1. Dr DON BRASH to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in Hon John Tamihere; if not, why not?

2. KEITH LOCKE to the Minister of Justice: Does he have any concerns about New Zealand based subsidiaries of United States' companies conveying New Zealanders' personal information to United States government agencies, without the consent of the New Zealanders involved?

3. RON MARK to the Minister of Police: Has he received any reports in relation to published comments, in the May 2004 issue of Police News, that state, "the overall level of service provided to front-line staff by the centre (as a whole, and NOT the individuals) is - solely because of inadequate staffing levels - poor."; if so, what action does he intend to take?

4. MOANA MACKEY to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What reports has he received about the implementation of the October Working for Families changes?

5. Dr DON BRASH to the Prime Minister: Can she confirm that the question of Hon John Tamihere's conduct in stating that he would not accept a golden handshake from the Waipareira Trust and then accepting such a payment is a matter for "political decision", as asserted by the Acting Prime Minister; if so, when will she make that decision?

6. LYNNE PILLAY to the Minister of Education: What action is the Government taking to identify and share best practice in schools?

7. RODNEY HIDE to the Prime Minister: Why did she question Hon John Tamihere about rumours of tax issues involving the Waipareira Trust and what questions did she ask him?

8. MARK PECK to the Minister of Communications: What recent evidence has he received showing that the Telecommunications Act 2001 is working to deliver competition to New Zealand consumers?

9. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Finance: With respect to his comments in relation to the approved sale of a majority stake in Powerco to Australian company Prime Infrastructure Networks, "It is, however, with great reluctance that I am letting the deal proceed as there were aspects of the process that concerned me.", what were the aspects that concerned him?

10. SUE KEDGLEY to the Minister of Health: Is she confident that the Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee had sufficient time and information to properly assess the safety and efficacy of the meningococcal B vaccine?

11. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Police: Does he take any responsibility for the operation of the New Zealand Police 111 system; if so, how much?

12. GORDON COPELAND to the Minister of Revenue: Is he satisfied with the current levels of taxation in New Zealand?

Questions to Members

1. RODNEY HIDE to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: On what date did the committee commence its "Inquiry into the revenue effects of fraudulent investment schemes", and when is it expected to report to the House?

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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>>