Fri, 2 July 2004

Media Advisory: Advice on use of defensive equipment by Fisheries Officers imminent

The Ministry of Fisheries is currently considering matters relating to the introduction of defensive equipment for use by Fishery Officers following concern by the Ministry's management and staff about the safety of officers in the field. The specific equipment that has been under consideration is OC (Pepper) spray and batons.

The Ministry has been conducting analysis and internal consultation on the matter and due to the high level of media interest in the subject wishes to notify media that it will be making recommendations to the Minister of Fisheries once current deliberations are complete - in around 10 days. Following this a full statement will be released.

This matter has been the subject of a lengthy and thorough review process, now nearing its conclusion. Representatives of staff have been fully involved in consultation on this issue. The Ministry of Fisheries does not consider this matter to be part of current collective agreement negotiations.

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>>