The Dominion

Thursday, 16 March 2000, 1:37 pm
Article: Alastair Thompson

Businessman Flees - Christine Rankin - Tobacco Suit - Drug Testing - Snakes Alive - About The House - Inside Political Headlines - Editorial: Super

BUSINESSMAN FLEES: The Dominion leads today with a report that a blunder by police enabled an American based businessman to flee New Zealand while facing serious charges over a road accident that seriously injured three people. The front-page photo shows one of the businessman's victims recovering with a sore foot.

Also on the front page:

- CHRISTINE RANKIN: a report that so personal are the attacks on Christine Rankin, the CEO of WINZ, that she can no longer go for a coffee on a Saturday morning;

- TOBACCO SUIT: a report that the Government would consider changing the law so that it could sue tobacco companies, Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesteday;

- DRUG TESTING: a report that NZ First MP Ron Mark is calling for random drug testing of MPs and their staff;

- SNAKES ALIVE: a report that a snake found alive in Petone was a venomous eastern brown from Australia;

- ABOUT THE HOUSE: There were many grace matters before Parliament yesterday - superannuation, labour relations, toxic spray - but nothing excited MPs so much as reports that somebody was caught smoking naughty cigarettes in the dunny.

Inside Political Headlines:

- I missed out on my bonus, reveals Rankin;
- Harassed taxpayer "a violent criminal";
- Gambling taxes "fool's gold";
- Health cash paid to club "in error"
- Greens want to widen workers' rights;
- Protection for whistleblowers.

EDITORIAL - SUPER: Flaws in the government's super plans include the fact that government debt should be cleared before the government starts saving.

© Scoop Media

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.

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