Media release from Progressive Party President

31 March 2004

Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition is seeking Electoral Commission approval to contest the next general election as Progressive, says party president, Grant Gillon.

"In the 2002 election, our party wasn't entitled to party political broadcasting time which was a significant handicap to our efforts to explain our platform and achievements. This made it necessary to use the leader's name, Jim Anderton, to help define our political position for the voting public.

"In next year's election, Progressive will be entitled to party political broadcasting time and our candidates will have 12 months to campaign around the country around the party's achievements in government and its policy for the future. This means we will be able to remove the words 'Jim Anderton' from the party name, as they will no longer be needed to define the party's position on the political spectrum.

"The following changes have been proposed: Change of the full name - from Jim Anderton's Progressive Coalition - to Progressive Party Change of party abbreviation - from Progressive Coalition - to Progressive" Grant Gillon said today

Progressive ambitions for New Zealand are: - Full employment - Free education and health care - Support for families and those in need, leaving no one behind - Strong, safe communities - Investment in New Zealand.

ENDS

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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>>