Beneficiaries around the country are reeling today after the Labour/Alliance Government confirmed they will cut benefits by $20 a week before Christmas.

The shock move was condemmed by Young Nationals Chairman Daniel Gordon today. "After National's changes to superannuation this year, Labour and Alliance described it as a 'cut' because the increase in super was less than previously expected. Therefore, using their own definition, the new Government has cut benefits by $20 a week by not accepting the Alliance's proposed increase."

Mr Gordon said he stunned by the cruelty of the new Government.

"This is blatant beneficiary-bashing," raged Mr Gordon. "Helen Clark has stolen Christmas for thousands of families. I wonder how she can sleep at night, knowing what she has done.

"This is the worst Government we've had in years," concluded Mr Gordon.

© 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>>