QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 13 March 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: Has he received any recent reports on the economy; if so, what do they say?

2. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Minister for Biosecurity: Why was funding for the introduction of instant fines for biosecurity offences at the border not included in the 2000/2001 Budget?

3. DAMIEN O'CONNOR to the Minister for Biosecurity: What steps has the Government taken to allay public concerns about the biosecurity system in light of the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Britain?

4. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her reported comment to the Evening Post of 28 July 2000 that she had no recollection of meeting Dr Joel Lexchin, the independent reviewer of Pharmac's operating policies and procedures?

5. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister for Biosecurity: Does he consider that the "beefed-up border security measures" announced yesterday are adequate and appropriate for detecting biosecurity-dangerous goods entering New Zealand?

6. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Finance: What is his response to the poll showing that the number of people intending to put their money into the "People's Bank" has fallen since last June?

7. CHRIS CARTER to the Minister of Corrections: What concerns have recently been reported to him regarding the release of prisoners before their term has expired?

8. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Minister of Immigration: In view of the latest migration statistics which show a loss of permanent and long-term skilled New Zealanders overseas, will the Government be changing its policies; if not, why not?

9. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What is the estimated cost to taxpayers of legal advice, legal action and investigation by the Chief Executive of the Department of Work and Income to defend her position during her term of office, including the cost of legal action against individuals?

10. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister for Crown Research Institutes: Does he intend to require Crown research institutes to make a special dividend payment to the Government, "probably more than once", with the money being used as early stage finance for ventures considered too risky to be able to raise capital in the mainstream markets?

11. RUTH DYSON to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Has he received any reports on the events of Volunteers Awareness Week?

12. Hon DAVID CARTER to the Minister of Housing: What consideration will he give to former Labour housing spokesperson Graham Kelly's call for all State houses to be lifted up and turned north to face the sun, and how much would such a policy cost?

ENDS

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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>>