The latest hysterical outburst from Bill English raises serious questions about his ability to understand simple arithmetic, Labour finance spokesperson Michael Cullen said today.

"The outgoing Treasurer seems mystified by Labour's promise to spend an extra $175 million on health in our first year in Government, rising to an extra $275 million in the second year and $375 million in the third - a total of $825 million.

"It's quite simple Bill. The figures, announced when Labour's health policy was released a month ago, were based on the government's projected expenditure.

"Since then, the Treasurer's colleague Wyatt Creech has found an extra $525 million over three years to put into health. As usual, whatever Labour can do, National can do half as well.

"Labour will use that provision and another $300 million on top to restore the public health system. We will also be able to reinvest savings achieved from reducing bureaucracy and putting patients ahead of profits.

"When Mr English manages to work out these few simple calculations, he might instead turn his attention to National's coalition partner - because Act's slash and burn approach spells disaster for the provision of public health care in New Zealand," Dr Cullen said.

© 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>>