Media Release
18 February 2004

When Will It Stop?

New Zealand First is urging the Government to rethink its so-called ‘Future Directions’ package and concentrate on helping create real jobs with real wages.

“Whilst aiming to provide low income families with an extra $25 to $50 is a nice idea there are better ways of dealing with ongoing welfarism,” said Mr Gudgeon.

“History has proven that the social structure created by past governments has plunged this nation into dire straights and this programme will continue that trend.

“Handing out pre-election bribes does not deal with the fundamental issues that have New Zealanders getting poorer.

“Throwing more money into the welfare abyss does not grow our economy. Creating ongoing state dependency does not provide long-term solutions we hope for future generations.

“It is time for this Government to stop wasting tax payers money and to stop this downward spiral of people becoming more dependent on welfare handouts,” said Mr Gudgeon.

ENDS

© 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>>