Select Committee Business: 1 October to 8 October 2004

Committee meetings Twenty-three committee meetings were held this week, 20 in the parliamentary complex and three in Auckland.

Reports presented (available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Publications/CommitteeReport)

Education and Science 2003/04 financial review of National Library of New Zealand

Health Inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War and any health effects of that exposure (I.6E)

Transport and Industrial Relations Holidays Amendment Bill (182-2)

Bills referred to select committees

The Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill was referred to the Social Services Committee with a report due 4 April 2005. The Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill was referred to the Regulations Review Committee.

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

Commerce (Michelle Malyon, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 7 October to hear evidence on petition 2002/0134 of John Clifford Hurley and 9,145 others regarding the Dobson hydroelectric development. The committee will next meet on 14 October to give further consideration to the briefings on the alleged breach of the Commerce Act in the auto glazing industry and TVNZ’s accountability to Parliament and to its inquiry into the New Zealand Electricity Industry.

Education and Science (Kirstin Lambert, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 6 October when it further considered the financial review inquiry into Te Wânanga o Aotearoa and petition 2002/78 of Lance Cottam and 7,509 others. The committee also reported to the House on the 2003/04 financial review of the National Library of New Zealand. This report can be viewed at: http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/esfrnationallib03.pdf The committee is not scheduled to meet next week, but will undertake a site visit of Northland Polytechnic in order to assist it with its consideration of the financial review inquiry into Northland Polytechnic.

Finance and Expenditure (Lesley Ferguson, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to consider the 2003/04 financial reviews and the committee’s request for Treasury to prepare costings of the tax policies of political parties in Parliament. The committee is expected to meet next week to again consider both these matters. Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz,) The committee met on 4 October to hear evidence on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill. It met on 5, 6, and 7 October to consider the bill. The committee will further consider the bill on 11, 12, and 13 October.

Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 7 October at the Centra Auckland Airport Hotel to hear evidence on the Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill. The committee will meet next week to hear more evidence on this bill and to begin its consideration of the proposed legislation.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee continued hearing evidence on two petitions relating to caregivers’ wages. Further evidence will be heard on 13 October, from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm, at Parliament House in Wellington. On 6 October, the committee reported on its inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War and any health effects of that exposure. The report found that New Zealand defence personnel who served during the Vietnam War were exposed to a toxic environment.

Key recommendations to the Government are that the Government: accept that New Zealand’s Vietnam veterans were exposed to a toxic environment and publicly acknowledge that successive governments have failed to recognise that Vietnam veterans were exposed to a toxic environment during their service ensure a lead Government agency maintains an overview of the commissioning of research by Government departments when that research covers multiple policy areas, to ensure there are clear and specific terms of reference for such research make changes to the way health services are delivered through Veterans Affairs New Zealand to ensure Vietnam veterans are cared for in a more effective and appropriate manner ensure that international research literature is monitored, scrutinised, and analysed to ensure that the health needs of New Zealand Vietnam veterans and their families continue to be met in an appropriate way ensure all children of New Zealand Vietnam veterans are entitled to reimbursement of additional costs associated with medical treatment for any condition listed as being related to dioxin exposure, and that any future needs are met should that list expand. Copies of the committee’s report can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops, or viewed at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/i6e.pdf The committee is calling for public submissions on the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3), with a closing date for submissions of 22 October 2004. Copies of the bill are available from Bennett’s Government Bookshops and the other usual key stockists. Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 4 October to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. The committee also met on 6 October to consider the New Zealand Sign Language Bill and the Electoral Matters Bill. It received a briefing from the Human Rights Commission and continued to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill.

The committee will meet next on 13 October, to consider the Electoral Matters Bill and to begin hearing evidence on the New Zealand Sign Language Bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 1.00 pm for the hearing of evidence on the New Zealand Sign Language Bill.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee heard further evidence from the New Zealand Law Society on the Criminal Procedure Bill, and considered the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2), Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill, and the 2003/04 financial reviews of the Department of Corrections, New Zealand Police, and Serious Fraud Office. The committee next meets on 13 October to further consider the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2), Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill, and Criminal Procedure Bill.

Local Government and Environment (Beth Watson, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz) At its meeting on 7 October, the committee continued its consideration of the Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill, was briefed by the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General on movements in audit fees for territorial local authorities between 2002 and 2004, and continued its consideration of its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. At its meeting on 14 October the committee will continue its consideration of a number of petitions that it has before it.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 7 October to receive advice on the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill. Evidence on this bill will be heard at the Manor Inn, Whakatane on 14 October between 10.30 am and 12.40 pm. Evidence on the Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill will be heard at the same venue between 1.40 pm and 3.20 pm on the same day. The meetings will be open to the public.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz) On 5 October, the committee heard evidence on the Aquaculture Reform Bill from marine farming submitters, including the New Zealand Aquaculture Council. On 6 and 7 October the committee met in Auckland to hear further evidence on the bill from marine farming, Mâori, local council and other interests from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne.

On 8 October, the committee visited an oyster farm and export factory at Clevedon. Next week, commencing 12 October, the committee will continue to hold hearings on the Aquaculture Reform Bill. On 12 October, hearings will be held at Parliament House from
3.30 pm to 6.00 pm.

On the evening of 13 October and all day 14 October, the committee will hear evidence on the bill at the Scenic Circle Hotel, Blenheim, from marine farming, Mâori, local council and other interests from Nelson and Marlborough. On 15 October, the committee will visit mussel and salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds. In the third week of October, the committee will hear evidence in Wellington on the bill, from 19 October to 21 October.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee continued with its scrutiny of new government regulations. It also examined a number of deemed regulations, and further considered the regulation-making powers in the Foreshore and Seabed Bill. Next week the committee will commence hearings on a complaint by New Zealand Law Society and the New Zealand Bar Association about civil court fees. Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 7 October to consider further the Charities Bill, the New Zealand Superannuation Amendment Bill, the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill, and the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Bill. At its next meeting on 14 October the committee will consider further the New Zealand Superannuation Amendment Bill and hear evidence on the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Bill.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met in Wellington on 7 October 2004 to hear submissions on the Transport Legislation Bill. The meeting was open to the public. Next week the committee will meet in Auckland on 11 October from 9.00 am to 12.45 pm, at the Alexander Park Raceway Function Centre on Greenlane Road, to continue hearing submissions on the Transport Legislation Bill and begin hearing submissions on the Land Transport Amendment Bill. For most of the morning the meeting will be open to the public. In the afternoon the committee will visit the sites of some transport projects in Auckland. On 14 October the committee will resume consideration of the Transport Legislation Bill in its meeting in Wellington and will then be open to the public from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 3.30 pm to 5.30 pm, when it will continue hearing submissions on the Land Transport Amendment Bill.

Closing dates for submissions Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown: Government Administration Historic Places Amendment Bill (29 October 2004) Public Records Bill (5 November 2004) Health Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) (22 October 2004) Social Services Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill (31 January 2005) 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: Louise Sparrer
Senior Parliamentary Officer

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