Questions for Oral Answer
As At Wednesday, 19 May 2004

Questions to Ministers

1. Hon RICHARD PREBBLE to the Minister of Finance: Is it correct that the "Future Directions package" in the May 27 budget is expected to be worth about $2.5 billion and around 300,000 households will benefit, as reported in the New Zealand Herald; if not, what are the facts?

2. JUDY TURNER to the Minister of Justice: Is he satisfied with the current legal status of cannabis; if so, why?

3. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): Is Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology's use of $15 million of community education funding a good use of tertiary education funding; if so, why?

4. TIM BARNETT to the Minister of Justice: What changes will he be making to strengthen the jury system?

5. Dr WAYNE MAPP to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: What discussions does he intend to have with the Australian Minister for Justice and Customs regarding the recommendation by the Australia New Zealand Leadership Forum that the scope for a common border for Australia and New Zealand should be explored?

6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: Exactly how did he or his officials come up with the estimated 20,000 overstayer figure yesterday and what is the margin of error for this estimate?

7. Dr LYNDA SCOTT to the Minister of Health: Has she received any correspondence from the Minister of Finance regarding concerns over the decline in productivity in the health sector; if so, what are those concerns?

8. NANAIA MAHUTA to the Convenor, Ministerial Group on Climate Change: What reports has he received on progress on implementing the Kyoto Protocol?

9. NANDOR TANCZOS to the Associate Minister of Health: What evidence does he have that raising the drinking age is an effective means of reducing binge drinking by teenagers?

10. MARK PECK to the Minister of Statistics: What is Statistics New Zealand doing to reduce the costs to business in complying with requirements to provide statistical data?

11. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Defence: Does he stand by his answer to written question 5653 on 6 June 2003 in relation to the treatment of United States detainees; if so, why?

12. MARTIN GALLAGHER to the Minister for Courts: Is he satisfied that the "Confiscated Car Club" advertising and enforcement campaign has been effective in dealing with fines defaulters?

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>>