4 May 2004

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Immigrant bashing by National for short term political gain

“National’s Wayne Mapp is intentionally creating an atmosphere of panic and intolerance with his attacks on the Refugee Status Appeals Authority and the Deportation Tribunal. These two bodies are impartial and make a decision – to recognise an applicant as a refugee, or to deport an applicant - after hearing the facts,” said Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader.

“Beguiled by the temptation of easy votes that NZ First has garnered with immigrant and refugee bashing, National spokesperson Wayne Mapp demands that the Tribunal lose its discretionary power. That is ridiculous and begs the question of why have such tribunals if they cannot weigh the evidence.

“Instead of attacking the people to whom we give the difficult decisions National, if it supports a rule-based justice system, should allow them to make their decisions in a rational manner and without political interference. The rule of law must apply in our courts and tribunals” said Mr Robson.

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>>