15 December 2004

NZ First To Discuss Wilson Appointment

New Zealand First will discuss the appointment of Hon Margaret Wilson as Speaker at the first caucus meeting of MPs in the New Year.

Rt Hon Winston Peters said today that New Zealand First had not been consulted on the appointment and he regarded this as a grave discourtesy on the part of the government.

“The role of the Speaker is unique and it is important that the person appointed enjoys the confidence of all parties – not just the government and its lackeys.

“It is also interesting to note that Ms Wilson intends to contest the Tauranga electorate at the next general election and we hope that there is no conflict of interest created by this situation,” said Mr Peters.

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>>