Labour in government would stop the regulatory review of the education system which is being pushed by National Party idealogues, associate education spokesperson Steve Maharey said today.

Steve Maharey said the document released today takes the school system further away from government responsibility for ensuring quality and standards.

"Basically, if government education policy continues on its present course we won't have a public education system worthy of the name. This review looks like the final nails in the coffin are being prepared by National.

"Labour believes that government has a major role to play to ensure a top quality, nationwide public education system. The models being proposed by National would increase the trend towards 'winner' and 'loser' schools and allow the Government to shirk its reponsibilities.

"Labour in government will not support the trial planned for next year for the self management of school property.

"Like the bulk funding of teacher salaries, the voluntary nature of such a trial will see only schools that stand to gain from the experience taking part. National would then pronounce it a success, tip the scales in favour of schools prepared to switch over to such a system, and then whip the carpet away from beneath them," Steve Maharey said.

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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>>