1 April 2004 Media Statement

Welcome support for government direction

Proposals by United Future to revamp Child Youth and Family services in New Zealand are a welcome confirmation that the government’s current policy direction is on the right track.

Associate Social Development Minister Ruth Dyson said that while United Future’s newly released strategy offered some clear identification of problems, these issues were canvassed in last year’s Baseline Review of CYF.

“There is little in the party’s proposals that differ from the positive government measures already being implemented.

“I am pleased that United Future has adopted the same key initiatives that were recommended in the Baseline Review. It provided some much needed direction about where positive changes could be made and those changes are already being made.

“I agree with United’s suggestion that relevant agencies need to work more closely together, and this collaboration is already in place with many agencies signing up to joint Memorandums of Understanding,” Ruth Dyson said.

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>>