Questions for Oral Answer
As At Wednesday, 28 July 2004

Questions to Ministers

1. GERRY BROWNLEE to the Deputy Prime Minister: Can he confirm that where customary rights recognised under the proposed foreshore and seabed legislation are in an area where a major infrastructure development is planned, for example part of the Auckland eastern corridor motorway, the development will only be allowed to proceed with the sanction of the customary rights holder?

2. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: Has he received any reports on possible changes to the current school enrolment scheme legislation?

3. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does he stand by his statement, in relation to capacity building grants, that "We've taken exactly the right approach to ensure that if we're going to have taxpayers' money in the hands of people who're going to be delivering a variety of services, they've got the capacity to do so."; if not, why not?

4. LARRY BALDOCK to the Minister for the Environment: Is she satisfied that the proposed planning process in the Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill is fair; if so, why?

5. RODNEY HIDE to the Minister of Corrections: Is he satisfied with the Department of Corrections report on Iwi Consultation and Other Matters Related to the Spring Hill Corrections Facility dated 14 April 2004; if so, why?

6. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister of Housing: How is the Government working with the community and local government to increase the range of housing available?

7. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): How will budgeted spending cuts of $144 million be applied at individual tertiary institutions over the next three years?

8. Hon MATT ROBSON to the Minister for Economic Development: What measures has the Labour Progressive Government announced during the recent adjournment to promote economic, industry and regional development?

9. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Why did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade set mid-January 2004 as a deadline for obtaining comments from the Belgian, French and Swiss governments on the Refugee Status Appeals Authority Judgment on Ahmed Zaoui?

10. DAVID PARKER to the Minister for Land Information: What is the Government doing to save Lake Wanaka from the infestation of lagarosiphon lakeweed?

11. SIMON POWER to the Minister of Defence: Will the Aermacchis and Skyhawks be sold in the 2004/2005 financial year; if so, what advice has he received from government officials or Ernst and Young that supports this?

12. BRENT CATCHPOLE to the Minister of Housing: Is he satisfied with the current State housing allocation system used by Housing New Zealand Corporation; 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>>