SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS
From 6 September to 13 September 2002
Committee meetings

There were 16 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented
(available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/select-reports)

No reports were presented.

Bills referred to select committees

No bills were referred.

Changes in committee membership

Steve Chadwick replaced Jill Pettis on the Government Administration Committee and on the Health Committee. Ms Chadwick was also elected chairperson of the Health Committee.

Georgina Beyer was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Law and Order Committee.

Hon Roger Sowry was appointed deputy chairperson of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.

Janet Mackey was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Primary Production Committee.

Hon Clem Simich was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Officers of Parliament Committee.

Committee notes
(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in italics)

Education and Science (Angela Van Dam, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

On Wednesday the committee met to conduct hearings of evidence in the examination of the 2002/03 Estimates of Appropriation for Vote Education. Hon Trevor Mallard, Minister of Education, and Hon Steve Maharey, the Associate Minister of Education (Tertiary Education) provided an overview of the vote and detailed the Government’s priorities for the year ahead. Matters discussed included research funding and governance and accountability structures in tertiary education institutions, and ongoing initiatives to address truancy, suspension and transiency in schools.

The committee has extended the closing date for submissions to the National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) Bill. The new closing date is Friday, 13 September. For any information regarding the bill, please email the address above.
At its next meeting on Wednesday, 11 September the committee will hear evidence on the petition of David Benson-Pope, which addresses transport costs for school children. The petitioner and the Ministry of Education will be heard in public from 10.00 am to 10.45 am in Room G.010, Parliament House. The committee will also conduct a hearing of evidence on the examination of Vote Research, Science and Technology, with Hon Pete Hodgson. This will be open to the public, from 12.15 pm to 1.00 pm.

Finance and Expenditure (Fay Paterson, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday, 4 September, and considered the business before the committee prior to the dissolution of Parliament. The previous committee had called for submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Maori Organisations, Taxpayer Assessment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, but the closing date for submissions fell during the election period. The new committee has resolved to accept submissions on this bill until Monday 16 September 2002.

The committee’s next meeting will be on Wednesday, 11 September, and will be open to the public between 10.00 am and 11.00 am for a hearing of evidence from Hon Dr Michael Cullen on Vote Finance, the Fiscal Strategy Report and the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee heard submissions on the Climate Change Response Bill and will hear further submissions on this bill at the next meeting on Thursday, 12 September.

Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee is continuing consideration of the Responsible Gambling Bill and the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 2).

It meets next week to hear evidence from Hon John Tamihere, Minister for Youth Affairs and Sir Brian Elwood, Chief Ombudsmen on the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Youth Affairs and Vote Ombudsmen, respectively.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee decided to resume the inquiry into the adverse effects on women as a result of treatment by Dr Graham Parry and the inquiry into health strategies related to cannabis use. At the time the last Parliament was dissolved, the previous Health Committee was conducting inquiries into these two issues. The same terms of reference have been adopted.

The committee will consider some of the items of business carried over from the 46th Parliament, including the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill, petitions, and the 2002/03 Estimates of Appropriation for Vote Health. The Minister of Health will give evidence in public on Vote Health from 11.15 am to 12 noon, in Room G.011, Parliament House.

Justice and Electoral (Louise Sparrer, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 4 September to consider the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Justice. Evidence was heard from the Minister of Justice and departmental officials. For the remainder of the meeting, the committee considered general business.

The committee extended the closing date for submissions on the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill until 5.00 pm on Friday 27 September. The Justice and Electoral Committee of the 46th Parliament had decided to consider both the bills together and invited submissions on one or both. The extension recognises that this year’s early election may have discouraged some submitters.

The committee’s next meeting will be on 11 September in room G.005 in Parliament House. It will consider the Retirement Villages Bill and continue its consideration of the 2002/03 Estimates, covering Vote Attorney-General and Vote Parliamentary Counsel Office. The meeting will be open to the public for a hearing of evidence on Vote Attorney-General between 11.00 am and 12.00 noon, and between 12.00 noon and 12.35 pm for a hearing of evidence on the Retirement Villages Bill.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday, 4 September to consider the Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill and the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Courts, Vote Corrections, Vote Police and Vote Serious Fraud.

The committee will meet next week on Wednesday, 11 September from 9.30 am to 1.10 pm, to further consider the 2002/03 Estimates. Three votes are being examined: Vote Corrections, Vote Courts and Vote Police. The meeting will be open during hearings of evidence. Departmental officials from the New Zealand Police are scheduled to give evidence from 9.55 am to 10.55 am. The Chief Executive and officials from the Department for Courts are scheduled to give evidence from 11.15 am to 11.45 am and the Chief Executive and officials from the Department of Corrections are scheduled to give evidence from 12.10 pm to 1.10 pm.

Maori Affairs (Julian Kersey, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee met to consider general business. Next week it will meet to consider the Estimates of Appropriations for Vote Maori Affairs and Vote Treaty Negotiations. It will also consider the Te Whanau-a Taupara Trust Empowering Bill. The meeting will not be open to the public.

Standing Orders (David Bagnall, SC-SO@parliament.govt.nz)

The Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill is before the committee, which has set a closing date for submissions of 30 September 2002. The bill seeks to implement recommendations set out in the report of the Review Group on Improving Current Arrangements for the Determination and Administration of members’ Salaries, Allowances, and Other Entitlements (the Todd Review Group). The bill renames the Higher Salaries Commission as the Remuneration Authority, and requires the Authority to restructure the remuneration and expenses of members of Parliament. Principles for that restructuring are also set out. The Authority is required to make a determination to implement the restructuring on 1 April 2003. Submitters who wish to be heard in person should contact committee staff prior to the closing date (Robina Richardson, ph 471 9079).

Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee will meet next on Thursday, 12 September and will continue consideration of the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill.

Closing dates for submissions
Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown:

Education and Science
National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) Bill (13 September 2002)

Finance and Expenditure
Taxation (Annual Rates, Maori Organisations, Taxpayers Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill (16 September 2002)

Justice and Electoral
Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill (27 September 2002)

Local Government and Environment
Masterton Trust Lands Bill (4 October 2002)

Social Services
Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (23 September 2002)

Standing Orders
Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill (30 September 2002)

General

You can find further information about select committees on our website at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. If you require additional information or have any feedback on the contents, please contact:

Carol Rankin
Senior Parliamentary Officer
ph: 471 9534, fax: 499 0486, or at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 6 September 2002

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