QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

Thursday, 6 December 2001

Questions to Ministers

1. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Defence: In light of the United States' bombing of its own troops in Afghanistan does he believe that New Zealand's SAS troops will be safe from "friendly fire" in that country; if so, why?

2. Hon ROGER SOWRY to the Minister of Health: Has she received a letter from the chairperson-designate of the Auckland District Health Board who "has written to the Minister of Health to express concern at the arbitrary out-turn to the review and to forewarn the Minister of the true deficit range that has been estimated at $71 million to $87 million, based on the reviewer findings"; if so, what specific action has she taken as a result?

3. MARK PECK to the Minister of Finance: What progress has been made with the establishment of the charities working party?

4. Hon MAX BRADFORD to the Minister of Defence: When does he expect the State Services Commission to complete its report on the accessing of Mr Ron Mark's personal military files and does he consider the timeframe suitable given the nature of the allegations?

5. LIZ GORDON to the Minister for Economic Development: What support is Industry New Zealand providing for an Innovation park in Hamilton?

6. Dr PAUL HUTCHISON to the Minister of Health: Has the Government agreed to the West Coast District Health Board's request for a $6 million cash injection by the end of this month to cover immediate and future cash-flow requirements; if not, why not?

7. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Defence: Has he received any information that Allan Emerson, previously a director of Communication Trumps and now an advisor to Major General Dodson, has been saying that he has information which should cause a certain member of Parliament to be careful?

8. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Labour: Can she assure the House that the "issues" raised about Susan Bathgate in the advice from John Upton QC would not in any way affect Susan Bathgate's suitability to hold her warrants; if not, will she advise the Minister for Courts of the "issues" raised?

9. ANN HARTLEY to the Minister of Social Services and Employment: What are the anticipated benefits of the meeting which is to take place tomorrow between the Government and the social and community sector?

10. Dr MURIEL NEWMAN to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): Why did he publicly vilify the Practical Education Training Centre in New Plymouth, as reported in the New Zealand Business Times, before his own Ministry had completed its investigations?

11. GRAHAM KELLY to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What reports has he received on the current situation in Zimbabwe?

12. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister of Police: What did he say or write to the Police Commissioner which led the Commissioner to reply "I share your disappointment that we have again failed to meet your expectations." and "I, as commissioner, and the deputy commissioners are unhappy that we and our staff continue to make your job more difficult and frustrate your efforts to assist us in our endeavours to meet our common goals"?

ENDS

© 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>>