Questions for Oral Answer

As At Wednesday, 6 October 2004 Questions to Ministers

1. MARC ALEXANDER to the Minister of Justice: Can he confirm that it is the Government's policy not to change the legal status of cannabis; if so, is he confident that other policies implemented by his ministerial colleagues are consistent with this commitment?

2. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): Was he advised earlier this year that "An issue arose this year at Aoraki Polytechnic in relation to the validation of student enrolments, the majority of which pertained to 5.1.", and was this issue related to Government funding for Aoraki Polytechnic's "joint education programmes", where it offers courses through existing community groups?

3. GEORGINA BEYER to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What reports has he received on outcomes from the 2002 domestic purposes and widow's benefit reforms?

4. HEATHER ROY to the Minister of Health: Following her answer to written question No 12986 (2004) in relation to elective surgery, how many people in the booking system were transferred to the category of GP Care in the year ended June 2004?

5. NANAIA MAHUTA to the Minister of Health: Has she received any recent reports regarding enrolments in primary health organisations for the over 65-year-old age group?

6. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Health: Is she satisfied that health funding is being spent effectively; if so, why?

7. TARIANA TURIA to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many non-Maori organisations and individuals have come under review in connection with activities funded from the Social Entrepreneur Fund?

8. JOHN KEY to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in the Minister of Finance; if so, why?

9. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Associate Minister of Health: Is he aware of any other groups of New Zealanders suffering health effects from dioxin exposure similar to the exposure that the Health Committee recognises was experienced by Vietnam veterans; if so, what action is he taking?

10. RODNEY HIDE to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by her reported statement in respect of her speeding motorcade that she "was not aware of what speed they were doing" and does that mean she was not aware that her motorcade was breaking the speed limit?

11. HELEN DUNCAN to the Minister of Education: What steps is he taking to encourage primary school children to be more active?

12. KATHERINE RICH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Can he confirm his statement yesterday that the Social Entrepreneur Fund was his initiative; if so, why did he decide to terminate the fund?

Questions to Members

1. RODNEY HIDE to the Chairperson of the Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation Committee: Who decided that Nanaia Mahuta's submission "received outside the parameters set by the committee" would be heard and what process was followed in making that decision?

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>>