Labour state sector spokesperson Trevor Mallard has cautiously welcomed the review of information technology projects in the public sector but said it was long overdue.

Ten months ago, Labour released a report detailing massive overspending and mismanagement of IT projects within the public sector.

"Our investigation, using the Government own statistical information, showed that mismanagement of IT projects had cost the country millions," Trevor Mallard

"Jenny Shipley's period as State Services Minister was particularly dismal. More than a third of the large scale projects went over time - a failure by the standard that Mrs Shipley set herself.

"When Labour released its report in October last year, the Government brushed aside our concerns. I am pleased that they may now be doing something which could reveal the seriousness of the problem.

"The high-profile debacle of the INCIS project has alerted the public to the wastage which can occur if information technology projects are not properly managed."

Trevor Mallard said he would be submitting Labour's report to the Government's review team for their information.

"I will also monitor their work closely to ensure that this is not another Government whitewash."

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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>>