Media Statement by
Hon Tony Ryall
Minister of Justice

8 December 1999

More Money Not Less Provided for 1999 Election

“Almost $2 million extra funding has been provided for this year’s General Election compared to the 1996 election,” outgoing Justice Minister Tony Ryall said today.

“There has been some ill-informed comment that the National-led Government cut funding for this year’s General Election.

“My advice to such commentators is to be cautious because, in fact, $1.982 million extra has been voted for this year’s election.

“In developing the budget for the 1999 General Election the actual costs incurred during the 1996 election were taken as a base and adjusted for expected changes such as: two extra electorates, a greater number of polling booths, 800 additional polling place staff, and training for the significant number (around 50%) of first time returning officers.

“In addition to the $2 million extra funding a further appropriation of $570,000 was approved for the conduct of the first referendum. Both the Ministry of Justice and the Chief Electoral Office advised that this additional funding was sufficient to cover the second referendum also.

“The outgoing Government is concerned at the delay in the provision of election night results. In response an inquiry is underway into the circumstances surrounding the late announcement of election night results. However, this is an issue of counting process, not reduced resources,” said Tony Ryall.

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>>