25 November 2004
Hon Matt Robson MP, Progressive Deputy Leader

Tony Ryall trampling on the rule of law

In an extraordinary outburst this afternoon, National MP Tony Ryall is telling a former High Court judge and Solicitor-General to ignore the law. In his statement Mr Ryall said Inspector-General of Security, Justice Paul Neazor, should ''hurry up and make a decision on Ahmed Zaoui.''

Mr Ryall is conveniently overlooking para 11 of today’s Supreme Court ruling on bail: the Crown is appealing to the Supreme Court against an Appeal Court decision. That decision requires the Inspector-General to consider Mr Zaoui’s human rights when reviewing the security risk certificate.

The Inspector-General can’t make a determination while the appeal process continues.

It is good that Mr Ryall’s leader is not so cavalier. Don Brash has already called in the strongest possible terms for procedural fairness to be applied to the case.

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>>