QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Thursday, 22 March 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. PENNY WEBSTER to the Minister for Economic Development: Is he concerned that in February 2001, on average 308 New Zealanders left New Zealand permanently every day, and what does this mean in relation to his "job machine"?

2. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What reports has he received regarding any risk to New Zealand arising from re-entry of the MIR space station?

3. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: Can he clarify what he meant when he said that the Government could have chosen to respond "modestly" when making the cost of living adjustments to social welfare benefits?

4. SUE BRADFORD to the Minister of Justice: Can he confirm that the Government will review section 59 of the Crimes Act; if so, what are the terms of reference and the reporting date of the review?

5. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Was the Board of Creative New Zealand informed of the personal grievance claim by a senior manager within the Historic Places Trust against then chief executive Elizabeth Kerr that resulted in a substantial financial settlement, prior to appointing Elizabeth Kerr as chief executive of Creative New Zealand?

6. MARK PECK to the Minister of Revenue: What reports has he received on the reaction to recent announcements regarding changes to taxation legislation?

7. ERIC ROY to the Minister for Biosecurity: Can he give a categorical assurance that farm machinery entering New Zealand from the United Kingdom or Europe carries no risk of a foot-and-mouth incursion into New Zealand?

8. PETER BROWN to the Minister of Transport: Now the Shipping Industry Review report has been made public, will he respond by announcing the direction he intends to take in regard to New Zealand shipping; if so, when does he expect to make that announcement?

9. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: Can she explain what she is doing about nursing shortages in New Zealand?

10. RICK BARKER to the Minister of Agriculture: What was the result of public consultation on the future of the apple and pear export industry?

11. Hon DAVID CARTER to the Minister of Housing: Why are 21 Housing New Zealand homes currently being occupied by foreign students in an area where 54 people are on the waiting list with urgent housing needs?

12. TAITO PHILLIP FIELD to the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs: What progress has the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs made with the Government's Pacific capacity building strategy?

© Scoop Media

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>>