inquiry by an independent judge where witnesses can give evidence under oath.

"Instead Mark Burton is trying to cover up the serious issues in defence by keeping control of the inquiry, appointing the Government's Chief State Services advisor and an officer of the defence force who has no independent powers to subpoena evidence or individuals under oath.

"Mr Burton and the Government better get used to the fact that this bruise will not stop the truth coming out and his habit of not answering questions and dragging the chain over embarrassing issues will only increase the suspicion that the Clark Government is hiding something.

"Defence commentators have called for an independent inquiry so that the truth can be exposed. The public deserves to know what has gone on behind closed doors in the army and other defence forces - they deserve better than this token inquiry," Mr Bradford 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>>