Questions for Oral Answer
As At wednesday, 3 November 2004

Questions to Ministers

1. HELEN DUNCAN to the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education): What initiatives is he putting in place to encourage tertiary education institutions to become more focused on the quality of teaching and learning?

2. RODNEY HIDE to the Prime Minister: Does she accept Hon John Tamihere at his word, given that he took a golden handshake that he said he wouldn't; if so, why?

3. Hon PETER DUNNE to the Minister of Finance: Is the Government proposing any changes to the Working for Families package in the next Budget?

4. Dr DON BRASH to the Prime Minister: What new information does she need in order to decide whether Hon John Tamihere has misled the New Zealand public over his acceptance of a golden handshake and to remove his ministerial warrant?

5. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER to the Minister of Energy: What is the Government doing to promote vehicle fuel efficiency?

6. Dr DON BRASH to the Prime Minister: What ministerial duties and responsibilities are currently being undertaken by Hon John Tamihere?

7. JEANETTE FITZSIMONS to the Minister of Agriculture: Has he received any recent advice on the sustainability of New Zealand farming practices; if so, what action is he taking as a result?

8. JUDY TURNER to the Minister for Courts: Is he satisfied that the new $1.5 million trial of mediators in the Family Court is sufficient reform to improve outcomes for children?

9. STEVE CHADWICK to the Minister for Disability Issues: What reports has she received on the implementation of the disability strategy by Government agencies?

10. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS to the Minister of Immigration: With regard to reported comments "Immigration fraud from China has fuelled a thriving black market on the streets of Christchurch, and authorities have struggled to come to terms with the fraud.", how widespread does he believe this problem to be and what plans, if any, does he have to deal with the problem?

11. Hon BILL ENGLISH to the Minister of State Services: Who is responsible for the remuneration packages of chief executives in the education service and does this responsibility include approving entitlements to golden handshakes?

12. Hon TONY RYALL to the Minister of Police: Will he stake his ministerial reputation on the accuracy of reported police statements that they handled the Bentley home invasion 111 call in "textbook" fashion and that, "This is one of the times we should be patting ourselves on the back and saying well done,"; if not, does he consider the Prime Minister should keep him in office?

Questions to Members
1. RODNEY HIDE to the Chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee: What witnesses have appeared in the committee's "Inquiry into the revenue effects of fraudulent investment schemes", and on what dates?

© 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>>