Drug testing claims groundless

The Corrections Minister Paul Swain says the New Zealand First MP Ron Mark has once again made groundless claims about the Corrections Department, without producing a shred of evidence.

"Mind you, we're getting used to it," says Mr Swain.

"Last year Mr Mark claimed two Chubb security guards had been bashed and ended up in hospital while visiting an offender on home detention. It was a total fabrication."

"He also claimed a huge scandal involving Ukrainian farm workers, and was forced to eat humble pie."

"Corrections staff do a great job keeping the community safe and it's about time Mr Mark showed some respect for those who do this important job on our behalf."

"Mr Mark knows that if MPs have an issue and provide evidence, I will investigate."

"However, while he continues to make groundless claims, he won't be taken seriously."

© 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>>