The Minister of Justice, on 31 July, announced new legislation that would give victim's the legal right to have their voices heard in the justice system. Brian Neeson, MP for Waipareira, said that he was extremely pleased to hear that Hon Tony Ryall had decided to run with a section of his Degrees of Murder Bill.

As outlined on page 16 of Mr Neeson's Private Member's Bill, it is proposed that victim's will tell the Court in their own words how a crime has affected them. Victim's statements will be made following an offender's conviction and before sentencing.

Mr Neeson commented: "This goes some way towards recognising the merit of my Bill. Perhaps the Victim's Statement legislation can be left in my Bill when it comes back into Parliament on 27 August 1999".

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>>