8 July 2004

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Springhill prison decision a blow for NIMBY National

Progressive MP and former Corrections Minister Matt Robson welcomes the Environment Court decision on the Springhill prison near Meremere.

“The judge confirms the soundness of the consultation process,” says Matt Robson, who authorized the consultations and started planning work for the new regional prison.

“And it is a significant slap for Don Brash. He has declared himself a supporter of new prisons, but his NIMBY caucus is undermining him.

“Local National MP Paul Hutchison has led the not-in-my-backyard brigade opposing the Springhill site. And fellow NIMBY current and past MPs Shane Ardern, Richard Worth, Warren Lyd, Doug Kidd and John Luxton are behind Dr Hutchison.

For National to have credibility, it needs to say where it will build new prisons rather than oppose every prison site the Labour-Progressive government proposes.

The Environment Court found the prison is greatly needed, finding a location is of national importance and there can be no basis for cancelling it. The judge said the relationship between Maori and their culture and traditions had been properly recognised and provided for by the minister.

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>>