Apple access to Australia
A long awaited report into whether New Zealand apples should be allowed into Australia was finally released this week after months of lobbying from domestic growers, and pressure from government ministers. But while the Australian draft Import Risk Analysis on New Zealand apples recommended that the Australian government open its market to local apples, it also recommended imposing strict conditions. Government ministers - Trade Minister Phil Goff, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton and Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton - said they had serious concerns around the conditions imposed on the recommended access. Opening the Australian market to New Zealand apples would overturn an 84-year ban, which was originally imposed over fears the imported apples might carry the disease fire blight. Government ministers, who this week continued to pressure Australia to release the report, said it did represent a small step towards having the ban removed. However, officials will need to study the report, and prepare a response before the end of March. New Zealand has warned Australia it will seek intervention from the World Trade Organisation if the ban issue is not resolved satisfactorily.

Loan loophole to close
Tertiary Education Minister Michael Cullen this week announced the government will close a potential loophole in the transition to interest free student loans when the legislation returns to the House. Under current rules, borrowers who have made repayments above the minimum may seek to have the money refunded. A Supplementary Order Paper will be introduced during the committee stages of the bill to: ensure that refunds relating to the 2004-05 and 2005-06 tax years remain subject to interest; prevent refunds being claimed for previous years unless the claims have already been lodged; and remove the opportunity to apply for special deduction rates below the standard 10 per cent rate for the balance of the current tax year. Inland Revenue will have the discretion to exempt from interest refunds made in cases of serious financial hardship. Dr Cullen said the changes aimed to prevent people from trying to 'game' the system. They follow reports of a borrower who, in anticipation of the interest free regime, got a $15,000 voluntary repayment refunded and invested the money in an interest bearing account. It was important to the scheme's integrity that the government discouraged this sort of gaming, Dr Cullen said.

Longer Paid Parental Leave
Paid Parental Leave - the government funded scheme supporting parents to stay home with new babies - has been extended from 13 to 14 weeks. Labour Minister Ruth Dyson said the extension was another family-friendly move by the government. From 1 December 2005, paid parental leave increased to 14 weeks for babies of eligible parents who were due, born or adopted on or after 1 December 2005. Ms Dyson said research showed most parents who take up the leave scheme take the full entitlement. Describing the scheme as an enormous success, Ms Dyson said it had made a positive contribution to family life in New Zealand. More than $215 million has been paid out to more than 52,000 people since the scheme was introduced in 2002. Employees eligible for the scheme receive a maximum $357.30 a week, and payment can be shared between eligible partners. Ms Dyson said there are further plans to extend the scheme to the self-employed.

Cadet School report released
Defence Minister Phil Goff this week offered an apology to former army cadets as he released the findings of an independent review into allegations of abuse at the Waiouru Regular Force Cadet School between 1948 and 1991. The review, by retired High Court Judge David Morris, found bullying had taken place but there was no evidence to support claims of a culture of violence at the school. Mr Morris found that in some years, a few, mainly senior, cadets bullied junior cadets and that those involved in the more extreme examples of bullying were probably guilty of assault. Mr Goff urged all former cadets who felt they had been badly abused to lay a complaint with police so that their cases could be investigated. Mr Morris also looked into events surrounding the death of Cadet Grant Bain, who was shot dead in the Cadet School barracks in 1981. He found that mistakes had been made in the way the matter was handled, and that Cadet Bain's killer, Cadet Andrew Read, should have been charged with manslaughter rather than the lesser charge that was laid, of carelessly discharging a firearm causing death. Mr Goff said he would meet and apologise personally to the Bain family. Mr Goff also released a Ministry of Defence review that concluded that current NZDF policies were sound and personnel strived to implement them.

More funding for cancer strategy
Funding has been awarded for 15 projects that will help advance the goals of the Cancer Control Strategy Action Plan, Health Minister Pete Hodgson announced this week. Funded through the extra $40 million per year of new cancer funding announced in March, the projects include studies to map cancer patient journeys and a review of cancer patient information resources. They represent a total $1.2 million investment. Mr Hodgson said the Action Plan outlined how to reduce the impact of cancer - from prevention to treatment, palliative care, support and rehabilitation and research. He said the projects were important steps towards battling cancer. The 15 projects were chosen from 57 proposals put forward by District Health Boards and non-government organisations.