Beehive Bulletin For Week Ending Friday 01 November 2002
Also Available On-Line
NZ Lists Jemaah Islamiyah As Terrorist Group ============================================
Prime Minister Helen Clark said the government has listed Jemaah Islamiyah as a terrorist organisation under new
counter-terrorism legislation enacted this month. The designation follows a decision by the United Nations Security
Council on 25 October, at the request of Australia and a number of co-sponsoring countries including New Zealand and
Indonesia, to identify Jemaah Islamiyah as a terrorist group. It takes effect immediately for a period of three years,
unless extended. The decision to designate Jemaah Islamiyah was taken under Section 22 of the Terrorism Suppression Act,
which came into force on 17 October. Helen Clark said Jemaah Islamiyah has no known presence in New Zealand but
designating it as a terrorist entity will serve to deter New Zealanders from becoming inadvertently involved in its
activities. It will also make it an offence to participate in the Jemaah Islamiyah group, recruit members, provide or
collect funds, make property or financial services available to this group, Helen Clark said. Jemaah Islamiyah is an
extremist Islamic organisation with established links to Al-Qaida.
Service of remembrance for Bali bombing victims ===============================================
A service of remembrance will be held next week for the victims of the Bali bombings, said Prime Minister Helen Clark.
The service will be held at Wellington's Cathedral of St Paul, Hill St on Wednesday (November 6) at 12.15pm.
Arrangements are being made for families of the victims who are able to attend. It is expected that the Governor-
General, the Prime Minister, Ministers and MPs, the High Commissioners of Australia and Britain, and the Charge
d'Affairs of Indonesia will take part in the service, along with children from Wellington schools. Members of the public
are invited to attend. Helen Clark said the bombing in Bali was a callous act of terror against innocent people and
against humanity. The service will remember the New Zealanders who lost their lives, as well as those of all nations who
were killed, and those who were injured or are still missing. It will give New Zealanders an opportunity to show
solidarity with grieving families and friends, and all those who have been injured and traumatised by this event, Helen
Clark said.
Health Minister outlines why she won't intervene ================================================
Health Minister Annette King has outlined why she is not intervening in the strike action by Auckland hospital
radiographers. Ms King said it would be technically possible under Section 32 of the New Zealand Public Health and
Disability Act for the Government to decide to direct District Health Boards to seek arbitration in any industrial
dispute. However, she said such a direction could clearly be challenged on the basis that it cut across a DHB's
statutory decision-making ability under the Employment Relations Act. The ERA clearly states that all agreements must be
voluntary and ratified by the parties to the agreement. Ms King said it would also be incredibly foolhardy for any
responsible minister to embark on such a precedent, which signaled DHBs could await a Minister's directive when
agreement couldn't be reached on an industrial issue. No Health Minister in recent times has ever become involved in
such matters. Ms King said she was continuing to monitor the situation and her primary concern is that safe emergency
services are in place. She said the Auckland board and the Ministry of Health assure her that is the case.
Draft strategy focuses on injury prevention ===========================================
A draft government strategy released by ACC Minister Ruth Dyson this week for public consultation aims to prevent
injuries and develop a safety culture in New Zealand. Ruth Dyson said it is a disgrace that there are about 1,600 deaths
from injuries and 42,000 hospitalisations in New Zealand each year, when most injuries and their consequences are
preventable. The combined social and economic costs of injuries are estimated at up to seven billion dollars a year. The
focus of the strategy is on preventive measures to reduce new injuries and the severity of injuries that do occur. These
measures include safety education, enforcement of safety laws and regulations, and creating environments that reduce the
likelihood of injuries occurring. Workshops on the strategy will be held around the country during November and
December. Written submissions close in January. Once the strategy is finalised, ACC will develop an implementation plan
in cooperation with key government agencies and other organisations.
Laptops for secondary teachers will enhance ICT teaching and learning ===================================
Secondary teachers will soon have access to laptop computers for around $7 a week under a leasing scheme to improve
learning outcomes. Education Minister Trevor Mallard said the Government has committed $6.5 million per year to this
scheme, enabling around 9,000 secondary teachers to have the opportunity to benefit. The objective of the scheme is to
encourage teachers to develop greater confidence and competence in the use of ICT for teaching and learning, class
management and administration. Mr Mallard said the Government is committed to increasing the use of ICT in schools to
help improve student achievement and teaching practice.
Police fleet gets upgrade boost ===============================
The Police vehicle fleet is to receive a boost following a Cabinet decision to commit $16.8m to the 2002/03 police
vehicle replacement programme. Police Minister George Hawkins said the GST-inclusive figure represents an increase of
around $230,000 on the 2001/02 capital expenditure allocation. The funding should allow the purchase of around 484 new
vehicles, equivalent to about 19 percent of the current fleet, Mr Hawkins said. This will assist with significant
modernisation of the police fleet. At the end of the 2002/03 replacement programme, vehicles with odometers reading more
than 100,000km should fall from around 55 percent of the fleet currently to about 37 percent, Mr Hawkins said.
Cabinet approves continued support to East Timor ================================================
New Zealand will continue its military support to East Timor with up to 26 NZDF personnel providing specialised support
after New Zealand's battalion is withdrawn this month. The group will be made up of staff officers, United Nations
Military Observers (UNMOs), and trainers to the East Timor Defence Force, F-FDTL. Minister of Defence Mark Burton
announced the decision, recently approved by Cabinet. He said he was New Zealand was providing continuing support to the
Pacific's newest nation. East Timor faces a myriad of economic and social challenges in recovering from years of
conflict, including infrastructure development, matters of law and order, and military training. The contributions made
by the remaining NZDF personnel will be of real assistance in addressing some of these issues, said Mark Burton.
NZ police to help restore Solomons law and order
================================================
Ten New Zealand police officers departed New Zealand this week as part of a three-year programme to help restore law and
order in the Solomon Islands, said Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff and Police Minister George Hawkins. The officers
are taking part in a project in which New Zealand will work in partnership with the Solomon Islands Government to
rebuild policing capacity in that country. This complements police assistance provided by Australia and the United
Kingdom. Mr Goff said the assistance is an important component in restoring peace and stability in the country. New
Zealand Police officers will provide mentoring and on-the-job training to Royal Solomon Islands Police officers who are
working in frontline policing and criminal investigations.