Thu, 15 July

Where's The Minister For Lower Petrol Prices?

Deborah Coddington Press Releases - Transport

ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah Coddington today labelled the self-styled "Minister for Lower Petrol Prices" Jim Anderton as missing in action.

"Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today show that inflation has jumped to 2.3 percent - nearly one percent - in the three months to the end of June. A major contributor was petrol prices skyrocketing eight percent - a major factor in making it tougher for working families to get by," Miss Coddington said.

"On coming to power after the 1999 election, Mr Anderton attacked the petrol companies for increasing petrol prices. He then declared to the House on March 30 2000 that he should be known as the `Minister for Lower Petrol Prices'.

"Back then, petrol prices were a $1 a litre; they are now $1.13 and we haven't heard a peep from Mr Anderton.

"The problem isn't the petrol companies, it's a Labour Government that doubles the cost of petrol by taxing it hard - currently at the level of 48 percent. That wouldn't be so bad if the tax taken on petrol were spent on roads but, instead, the Government grabs it and spends it on dopey projects like sending a braying port-a-loo to Venice in the name of art," Miss Coddington said.

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>>