QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Thursday, 15 March 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. OWEN JENNINGS to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: Will the Government immediately instigate World Trade Organisation proceedings over Australia's refusal to lift the ban on New Zealand apples; if not, why not?

2. R DOUG WOOLERTON to the Minister of Agriculture: Has he received any reports on the impact on small independent cheese manufacturers of the proposed amalgamation of New Zealand Dairy Group, Kiwi Dairies and the Dairy Board; if so, what do they say?

3. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Forestry: Will he take responsibility for the use of tropical African anegre timber in the Beehive refurbishment given that the Cabinet minute specifically instructed officials that no native timbers were to be used?

4. DAVID BENSON-POPE to the Minister of Education: What reports has he received on social deprivation and its effect in the education sector?

5. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Health: Does she stand by her answer to question No 5 of 14 March, that "the chair of the Health Funding Authority made it clear that he would welcome suggestions. Given that, I sought a suggestion from Professor Peter Davis, a prominent public health expert, which was forwarded to the chair of the Health Funding Authority by a member of my staff."?

6. MARTIN GALLAGHER to the Minister of Research, Science and Technology: What plans does the Government have to further increase the ideas flow within New Zealand's research, science and technology innovation system?

7. IAN EWEN-STREET to the Minister of Forestry: Will the Government end New Zealand's contribution to the destruction of indigenous forests in other countries by legislating to ensure all imported timber and timber products carry Forest Stewardship Council certification; if not, why not?

8. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Minister of Health: What fees and costs did Dr Joel Lexchin and Hon David Caygill each receive as independent reviewers of Pharmac's policies, and what was the total cost of the review?

9. MAHARA OKEROA to the Minister of Housing: What benefits have been identified as a result of joint initiatives between Housing New Zealand and South Auckland Health?

10. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: Will she be providing more funding to reduce cancer radiation treatment waiting times in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin; if not, why not?

11. STEVE CHADWICK to the Associate Minister of Energy: Does the Government have any figures about the current state of the petroleum exploration industry in New Zealand?

12. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Labour: Has she received any reports on whether the meeting of five unions in Rotorua yesterday to "discuss concerns" about Carter Holt Harvey's operations breached the good faith provisions of the Employment Relations Act?

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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>>