Media statement
For immediate release
Wednesday, 10 March 2004

Dunne: Brash fails NZ

Dr Don Brash has failed his first major test as the leader of the National Party, according to United Future leader, Peter Dunne.

“By rejecting the offer of consultation from the Prime Minister over an inquiry into New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements, Dr Brash has placed the interests of the National Party ahead of the interests of New Zealand and, in so doing, has demonstrated he is unfit to lead this country.

“Dr Brash pretends my call for such an inquiry is some sort of last-minute panic attack inspired by the Labour government when he knows full well I have been campaigning for this since 1994 and, further, that it will not be confined to the current debate on the foreshore and seabed.

“Sadly, Dr Brash’s naiveté and political inexperience are beginning to show. Having launched a debate on race with his Orewa speech, he is now running frantically in the opposite direction as soon as he is offered the opportunity to take part in just such a mature debate,” said Mr Dunne.

“This is an opportunity for Dr Brash to show real leadership and I urge him to reconsider his hasty decision.”

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>>