Questions For Oral Answer Wednesday, 8 September 1999

Question 1.

Rt Hon. Helen Clark to the Prime Minister:

Q: Further to Dr Habibie's assurance to her, with respect to the imposition of martial law in East Timor, that she should "watch out, it will work", does she accept that assurance; if so, what evidence does she have that it is working so far?

Question 2.

Gerry Brownlee to the Minister for Enterprise and Commerce:

Q: Has he received any reports of discrimination against employees on the grounds of union status under the Employment Contracts Act 1991?

Question 3.

Sandra Lee to the Minister of Finance:

Q: Since Treasury provided him with advice, regarding the payment of fees to the Treaty of Waitangi Fisheries Commission, that in part stated that "Given weak accountability arrangements on Commissioners - who are appointed by the Crown - fee levels require your approval."; what action, if any, has he taken to increase the accountability arrangements on Commissioners?

Question 4.

Mr Frank Grover to the Minister of Education:

Q: As 887 secondary school pupils were suspended for assaulting teachers and other pupils during the second quarter of this year, what measures is he taking to curtail the incidence of violence by pupils in secondary schools?

Question 5.

Hon. Dr Michael Cullen to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade:

Q: What Government assistance was provided to promote the trade fair associated with APEC aimed at being the showcase for New Zealand industry, and how does this compare with assistance which other APEC hosts have provided for similar events?

Question 6.

Rt Hon. Winston Peters to the Minister of Health:

Q: Is he satisfied with the outcome of the recent audit review of leases and fitouts of the Health Funding Authority?

Question 7.

Manu Alamein Kopu to the Minister for Food, Fibre, Biosecurity and Border Control:

Q: He patai tenei ki te Minita mehemea i korero ia me nga iwi Maori mo te kaupapa whakae tanga ke te hi i te karengo me era atu ahua kai o te Moana - a heaha nga panui me nga whakaaturanga ka puta mai iaia ina kua whaka ture ngia tenei kaupapa inaiahei?
Translation:

Q: Was there any consultation with Maori on the policy to allow for the commercial taking of sea-weed and what publicity and information does he intend to provide on this issue now the policy has been enacted?

Question 8.

Steve Maharey to the Minister for Tertiary Education:

Q: Was he reflecting Government policy when he reportedly denied that the number of tertiary educated young people leaving the country was cause for alarm; if so, how does that exodus help build a knowledge economy?

Question 9.

Tukoroirangi Morgan to the Minister for State Owned Enterprises:

Q: Has he received any reports relating to a tape provided to Television New Zealand that could have been produced by the illegal bugging of conversations; if so, what do those reports say?

Question 10.

Hon. Phil Goff to the Minister of Defence:

Q: What is the earliest time by which New Zealand peace-making troops could be on the ground in East Timor, and what are the reasons for any delay in readiness?

Question 11.

Patricia Schnauer to the Minister for Enterprise and Commerce:

Q: Does the Government have any plans to reduce the number of services defined as an "essential service" in the Employment Contracts Act 1991; if not, why not?

Question 12.

Graham Kelly to the Minister responsible for Housing Corporation of New Zealand:

Q: Does the Government consider the sale of significant numbers of Housing Corporation residential sites to be appropriate within three months of the general election; if so, why?

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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>>