QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Wednesday, 16 May 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon MURRAY McCULLY to the Attorney-General: If it is correct that the confidentiality provisions of clause 7 in the settlement agreement between the Prime Minister and Mr John Yelash were included at the instigation of counsel for Mr Yelash, as she told the House yesterday she understood to be the case, why does the agreement provide for a significant monetary penalty to protect against a breach of confidentiality by Mr Yelash, but no such provision to protect against a breach of confidentiality by the Crown?

2. MARK PECK to the Treasurer: Has he received any suggestions for next week's Budget?

3. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Attorney-General: How does she reconcile her answer given in the House yesterday that "my understanding was, from counsel representing the Prime Minister, that Mr Williams QC raised the matter of confidentiality at the outset because he wished to seek a settlement at that stage" with Mr Williams' statement that "that is a complete and absolute lie" and Mr John Yelash's statement "without any question none of this had anything do with it. It was imposed on us." and, in the light of these statements, would she like to reconsider her answer?

4. NANDOR TANCZOS to the Minister of Health: In what way is misuse of drugs reduced when people with chronic health problems are convicted of cannabis offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act for use of a drug in a controlled situation where it can improve quality of life?

5. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister for Economic Development: What action has the Ministry of Economic Development taken in response to his publicly reported concerns of 17 April that the Resource Management Act was "unduly bureaucratic", needed streamlining and the major requirement was to have consents decided quickly because "People ... can accept a decision going against them, but what they can't accept is that it takes forever and a day. Time is money to these people and I understand that."?

6. JANET MACKEY to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What initiatives has the Government taken to improve the co-ordination and delivery of social services to rural New Zealand communities?

7. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: Is it the Government's intention to transfer money from district health boards to the primary care sector; if so, what is her response to concerns raised by hospital managers that it is dangerous to suddenly withdraw money from hospitals before better primary care systems are in place?

8. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What progress has been made in advancing the peace process in the Solomon Islands?

9. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister of Women's Affairs: What reports has she received from the Ministry of Women's Affairs on the legislation and resources required to implement 12 weeks' paid parental leave on 1 April 2002?

10. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What reports has he received on the quality of education provided for years 7 and 8 students in different school settings in New Zealand?

11. PENNY WEBSTER to the Minister of Health: Was the Hospitality Association consulted before the Government decided on plans to ban smoking in bars and restaurants; if not, what input into the proposals came from the hospitality industry?

12. BELINDA VERNON to the Minister of Transport: What factors did he take into account when he appointed Dave Morgan as New Zealand's representative on the Board of the Pacific Forum Line?

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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>>