QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Tuesday, 9 October 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. CHRIS CARTER to the Prime Minister: What recent reports has she received regarding the international campaign against terrorism?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Is her statement that "The Government believes that today's military action is justified under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter which enables a nation to act in self-defence." fully supported by all members of the Government?

3. GRANT GILLON to the Minister for Economic Development: What new challenges to New Zealand's economic development has he identified?

4. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Prime Minister: Has she asked her Minister of Finance to reconcile his reported comment that Air New Zealand might need up to $150 million more with his later comment that "There is no reason to believe that any more money will be required."; if so, which is the correct position?

5. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: What advice has he received on the best means of reacting to the slowdown in the world economy?

6. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Health: What new initiatives, if any, is the Government planning regarding support for Plunket?

7. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Prime Minister: At what time and by whom was she advised of the American/British air strikes on Afghanistan?

8. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: When will the Ministry of Health meet with the Otago District Health Board to discuss the $1.1 million funding shortfall for acute services at Dunedin Hospital, and is the Ministry prepared to offer more funding than the $500,000 it offered last month?

9. JUDY KEALL to the Minister of Health: What are the agreed terms of the recently announced settlement for former patients of Lake Alice Hospital?

10. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Minister of Education: Is he concerned about any adverse effects the planned Post Primary Teachers Association strike on Thursday may have on the education of senior students; if not, why not?

11. DIANNE YATES to the Minister of Education: What actions are schools taking to ensure the safety of secondary school students during the teachers' strike on Thursday?

12. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister of Justice: Does the Hon Tariana Turia's comment that New Zealand "should consider the possibility of establishing a parallel system of justice that recognises the Treaty of Waitangi" represent official Government policy?

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>>