JUST POLITICS
Dunne Wants OIA To Cover Parliamentary Services
DoC Tussock Mismanagement Creating Fire Risk - ACT
Urgent Need For Superbug Strategy
Select Committee Process Made Mockery Of
Defence Cops Tongue Lashing For PM’s Mistake
Asia Festival Floods Senses
Cancer Waiting List Bulge Expected – King
Industrial Hemp Could Be Planted In Spring

POLITICS FROM TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House: Today’s Q&A
Cabinet Reshuffled, Samuels Promoted
PM Congratulates Kiwi Oscar Winner
PM’S PRESSER: Resurrecting Ministers
Greens Urge Govt To Buy Back Rail
Press Council Come Out Against Opinion Polls Bill
Cosiness with Monstrous Regime Demands Answers

JUST POLITICS

Dunne Wants OIA To Cover Parliamentary Services

- United Future leader, Hon Peter Dunne, says the ongoing furore about MP's entitlements raises the question of extending the coverage of the Official Information Act to include the Parliamentary Service Commission. See... Time To Consider Bringing PSC Under OIA [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00451.htm

DoC Tussock Mismanagement Creating Fire Risk - ACT

- ACT Agriculture spokesman Gerry Eckhoff predicted today that the “whole of the South Island High Country tussock grassland from Marlborough to Central Otago is at risk” unless there is a change in Department of Conservation policy. See... South Island Could Face Rural Fire Disaster [1] . See also... Greens urge Government to 'Get Back On Track' [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00454.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00453.htm

Urgent Need For Superbug Strategy

- Green MP Sue Kedgley is calling for an urgent national strategy to contain the superbug explosion in New Zealand hospitals in light of information that there has been a 55 per cent increase in the incidence of MRSA infections in the year 1999-2000. See... National Health Strategy Needed On Superbug [1] and Battling the superbug [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00463.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00457.htm

Select Committee Process Made Mockery Of

- Acting Commerce Minister Trevor Mallard's introduction of the Commerce Amendment Bill (No 2) into the House today confirms that the Government is turning the Commerce select committee process into a 'Yes Minister' plaything, National's Associate Commerce spokesperson Pansy Wong said today. See... Committee adopts 'Yes Minister' approach [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00462.htm

Defence Cops Tongue Lashing For PM’s Mistake

- Reports today that Helen Clark's department approved the release of information about several submarines being spotted by the New Zealand Airforce Orions, prove the Prime Minister has no idea what is happening in her own department, National's Defence Spokesperson Max Bradford said. See... PM the one who should apologise [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00461.htm

Asia Festival Floods Senses

- Exciting the senses, exploring the sights, enjoying the sounds and tasting the cuisine is all part of the Festival of Asia. See... Festival of Asia Launched [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00460.htm

Cancer Waiting List Bulge Expected – King

- Health Minister Annette King says latest Ministry of Health figures confirm an expected bulge in the number of patients waiting for cancer radiation treatment. See... Bulge in waiting times for radiation therapy [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00459.htm

Industrial Hemp Could Be Planted In Spring

- Health Minister Annette King says planting of trial plots of industrial hemp could still proceed in spring, even though she did not receive recommendations as expected last Friday on criteria and licensing requirements. See... Industrial hemp may still be planted in spring [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00458.htm

TOP SCOOPS

Scoop Is In The House: Today’s Q&A

- Today's questions of the day concerned: Northland And Rail Policy – Submarine Detections – Biosecurity – Submarines And Apologies – Economic Outlook - Foot and Mouth – DHB Budget Deficits - Teacher Vacancies – Dover Samuels – Marian Hobbs – Maori Option – Historic Places Trust. See... SCP HOUSE: Questions Of The Day – 27 March [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0103/S00184.htm

Cabinet Reshuffled, Samuels Promoted

- Marian Hobbs will be sworn in as a Cabinet minister by the Chief Justice in her capacity as the Administrator of the Government at a special meeting of the Executive Council at 4.15 pm on Wednesday 28 March. Dover Samuels has been appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Economic Development and to the Minister for Industry and Regional Development. See... Reshuffle - Marian Hobbs returns to Cabinet [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00449.htm

PM Congratulates Kiwi Oscar Winner

- Russell Crowe's achievement in winning the coveted Best Actor award at this year's Academy Awards was truly outstanding, Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark said today. See... Crowe's outstanding achievement [1] . See also... NEWSFLASH: Russell Crowe Wins Best Actor Oscar (Includes Full Winners List) [2] and Russell Crowe Leather Skirt Academy Award Horror!! [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00444.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0103/S00178.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0103/S00086.htm

PM’S PRESSER: Resurrecting Ministers

- Wellington Central MP Marion Hobbs can take back all of her Ministerial portfolios if she wants them, Prime Minister Helen Clark said at her post-cabinet press conference this afternoon. See... Hobbs Back In A Job, Samuels Could Be Promoted [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0103/S00179.htm

Greens Urge Govt To Buy Back Rail

- To reverse the disintegration of the rail network, the Green Party proposes that central and local Government join together to regain ownership of the rail track. See... Getting New Zealand Back on Track [1] - Greens urge Government to 'Get Back On Track' [2] - Green rail plan good news for Auckland [3] - Green rail plan will benefit Wellington [4] REACTION: - RMTU - Rail Union Congratulates Greens Rail Plan [5]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00452.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00453.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00455.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00456.htm
[5] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0103/S00085.htm

Press Council Come Out Against Opinion Polls Bill

- The Press Council views with grave concern this proposal which is now before the House of Representatives as an unwarranted incursion into freedom of the press and accordingly free expression for all New Zealanders and their right to be informed. See… Press Council On Proposed Opinion Poll Legislation [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0103/S00082.htm

Cosiness with Monstrous Regime Demands Answers

- “When Foreign Minister Phil Goff ranks friendship with North Korea--a bloodthirsty totalitarian dictatorship--above contributing to the collective defence of the region, I think some answers are in order,” says Libertarianz leader Peter Cresswell. See... Clark Regime's North Korean Cosiness "Monstrous" [1] MORE: - Phil Goff - Historic Diplomatic Link With North Korea [2] - Peter Dunne - Dunne Criticises Decision To Recognise North Korea [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0103/S00083.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00418.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0103/S00434.htm

© 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.

CONTACT ALASTAIR THOMPSON

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