SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

From 1 November to 8 November 2002

Committee meetings

There were 21 committee meetings. Three of these were outside Wellington. The others were all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

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

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Immigration

Government Administration

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Ombudsmen

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Sport and Recreation

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote State Services

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Tourism

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Youth Affairs

Health

- Petition 1999/15 of Deano Parker and 961 others

Justice and Electoral

- Petition 2002/4 of Curtis Antony Nixon

- Interim report on the inquiry into the 2001 local elections

Local Government and Environment

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Conservation

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Energy – Energy Efficiency and Conservation

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Environment

Social Services

- 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Housing

Bills referred to select committees

The Anglican (Diocese of Christchurch) Church Property Trust Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee. This is a private bill.

The Rotorua District (Easter Sunday Shop Trading) Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee, which is required to report to the House by 28 February 2003. This is a local bill.

Committee notes

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

Commerce (Ethan Tucker, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

At its meeting on Thursday, 7 November the committee continued consideration of four bills. Next week on Thursday, 14 November the committee will conduct a public hearing of evidence in the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Economic Development. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.05 am to 11.35 am, in Room G.011, Parliament House.

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

The committee met twice this week. At the first meeting on Monday, 4 November the committee heard evidence on the inquiry into the implementation of the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) from the New Zealand Post-Primary Teachers Association, the Secondary Principals Association of New Zealand, the New Zealand School Trustees Association, the Minister of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. The committee has also extended its deadline for reporting on the inquiry to Thursday, 5 December.

At its regular Wednesday meeting on 6 November the committee continued consideration of the National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) Bill and the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Bill, and began consideration of the 2001/02 financial reviews of government departments.

Next week the committee will consider the two bills listed above, and will consider the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

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

The committee heard submissions on the Pitcairn Trials Bill at its meeting on Thursday. Submissions included a teleconference call to the Mayor of Pitcairn Island. The committee will further consider the bill at its meeting next week.

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

The committee is currently meeting in Auckland on the inquiry into the weathertightness of buildings in New Zealand. Hearings on this inquiry will continue on Thursday and Friday next week in Wellington.

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

The committee met on Wednesday and heard evidence on the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill and Supplementary Order Paper 148. The committee also heard evidence from the Ministry of Health on its 2001/02 financial review.

On Wednesday, 13 November the committee will hear evidence from the Ministry of Health on its inquiry into the proposal for a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products. This hearing will be in Room G.002, Parliament House, from 10.30 am to 11.30 am and will be open to the public. Submissions on this inquiry close on 13 November.

The committee is currently inviting public submissions on the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill. The closing date for submissions is 27 November 2002. Further information is available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/programmes/committees/submissions/hehpca.html.

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

This week the committee continued consideration of the Prostitution Reform Bill. The committee also reported on two petitions and presented an interim report on its inquiry into the 2001 local elections. The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the status of this inquiry to all those who made submissions to the previous committee and on the current committee’s proposed course of action. Next week the committee will continue with the Prostitution Reform Bill and the Retirement Villages Bill.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 6 November to consider the Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill and the 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Police, hearing evidence from the Police Commissioner Rob Robinson, Deputy Commissioner Lyn Provost and the General Manager Finance, Mr Bruce Simpson.

The committee next meets on Wednesday, 13 November to consider the Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill and the 2001/02 financial review of the Department of Corrections and the Department for Courts. The meeting will be open to the public for hearings of evidence from the Department of Corrections from 10.30 am to 11.30 am, and from the Department for Courts from 12 noon to 1.00 pm.

