QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Thursday, 15 November 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Economic Development: What recent reports has he received on New Zealand's economic development initiatives?

2. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Labour: Is the signed statement by Ms Susan Bathgate, which says "The Complaints Review Tribunal has involved nine to ten days of sitting time since 2 October 2000. Those days were taken as annual leave" correct; if not, what steps has she taken in relation to this matter?

3. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he received on the state of the economy?

4. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Corrections: Is he fully satisfied that the processes employed by his Associate Minister regarding advocacy for individual inmates will in future totally comply with the Cabinet Office Manual, and has he been absolutely assured by his Associate Minister that her conduct will meet these standards?

5. Hon BRIAN DONNELLY to the Minister of Maori Affairs: What does the Te Puni Kokiri audit say about the success of Training Opportunity and Youth Training programmes in helping Maori improve their future prospects?

6. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister for Courts: Has he requested a report on the actions of the Associate Minister of Corrections who has directly contacted the Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court about a case involving David Churton, who has served time in prison for assault with a weapon; if not, why not?

7. CHRIS CARTER to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: What has been the outcome of the World Trade Organisation ministerial meeting recently concluded in Doha, Qatar?

8. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Labour: Was Susan Bathgate, on her appointment to the Employment Relations Authority, sent Higher Salaries Commission Determination No 50/2000 with clause 2 that states "This determination is made on the basis that the position is full-time and is subject to pro rata adjustment where that basis does not apply."; if so, how does the Minister conclude that "there is no blame attached to [Susan Bathgate] in this"?

9. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Does he agree with John Spriggs and Grant Isaac, who state in their new book Food, Safety and International Competitiveness: the Case of Beef, in respect of the Australia New Zealand Food Authority agreement, that "Under the harmonized agreement, New Zealand becomes a State of Australia in terms of food production and trade."; if not, why not?

10. ANNE TOLLEY to the Minister of Health: Following the six month review of the Gisborne Cervical Cancer Screening Inquiry, which states that only eight of the recommendations have been completed and that 21 are behind schedule, can she confirm that all recommendations will now be actioned on time; if not, why not?

11. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What funding has he made available through discretionary grants for early childhood education services?

12. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by the answer he gave in the House yesterday, in regard to a letter he wrote regarding two union officials who had had charges against them dropped, that "I wrote that because that is what the Police advised me."; if so, why?

Questions to Members

1. SUE KEDGLEY to the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee: Will the public be invited to make submissions on the amendments to the Australia New Zealand Joint Food Standards Treaty being considered by the committee; if not, why not?

© Scoop Media

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>>