New Zealand First Defence Spokesperson for Veterans Affairs, Ron Mark, says the government’s talk of giving New Zealand war veterans discounted Viagra is demeaning and does nothing to address their major concerns.

“While the Australian government is recognising the plight of its Vietnam veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange, and nuclear test veterans who were exposed to radiation, the only issue New Zealand chooses to mimic them on is discounted Viagra”, said Mr Mark.

“Our Vietnam and nuclear test veterans and their children face growing medical expenses as a result of debilitating illnesses and congenital deformities.

“Max Bradford seems determined to ignore these serious issues in favour of ridiculous token hand-outs.

“Our veterans need free or heavily subsidised medical care, the $200,000 that was promised for a class action against the British Government, and for their case to be treated with dignity and respect”.

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>>