Media Statement For immediate release
Wednesday, 21 April 2004

Exporters should not bear the cost of border security

United Future's Gordon Copeland today expressed delight that the Government may be reconsidering its proposed cost recovery levy of $8 million on exporters for the new security measures arising from the Border Security Bill and the war on terrorism.

"From the outset, United Future has urged the Government not to impose the cost of securing our borders onto an already embattled export sector," Mr Copeland, the party's customs spokesman, said.

"We have consistently pointed out two things. Firstly, these new costs have arisen directly as a result of the heightened security concerns of the US and other jurisdictions following September 11 and the international spread of terrorism.

"Secondly, now is the time for Government to demonstrate unambiguously its exporter-friendly credentials in concrete action rather than in words.

"From the day the Border Security Bill was first introduced into the House until now, we have consistently, via parliamentary questions and behind the scenes pressure, urged the Government to fund the national security costs involved through general taxation rather than via a levy on our exporters."

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>>