**** NOTE: Today we are posting an early Top Scoops Bulletin... later this afternoon we will post a SPECIAL BUDGET 2004 TOP SCOOPS BULLETIN with full coverage from this afternoon's festivities. - The Scoop Editor *****

TODAY’S TOP SCOOPS
Scoop Is In The House
LEAD STORY: Private Prison Costings And Claims World's Apart
SSC Inquiry: Scampi Tale Sad & Expensive - But No Corruption

SCOOP COLUMNS:
MOTORNET: Karl Takes A Ride In A Series 5 BMW
Public Address: Fiona Rae & More Is There!
The Real Deal: Black Budgets And Mortgage Bubbles
Outrage In Response To President Bush's Speech
Between The Lines: America's School Of Torture
William Rivers Pitt: Ahmed Chalabi & Iran
Genevieve Cora Fraser: Sue Israel
Green Left Weekly: Cracks In The US Empire

OTHER NEWS (Just Politics)
Budget 2004: Arts, Culture And War Memorials
Budget 2004: Money For Migrants And Refugees
Budget 2004: Who Are The Real Wreckers
Budget 2004: Hip & Knee Bonanza
Expensive Photo Ops For The PM
Tamihere Accused If Misinforming On The Foreshore
Unemployment Levels Halved
Apology Wanted From Pete Hodgson Over Blackouts
Alliance U-Turn On Foreshore Not Unnoticed
Bill English Smells An Education Stinker In Gisborne

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...TODAY'S PHOTO STORY...

Gummer and Ford's winning design for the
National War Memorial, Art Gallery and Museum, 1929.
http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=budget2004
Click for FULL COVERAGE BUDGET 2004
http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00549.htm
Budget 2004: National War Memorial Getting A Facelift

Scoop Is In The House

- For Wednesday's questions & answers see.. Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 26 May 2004 [1] . For Tuesday's see... Questions & Answers for Oral Answer 25 May 2004 [2] .

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00559.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00530.htm

LEAD STORY:
Private Prison Costings And Claims World's Apart

- As the Corrections Bill nears its third and final reading, finally some clarity on the relative costs of the (soon to be abolished) privately run ACM (aka GEO) Auckland Central Remand Prison vs costs of the Public Prison Service. See... How Much Does ACM(aka GEO)'s Prison Really Cost [1] and Kevin List: An Audience With Matt Robson [2]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00262.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00239.htm

SSC Inquiry: Scampi Tale Sad & Expensive - But No Corruption

- The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, today released the Inquiry Report of Helen Cull QC and David Smyth into Fisheries Management, particularly in relation to the Scampi fishery. "This is a sorry tale" Mr Wintringham said, "which holds important lessons for the wider State sector". See... Fisheries Management (Scampi) Inquiry Report [1] MORE: - SSC Scampi Inquiry - 1.0 Executive Summary [2] - SSC Scampi Inquiry - 2.0 Recommendations [3] - MAF - News Release: Ministry of Fisheries vindicated [4]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00265.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00264.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00263.htm
[4] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00266.htm

SCOOP FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT - FULL COVERAGE

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=fc
Italy:PM Clark At Cassino - Full Coverage
For more see... Italy Assignment: Full Coverage...

SCOOP COLUMNS:
MOTORNET: Karl Takes A Ride In A Series 5 BMW

- The corner was long and sweeping, nicely cambered with a slight rise as it turned into a long narrow straight. Nothing special - typical even of the many roads I had been driving all afternoon in and around the South Wairarapa Coast and in my mind, ... See... MOTORNET: Pushing The Envelope - BMW5 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00272.htm

Public Address: Fiona Rae & More Is There!

- Good to see Steve Maharey giving more or less an assurance that he won't be fiddling with NZ On Air in this week's Listener. I did a similar story a while back about the row that was brewing between the independent television producers and TVNZ over... See... Public Address 27/05/04 - Epiphanies [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00271.htm

The Real Deal: Black Budgets And Mortgage Bubbles

- Investors benefit from understanding the federal budget, credit policies and covert intervention that drive markets -- often overriding fundamental economics. How has the US governmental apparatus become so powerful in the marketplace and what does it mean to the health of our economy? How unstable is the mortgage bubble and where are the opportunities for investors if the bubble bursts? See... America's Black Budget & Manipulation Of Markets [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00268.htm

Outrage In Response To President Bush's Speech

- In ''Spin City,'' the nation’s capital, presidential administrations often believe their own propaganda. The Bush administration, however, has been especially self-delusional—particularly when it comes to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. See... Ivan Eland: Mr. President, What Planet Are You On? [1] MORE: - Manuel Valenzuela: The War Culture [2] - Douglas O'Rourke: A Shadow On The Land [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00270.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00269.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00265.htm

