Media Release from Stop Aerial Spraying

Ombudsman Investigates Ministry of Health’s delay in releasing its aerial spray report

Has Jim Sutton, Minister for Biosecurity, Agriculture and Forestry taken over the Health portfolio?

Jim Sutton stated today (Sunday Star Times 18/4/04) that the report commissioned by the Ministry of Health into the health effects suffered by the community as a result of aerial spraying with Foray 48B, may never be released.

Jane Schaverien from the Stop Aerial Spraying Network asks: “Has the Prime Minister transferred responsibility for the Health portfolio to Mr Sutton? How come the Minister of Health offers no explanation for the delay in publication of a report her ministry commissioned?”

The delay in releasing this report is the subject of a complaint currently being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman. Mr Mel Smith, Ombudsman, advises that the Director General of Health has been asked to explain to Mr Smith the reasons for the delay and when release of the report may be expected.

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>>