Labour state services spokesperson Trevor Mallard said he agreed that the State Services Commissioner should have alerted the Government to the lack of information he was receiving from the Lotteries Board over the salary paid to its chief executive.

However, Trevor Mallard said criticism of Mr Wintringham by acting State Services Minister Maurice Williamson reflected badly on Prime Minister Jenny Shipley. Mrs Shipley appointed Mr Wintringham when she was State Services Minister.

"Mr Thompson's bullishness in this matter also raises questions about his suitability to be the chairperson of the Lotteries Board, which is also a Government appointment. We all know that Mr Thompson used to be President of the National Party," Trevor Mallard said.

"It is widely accepted in Parliament and in the public that Mr Bale's salary is excessive. But Minister's cannot relieve themselves of all responsibility. One of the most important aspects of being a Minister is the relationship they have with senior public servants - they should ensure that they can rely on them to keep them up to date with what is happening in their portfolio areas. Clearly this has not happened in this case.

"Mr Williamson's feeble attempts to blame Labour for this debacle are worthless when you consider that Mr Bale's salary has more than doubled since his original appointment.

"As far as Mr Thompson is concerned, I can only say that his endorsement of Mr Bale's salary package is indicative of the arrogance and born-to-rule attitude of many in the senior ranks of the National party.

"All appointees to the Lottery Board should be conscious that people buying lotto tickets and other lottery items do so with the expectation that the profits go to good causes," Trevor Mallard said.

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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>>