Scoop's Selwyn Manning and 5AA Adelaide's Peter Godfrey discuss how the National-led Government is preparing to make cuts to three of the former Labour-led Government's big ticket items: the Working For Families programme, Student Loans repayment arrangements, and KiwiSaver tax credits. It appears National is preparing a centrist budget with the Prime Minister John Key saying this will “not be a slash and burn budget”.

Also, this issue is not going away... Allegations that the New Zealand Defence Force ordered SAS combat soldiers to hand over Afghani prisoners to US and Afghan interrogation units (knowing that they may be tortured) was met by the Prime Minister John Key attacking the credibility of investigative journalist Jon Stephenson. Key's 'shoot the messenger' tactic was deployed at a post-Cabinet press conference – and was met by many press gallery journalists laughing rather than be energised into an inquisitive state of mind.

Stephenson and others were appalled at the PM's 'kick him in the guts' style. Those focussed on the public interest aspects, of the May edition of the Metro magazine investigative report, wished for the issue to be debated. Key reduced those hopes through ridicule.

Now Jon Stephenson is seeking legal advice, and the matter will be discussed tonight for a second time on New Zealand's premiere media watchdog television programme Media7.

• For more, see: NZSAS/Torture Issue: Stephenson Responds To NZDF/Govt Reaction

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