The Greens have gained approximately $65,000 worth of taxpayers' money following their split from the Alliance, says ACT Leader Richard Prebble.

"In their parting statement the Green MPs Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald say they have "more than fulfilled their obligations to the Alliance". I doubt the voters of New Zealand would agree. Ms Fitzsimons and Mr Donald are just the latest in the cynical procession of MPs abandoning the parties that promoted them and the voters who voted for them.

"There is nothing noble in betraying your pledge to your party or constituents.

"I note this split comes just in time for election campaigning, with the handy addition of approximately $65,000 taxpayer funding just two months out from an election," Mr Prebble said.

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>>