5 November 2004

Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Progressive calls for coalition action on student debt

The Progressive Party is presenting a policy to its coalition partner to eliminate the student debt problem, says Progressive MP Matt Robson. The policy will be announced on Sunday.

"New Zealand’s economic and social development is being curtailed by student debt," Matt Robson said.

Research conducted by AC Nielsen on behalf of Study Link and the Inland Revenue Department chronicles the negative impact of student debt on home ownerships rates and on meeting companies’ workforce demands.

Their research shows that student debt levels are forcing new graduates overseas. That trend needs to be reversed.

"Over the next few weeks the Progressive Party will be launching education, housing and business policies so that New Zealand's impressive progress over the past five years under the coalition government continues.

"Social and economic development must go hand-in-hand. Getting families into their first homes, encouraging our qualified young people to work for New Zealand instead of going overseas, and removing barriers to doing business are all part of a Progressive package that recognises that fact," Matt Robson said.

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>>