"Labour has held more positions on the rimu contracts in the last month than a circus contortionist," says Associate Food and Fibre Minister David Carter.

"It's time they fronted up and clarified what their policy is regarding these legitimate contracts."

"Just two weeks ago Labour claimed the rimu contracts were unenforceable. Then last week Labour admitted legal advice had clarified that the contracts were legally binding."

"I quote Dr Michael Cullen on RNZ : 'We are not in the least pleased that those contacts have been signed…but that doesn't alter the legal facts."

"Now, in a letter to Native Forest Action, Dr Cullen says Labour will end the eight-year rimu contracts early, if it can legally do so."

"Labour are running around like chooks with their heads cut off. They don't know which direction to run in, and week by week their story keeps changing, depending on the audience."

"Their own West Coast MP Damien O'Connor has threatened to cross the floor of the House to ensure Labour honours these legitimate contracts."

"What will they do to stop him? Sack him under their planned anti-defection laws and replace him with a more compliant yes-man?"

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>>