Minister Demonstrates Further Inability To Manage Portfolio

Minister of Defence Mark Burton should have immediately called for a full and immediate inquiry when allegations of shredded documents were raised, ACT Defence Spokesman MP Owen Jennings said today.

"Clearly this Minister is not on top of his job, and doesn't understand the seriousness of what is happening to New Zealand's armed forces.

"A competent Minister would have recognised the warning signs well before now and would have instigated a high-level investigation without being prodded by the Opposition.

"New Zealanders are alarmed to find at this time that their defence forces are in disarray, lacking leadership, and proper resources.

"It is time for Mr Burton to take responsibility and demonstrate the leadership that is required to restore confidence in the defence of the country. If he can't, he must resign," Owen Jennings said.

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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>>