John Carter National Party Defence Spokesman

22 October 2004

Waiouru inquiry: National says get it right the first time

National's Defence spokesman John Carter is warning the Government to get its terms of reference right for the ministerial inquiry into claims of abuse at the Waiouru army base.

"This is paramount if the Government is to address the claims of abuse properly."

Mr Carter welcomes the announcement of an independent assessor for this inquiry, but he has some reservations about the 'closed shop' nature of a ministerial inquiry.

He says the onus is now firmly on the Minister to ensure his inquiry is full, transparent, fair, and timely.

"For the sake of all parties involved the Minister needs to get it right."

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>>