Between The Lines: America's School Of Torture

- Pentagon's Legacy of Training Latin American Soldiers in Torture Techniques Haunts Probe Into Iraqi Prisoner Abuse Scandal - Interview with Eric LeCompte, organizing coordinator, School of the Americas Watch, conducted by Scott Harris See... Pentagon's Legacy of Training Soldiers in Torture [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00267.htm

William Rivers Pitt: Ahmed Chalabi & Iran

- George W. Bush is running for a second term on the basis of his performance in the defense of our national security. Vice President Cheney has flatly stated that if Bush loses in 2004, the terrorists win. See... UQ Wire: The Iranian Spy in the House of Bush [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00266.htm

Genevieve Cora Fraser: Sue Israel

- Peering through a tank : Shelled portal : The young Semite : Boy searched : For the remains : Of his life : Scattered : Amid the ruins : Of a Rafah : Neighborhood : A ragged archway See... Sue Israel for Pain, Suffering, and Wrongful Death [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00264.htm

Green Left Weekly: Cracks In The US Empire

- The failure of US troops' bloody attempts to crush the Iraqi people's armed rebellions in Fallujah and Najaf — and the public outrage across the world sparked by the revelations of the systematic torture of Iraqi prisoners by US guards at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib ... See... GLW: Iraq War Causes Cracks In The US Empire [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/HL0405/S00263.htm

http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0405/S00270.htm
The Rainbow Warrior Departs From Auckland

Budget 2004: Arts, Culture And War Memorials

- Prime Minister and Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Helen Clark today announced plans to establish a National Memorial Park to honour those who have served New Zealand in war. See... National Memorial Park to honour war dead [1] See also…Budget 2004: Culture and heritage gets new boost [2] For FULL COVERAGE OF BUDGET 2004 PREVIEWS AND PRE ANNOUNCEMENTS… CLICK HERE [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00549.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00548.htm
[3] - http://scoop.co.nz/mason/features/?s=budget2004

Budget 2004: Money For Migrants And Refugees

- Budget 2004 allocates more than $62 million over the next four years for practical measures to help migrants, refugees and their families make a greater contribution to the economy and society. See....Budget 2004 Support for migrants and business [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00555.htm

Budget 2004: Who Are The Real Wreckers

- $500 million of new economic growth initiatives may be threatened by National. Would National's future finance spokesperson, John Key, really obliterate the positive work this coalition government has done to promote economic growth? See....Initiatives may be threatened by National [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00554.htm

Budget 2004: Hip & Knee Bonanza

- The Labour-Progressive government is aiming to double the number of major hip and knee replacement operations being funded by the public health system within the next four years. See....Hip and knee replacement operations set to double [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00542.htm

Expensive Photo Ops For The PM

- It appears that Prime Minister Helen Clark has taken public relations to new heights - paying $30 million on photo opportunities is absolutely astounding, ACT New Zealand Arts, Culture & Heritage Spokesman Heather Roy said today. See.... Prime Minister Pays $30 Million For Photo Ops [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00556.htm

Tamihere Accused If Misinforming On The Foreshore

- Official papers released this week show that Land Information Minister John Tamihere repeatedly misled the public and Parliament over the extent of private ownership of the foreshore. See....Tamihere caught telling Parliament porkies [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00553.htm

Unemployment Levels Halved

- The number of people receiving the statutory Unemployment Benefit has halved since1999, Social Development and Employment Minister Steve Maharey told Parliament this afternoon. See....Unemployment halved since 1999 [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00552.htm

Apology Wanted From Pete Hodgson Over Blackouts

- "Pete Hodgson should apologise and resign over false accusations levelled at the National Party when it first raised the prospect of power black-outs in the South Island," says National's Energy spokesman Roger Sowry. See....Hodgson haunted by hysterics and history [1] MORE: - Greens - Don't panic over Transpower's Think Big claims [2] - ACT - Power Crisis Looming [3]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00551.htm
[2] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00544.htm
[3] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00547.htm

Alliance U-Turn On Foreshore Not Unnoticed

- Progressive MP Matt Robson says he is sending to Tariana Turia a copy of the official position of the Alliance on the importance of public domain in the foreshore and seabed debate. See....Sending Turia a message [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00534.htm

Bill English Smells An Education Stinker In Gisborne

- The community education funding scam at Gisborne's Tairawhiti Polytechnic is getting more outrageous by the week, says National's Education spokesman, Bill English. See....Tairawhiti funding scam: the plot thickens [1]

[1] - http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0405/S00532.htm

ENDS

© 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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