Select Committee Business

From 6 September to 13 September 2002

Committee meetings

There were 14 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex. One committee went on a site visit.

Reports presented

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

Finance and Expenditure

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Audit

Government Administration

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Internal Affairs, Vote Emergency Management, Vote Racing, Vote Ministerial Services, Vote National Archives, Vote Office of the Clerk, Vote Parliamentary Service, Vote Pacific Island Affairs, Vote Statistics and Vote Women’s Affairs.

Justice and Electoral

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Parliamentary Counsel

Bills referred to select committees

The Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill was referred to the Regulations Review Committee.

The Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) was referred to the Maori Affairs Committee.

Changes in committee membership

Hon Dr Nick Smith replaced John Carter on the Education and Science Committee.

On 4 September Metiria Turei became a non-voting member of the Education and Science Committee.

Committee notes

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

Commerce (Alan Witcombe, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee considered a number of bills, Estimates and petitions. It heard evidence on the Fair Trading Amendment Bill (No 3) and gave further consideration to the Imported Used Cars (Commission of Inquiry) Bill, the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill and the Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill.

Next week the committee will hear evidence on Vote Energy from the Minister of Energy, Hon Pete Hodgson. The committee will also give further consideration to a number of the bills currently before it.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 11 September to conduct a hearing of evidence for the 2002/03 Estimates of Appropriations of Vote Research, Science and Technology. The Minister responsible for the vote, Hon Pete Hodgson, and the chief executive of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, Dr James Buwalda, discussed a range of issues relating to New Zealand research and development policy.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 18 September to hear submissions on two bills restructuring prominent organisations. From 10.00 am to 11.00 am submissions on the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Bill will be heard, while from 11.20 am to 12.15 pm the committee will hear submissions on the National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) Bill. Both hearings will be open to the public, in Room G.010, Parliament House.

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

The committee met on 11 September to hear evidence on Vote Finance, and the Fiscal Strategy Report and Budget Economic and Fiscal Update. It also considered the inquiry into the revenue effects of fraudulent investment schemes. The committee reported on Vote Audit on 12 September.

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 18 September in Room G.006, Parliament House, to hear evidence on Vote Finance from 10.00 am to 11.00 am, and Vote State-Owned Enterprises from 11.00 am to 12.00 noon. These are open to the public. The committee will also consider Vote Revenue.

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 next week.

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

The committee examined the Estimates for 2002/03 Vote Internal Affairs, Vote Emergency Management, Vote Racing, Vote Ministerial Services, Vote National Archives, Vote Office of the Clerk, Vote Parliamentary Service, Vote Pacific Island Affairs, Vote Statistics and Vote Women’s Affairs and has recommended to the House that the appropriations in respect of these votes be accepted.

Next week the committee continues its examination of the 2002/03 Estimates and will hear evidence from Hon Trevor Mallard on Vote State Services and Vote Sport and Recreation. It will also hear evidence from Hon Mark Burton on Vote Tourism.

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

The committee met on 11 September to consider the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Attorney-General and Vote Parliamentary Counsel, and the Retirement Villages Bill. Evidence was heard from the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-General and the Deputy Solicitor-General on Vote Attorney-General. Evidence was heard from the Securities Commission on the Retirement Villages Bill.

The committee’s next meeting will be on 18 September. It will continue its consideration of the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Justice and Vote Attorney-General. It will also consider inquiries and begin its consideration of the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 11 September to conduct hearings of evidence on the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Police and Vote Courts. In examining Vote Police, the committee heard evidence from Deputy Commissioners Lyn Provost and Steve Long, and the General Manager Finance, Mr Bruce Simpson. In examining Vote Courts, the committee largely heard evidence from the Chief Executive, Mr Wilson Bailey, who was accompanied by nine members of his senior management team. The hearing of evidence for Vote Corrections was postponed to a later date (yet to be confirmed).

The committee will meet next week on Wednesday, 18 September to hear submissions on the Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill. The hearing will be open to the public. At this stage, hearings will start at 8.00 am and finish at approximately 6.00 pm. These times may be subject to change. The room has yet to be confirmed, but it is likely to be in one of the select committee rooms in Parliament House.

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

This week the committee considered the Estimates for Vote Maori Affairs and Vote Treaty Negotiations. The committee also considered the Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill. The Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) was referred to the committee, which has called for submissions and set a deadline of Friday, 25 October 2002.

Officers of Parliament (Andrew Beattie, SC-OP@parliament.govt.nz)

On Thursday the committee conducted a site visit to the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General. The committee received a briefing on the office’s role and relationship with Parliament and local government.

The committee will next meet in November.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee examined the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Fisheries on Thursday, 12 September 2002, with the Minister of Fisheries, Hon Pete Hodgson MP, appearing to give evidence. Issues examined during the hearings included:

- cost recovery levies

- new species to be introduced into the quota management system

- marine protected areas

- recreational fishing

- enforcement and compliance.

Next Thursday, 19 September the committee will hear further evidence in its examination of the 2002/03 Votes Agriculture and Forestry and Biosecurity, with the Minister responsible, Hon Jim Sutton MP, appearing to give evidence. The hearing will be open to the public. The committee will also receive a briefing from Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officials in relation to the Misuse of Drubs (Industrial Hemp) Amendment Bill. The briefing will be open to the public.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee resumed its regular scrutiny of new government regulations. Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday morning to further its regular business and to consider regulation-making powers in the Climate Control Response Bill. The committee will also meet in the afternoon to consider the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill.

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

The committee will meet in the morning of Thursday, 19 September to consider the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 30 September 2002. People or organisations making submissions who wish to appear before the committee should contact committee staff as soon as possible (phone 04 471 9079).

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

The committee is next meeting on Thursday, 19 September to further consider 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)

Maori Affairs

Maori Purposes Bill (No 2) (25 October 2002)

Regulations Review

Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (2 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

carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 13 September 2002

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