Media Statement
For immediate release Thursday, 13 May, 2004

Copeland slaps Govt hand in Origin Pacific's demise

The Government's continuing support for Air New Zealand has undoubtedly played a part in the Origin Pacific crisis by "screwing the scrum", United Future's Gordon Copeland said today.

"This is a classic example of the dangers of governments diving into the market place - and frankly anyone connected with Origin Pacific has every right to feel aggrieved.

"It's hard enough for small airlines to do business today without the obstacles that the Government played a substantial part in putting in front of Origin Pacific," Mr Copeland, United Future's revenue spokesman, said after tackling the Government on the issue in Parliament.

"It is now absolutely crucial that the Government made sure that the Commerce Act is assiduously and transparently enforced over the issues of the proposed Air New Zealand alliance with Qantas," he said.

"I can't help but conclude that the Government's "nod, nod, wink, wink" attitude to that alliance has worked against Origin Pacific."

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>>