Questions for Oral Answer
As At Wednesday, 25 February 2004

Questions to Ministers
1. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Labour: What progress has the Government made in improving the conditions of low wage earners?

2. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Maori Affairs: With respect to the reported $1.6 million Haparangi A4 settlement, what is the total amount to be paid to the proprietors and is he happy with all the details?

3. ROD DONALD to the Minister of Education: Will he cancel the current round of school reviews following the report in the Southland Times that a meeting of Invercargill representatives of primary and secondary schools, education unions and the city council "felt it was inappropriate to proceed with anything assisting with the review, such as making submissions or collecting data."; if not, why not?

4. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her reported claim that to advocate that New Zealanders should be dealt with on the basis of need not race is "divisive" and "a desperate campaign by a beleaguered party"; if not, why not?

5. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister for ACC: Has she received any reports containing recent assessments of ACC's performance internationally?

6. HEATHER ROY to the Minister of Health: What methodology was followed to produce 20 percent extra Primary Health Organisation funding for each enrolled Maori, for all deprivation and age levels, and what specific needs does this extra 20 percent funding address?

7. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Conservation: Will he urgently review the proposed tagging of endangered Hector's dolphins with satellite-linked transmitters; if not, why not?

8. JOHN KEY to the Minister of Labour: Does she stand by her statement relating to the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill, "every employee remains totally free to choose whether they wish to join a union. Employees have a right to make a genuine choice, and protecting choice is a stated aim of the Act."; if so, why?

9. LARRY BALDOCK to the Minister for Biosecurity: Is the goal of the aerial spraying programme in West Auckland to eradicate the painted apple moth; if so, why?

10. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Co-ordinating Minister, Race Relations: Can he explain what is meant by the Prime Minister's reported comments "Mr Mallard will also take responsibility for general issues concerning the Treaty of Waitangi, such as the place of references to the Treaty in legislation. There has been no clear ministerial responsibility in this area at all."?

11. DAVE HEREORA to the Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the Ministry of Social Development's Work and Income Service doing in the Auckland region to assist professionally qualified migrants find suitable work?

12. KATHERINE RICH to the Associate Minister of Maori Affairs (Social Development): Does she stand by her comment on National Radio yesterday that "It's very difficult for Maori people to get into local government because of the so-called democracy of one person, one vote."; if so, why?

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>>