Questions for Oral Answer
As At Wednesday, 11 February 2004

Questions to Ministers

1. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister of Health: Has she received any reports comparing New Zealand's health system internationally?

2. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Prime Minister: Will the Prime Minister now reconsider her reported claim that Dr Don Brash's Orewa speech was "divisive" following last night's record Holmes show poll showing that 90 percent of responding viewers agree with Dr Don Brash, and will she now concede that one law for all is a policy that unites the country?

3. METIRIA TUREI to the Minister of Education: Why is he closing or proposing to close dozens of schools up and down the country despite strong community opposition to those closures?

4. Dr DON BRASH to the Prime Minister: How does she reconcile her statement that the Government's policy proposal for the foreshore and seabed was about "acting in the best interests of all New Zealanders" with the statement made by the Solicitor-General at a Waitangi Tribunal hearing on the policy that it "does accord real rights to those who hold customary titles and customary rights. They are not, with respect, simply in the position of any other person."?

5. MARC ALEXANDER to the Minister of Corrections: Is he satisfied with the management of State prisons; if so, why?

6. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Attorney-General: Has she been advised of the statements of the Solicitor-General to the Waitangi Tribunal hearing on the Government's foreshore and seabed policy, in which he said, "Those who have a customary right do have a right to stop activities that will have a significant impact on that customary right. That is a real power, a real ability."; if so, does she believe this is a fair and accurate representation of the Government's policy?

7. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Broadcasting: How many employees of Television New Zealand Limited were sent to international broadcast conventions and trade fairs in 2003 and what was the total cost including all fares, accommodation, entertainment, dining and transport costs of this?

8. Dr the Hon LOCKWOOD SMITH to the Minister for Trade Negotiations: When will negotiations begin on a free-trade agreement between New Zealand and the United States, now that Australia has completed its own deal with the United States?

9. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: How many people who have been served with deportation orders since February 2003 are still here and why?

10. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What reports has he received on the impact of Government measures to ensure all New Zealanders have opportunities to achieve their potential?

11. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: Does she believe spiritual healing offers a better health outcome for Maori than improved access to elective surgery; if so, why?

12. MARK PECK to the Associate Minister of Energy: Has he received any reports on recent interest in petroleum exploration in New Zealand?

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>>