QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 1 May 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Labour: What reports, if any, has she received on the number of work stoppages under the Employment Relations Act?

2. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Prime Minister: How does she reconcile her statement of 21 November 1999 that "above all (a Labour Government) will be fair in its policies", with her Government's decision to extend the community services card threshold to beneficiaries and superannuitants but not to low income workers?

3. PETER BROWN to the Minister of Finance: Is the Government's intention to subsidise the "kiwi bank" by $78.2 million of greater importance than the $14 million required to assist 48,000 low paid workers and their families to gain access to the community services card; if so, why?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Finance: Can he confirm the Prime Minister's statement that extending the community services card to 48,000 low income workers would take $14 million to fix, but that it would not happen because the Budget was under other pressures?

5. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Transport: In light of reported statements by Tranz Rail this morning that it is likely to close or mothball certain lines, will the Government guarantee that the existing rail network will be preserved; if so, how?

6. Hon KEN SHIRLEY to the Minister of Health: Why did the Government announce that it had "increased funding for the community services card provision to ensure no superannuitant or beneficiary loses their entitlement to it as a result of the social security adjustments" but did not increase funding for some 48,000 workers on the same or lower income levels?

7. RUTH DYSON to the Minister for Disability Issues: What has been the response to yesterday's launch of the New Zealand Disability Strategy, Making a World of Difference: Whakanui Oranga?

8. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: Did she take a paper to Cabinet which included an option for an additional $14 million in funding to increase the community services card threshold; if so, what were Cabinet's reasons for its decision on the option?

9. LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN to the Minister of Education: What progress has been made on the development of early childhood education services for Pacific communities?

10. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Education: Did he, any of his Associate Ministers or his Ministry express any concern to the Special Education Service about the reported public comments by Nelson manager Celia Lashlie at a Restorative Justice Services Trust meeting on Wednesday 18 April about problem children becoming criminals?

11. GRANT GILLON to the Minister for Economic Development: What economic development issues involving high net worth individuals has he identified?

12. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Police: Why is a policeman convicted of rape in April 2001 still being paid a reported $1,000 a week in salary?

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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>>