Wednesday 14th Jul 1999 Rodney Hide Media Release -- Economy

ACT Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide today said that Bill English's commitment to sell TVNZ, New Zealand Post and other state assets was welcome news.

"Taxpayers are carrying a huge burden in state assets that are under performing and are risky investments. There's no advantage to taxpayers or television viewers in having Tony Ryall representing their shareholding in TVNZ.

"The downside is considerable. Taxpayers will have to carry the can over the Hawkesby fiasco. They are also wondering why TVNZ sold their shares in SKY at $7 million below the best offer. "It's about time Bill English detailed policy that's good for the whole country, rather than simply focusing on short term political expedience.

"Michael Cullen has attacked Bill English for following ACT's proposals from last year. We're just pleased that ACT is doing its job in keeping National honest to their principles.

"Instead of just bleating on the side lines, Michael Cullen should get on and put out his costed proposals for what Labour would do if they were ever in Government." said Rodney Hide. 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>>