December 9 2001

Search and rescue vessels are to be refunded the money they currently pay on petrol excise duty, Transport Minister Mark Gosche announced today.

Mr Gosche said the Coastguard had requested that it be given the same exemption on excise duty that is currently available to commercial vessels. Their
case for the refunds had been strongly argued by East Coast MP Janet Mackey.

“Search and rescue organisations such as the Coastguard provide an invaluable service free of charge, and save hundreds of lives a year. It is only fair that these organisations get this exemption,” said Mr Gosche.

“While it is not a lot of money involved, probably about $30,000 a year, this will make a big difference to the Coastguard which is a voluntary organisation with limited funds.”

“In the International Year of Volunteers it is particularly appropriate that we support such a vital community service.”

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>>