QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 28 August 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon KEN SHIRLEY to the Minister of Conservation: How does she explain her rejection of GRD Macraes Limited mining expansion near Reefton when neither she nor her department appealed the resource consents that were granted after an extensive process of hearings and negotiation?

2. ANN HARTLEY to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What reports has he received on regional labour markets?

3. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Prime Minister: Is the Minister of Conservation's decision to decline access to the GRD Macraes mine consistent with her statement to the Catching Knowledge Wave conference "Our broad vision is to see our nation back in the top half of the OECD over time."; if so, how?

4. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: Why was the New Zealand Dairy Board forced to withdraw several cartons of processed cheese it was exporting to Sri Lanka, a country with which New Zealand has a significant dairy trade?

5. Hon Dr NICK SMITH to the Minister of Conservation: Does she agree with Mr Rhys Buckingham, the author of the wildlife report to her, that the proposed Globe Hill mining area had relatively low faunal value and that as long as compensatory conditions were adequate the net conservation gains of the scheme would have outweighed the environmental costs?

6. NANAIA MAHUTA to the Minister of Education: What assistance is currently provided to ensure that first time principals are equipped to fulfil their new roles?

7. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister for Economic Development: Was the decision of Hon Sandra Lee to deny access to the GRD Macraes mine in Reefton consistent with his promise on 26 October 1999 of a partnership plan for the West Coast's economic development of working co-operatively with the West Coast people and communities to provide 1,200 new jobs during the next three years; if so, how?

8. DAVID CUNLIFFE to the Minister for Accident Insurance: Has the Minister received reports of proposals to adjust the levies applicable to the ACC employers', self-employed work and motor vehicle accounts; if so, what is her response?

9. Rt Hon JENNY SHIPLEY to the Prime Minister: In light of her reported statement that she would rewrite Labour's defence policy to make land forces the highest priority for defence spending, is she now satisfied that she was not manipulated by senior Army officers who were involved in a battle for control of defence policy?

10. H V ROSS ROBERTSON to the Minister for Information Technology: What progress has been made in promoting the use of e-commerce in the regions?

11. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Justice: What assurances can the Government give the House that the names and addresses on the electoral roll are being protected from commercial exploitation?

12. Hon MAX BRADFORD to the Minister of Defence: Did he attend a dinner with a number of senior army officers at the Wellington Club on or about 15 February 2000 at 7.30pm; if so, what was discussed?

Questions to Members

1. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: Does the agenda for the committee this week provide for a briefing from the Minister for State Owned Enterprises; if so, what is the purpose of the briefing?

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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>>