QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 18 September 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. CHRIS CARTER to the Prime Minister: Has she received any message from the United States Government since last week's horrific terrorist attacks; if so, what message?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Does her Government stand shoulder to shoulder with the United States in its declaration of war against terrorism?

3. JILL PETTIS to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What is the Government doing to secure tertiary education provision in the regions?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of Finance: Why is the Government going to take a further four to six weeks to make a decision on the future of Air New Zealand when it has already had at least two months?

5. ANN HARTLEY to the Minister of Immigration: What are the key elements of the New Zealand Immigration Programme announced this week and how does the programme differ from the system it replaces?

6. BELINDA VERNON to the Minister of Finance: On what date was the Government first approached on the need for the recapitalisation of Air New Zealand?

7. HARRY DUYNHOVEN to the Minister of Transport: What action is the Government taking to change vehicle standards to improve air quality?

8. Hon MAX BRADFORD to the Minister of Defence: What was in the document or documents which Major General Dodson, Chief of General Staff, allegedly asked his deputy to destroy and will he agree to table them in the House?

9. KEITH LOCKE to the Prime Minister: Will she assure the House that the Government will not provide military support to any United States-led attack on Afghanistan, but will assist in finding and bringing to trial those who organised the recent terrorist attacks in the United States?

10. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Prime Minister: Considering the nineteen NATO countries have stated that if it is determined the terrorist attack on the United States came from abroad it will be regarded as an action covered by Article V of the NATO Treaty, which states that an armed attack on the United States is an attack on all NATO states, and the Australian House of Representatives belief that the terrorist attack comes within the meaning of Articles IV and V of the ANZUS Treaty which deems the attack to be an attack on all ANZUS countries, does the Prime Minister regard the terrorist attack as being an attack on New Zealand; if not, why not?

11. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Defence: In light of the Prime Minister's statement that her Government "will set new standards - both in terms of behaviour and performance", would he consider it acceptable for the head of the Army to order the destruction of documents which could be the subject of an inquiry; if not, what action would he take if such an allegation were proved correct?

12. JOHN WRIGHT to the Minister for Industry and Regional Development: What reports of regional consultation has he received and what did these advise?

ENDS

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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>>