The sacking of Otago DHB Chair Richard Thomson by Health Minister Tony Ryall last month was an empty, vindictive political gesture and has resulted in no changes at the board since, Dunedin South MP Clare Curran said today.

Justice Minister Simon Power has released scope and milestone papers to mark the beginning of the review into electoral finance reform.

The papers outline what the review will cover and the important dates.

Police Minister Judith Collins has today taken over responsibility for the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

Previously, the Attorney-General has been responsible for the SFO, a Government Department that detects, investigates and prosecutes cases of serious and complex fraud.

1 April 2009 - Gerry Brownlee's ministerial advisory group on the electricity sector has an impossible task, thanks to the National Government's failure to provide basic answers on what it expects from the system, Labour's Energy spokesperson Charles Chauvel said today.

1 April 2009 - The Government's decision to drop New Zealand's bid for election to the Human Rights Council marks a step backwards for our independent foreign policy stance, says Labour's Associate Foreign Affairs spokesman Grant Robertson.

1 April 2009 - Almost a million superannuitants, veterans, beneficiaries and students will get increased payments of at least 3.38% from today under the Annual General Adjustment, Social Development and Employment Minister Paula Bennett said.

1 April 2009 - A bill that increases the maximum claim level of the Disputes Tribunal has been introduced to Parliament by Justice Minister Simon Power.

1 April 2009 - Police Minister Judith Collins today welcomed the release by police of crime statistics for the 2008 calendar year, saying they showed the police were going the extra mile to solve crime.

1 April 2009 - The Energy and Resources Minister, Gerry Brownlee, says a Ministerial review of the electricity sector will start work immediately.

1 April 2009 - New Zealand is a small nation of four million people located a very long way from Afghanistan. But we have, since 2001, made a contribution to its security stabilization and development.