The committee is still seeking submissions on the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 5.00 pm on Friday, 29 November 2002. The bill aims to strike an appropriate balance between extending the use of DNA as a valuable investigative crime-fighting tool, and the recognition and protection of fundamental personal rights. Amendments proposed include:

- allowing buccal (mouth) swabs to be taken, as an alternative to taking blood samples

- allowing compulsory DNA testing of all inmates in prison on the date the amending legislation comes into force if they were convicted of a relevant schedule offence prior to the commencement of the 1996 Act

- repealing the current six-month limitation for obtaining a sample from a person convicted of a schedule offence who is serving a term of imprisonment in respect of that offence

- extending the range of material that can be used as a basis to compel a suspect to provide a DNA sample to material (including foetal matter) that a judge is satisfied is reasonably believed to be genetically traceable to the person who committed the offence

- allowing DNA samples to be taken, by consent or by court compulsion order, from persons suspected of committing burglary or entering with intent.

Copies of the bill can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

The committee requires 20 copies of each submission. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the Clerk of Committee, as submissions are usually released to the public. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a day-time telephone number. E-mail submissions will not be accepted unless the submitter’s name and contact address/telephone number are included. For further guidance on making a submission, our publication Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee can be found on our web site at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. Submissions should be addressed to Tracey Rayner, Clerk of Committee, Law and Order Committee Secretariat, Parliament House, Wellington.

Local Government and Environment (Marie Alexander, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee presented its reports on the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Conservation, Vote Environment and Vote Energy - Energy Efficiency and Conservation. In the committee’s report on Vote Conservation, it commented on the pressure large numbers of visitors place on some popular conservation destinations. The report notes the attempt to identify and manage a suitable balance between visitor access and conservation requirements lies at the heart of current policy efforts and appropriations. The committee also released the terms of reference for the inquiry it will be undertaking in the new year into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and the subsequent actions taken. The terms of reference are as follows:

‘That the committee inquire into the facts of the alleged accidental release of genetically-engineered sweet corn plants in 2000, and of the decision making processes and the roles of and actions taken by the Government, government agencies and relevant companies, including inquiring into:

- the extent to which biosecurity measures past and present control the risk of GM contamination for imports of sweet corn, and how these controls compare to those of our major trading partners

- the scientific evidence on the likelihood of contamination of the Novartis Lot NC 9114 and the adequacy of the testing undertaken at that time

- what processes did government departments and agencies follow on being advised of the suspected contamination

- the scientific evidence relied on during decision making concerning the Novartis Lot NC 9114 seeds

- whether a contamination tolerance level was accepted by Government in 2000 and, if so, what part it played in decision making over the Novartis Lot NC 9114 seeds

- whether the public, other interested parties, cabinet and the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification were adequately informed about the issue at the appropriate time

- the role of the relevant private companies in addressing the issue including the usefulness of information they provided, and any influence that they may have had on decision making or communication of the issue

- the compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act and relevant regulations

- recommendations.’

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

The committee met on Thursday, 7 November. It received a briefing from Derek Fox on the Mâori Television Service. It considered the Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement Bill. It considered and heard evidence on the financial review of Te Puni Kôkiri.

The committee will next meet on Thursday, 14 October from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm, mostly to hear evidence on the Ngati Ruanui Claims Settlement Bill. It will be open to the public from 10.30 am until the hearing is complete. The venue is yet to be finalised.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 7 November. It gave further consideration to the terms of reference for its inquiry into the scampi fishery. Because the committee is determined to reach a successful outcome from the inquiry, it considered further amendments to the draft terms of reference needed to be finalised and agreed to by all parties.

The committee also heard evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and considered further the 2001/02 financial review of the Ministry of Fisheries.

Next week the committee will consider the Hop Industry Restructuring Bill, including any hearing of evidence.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 6 November and continued its regular scrutiny of new government regulations. It also conducted a hearing of evidence on the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill. The committee heard three submissions, from Barine Developments Limited, the Sealord Group and others, and SeaFIC.

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 13 November to further consider the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill.

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

Next Thursday the committee will consider the Remuneration Authority (Members of Parliament) Amendment Bill, and then will hear evidence in public on the review of Standing Orders. The evidence will comprise a briefing from Chief Parliamentary Counsel and the Clerk of the House on the Public Access to Legislation project and on future arrangements for the publication of parliamentary information.

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

The committee heard evidence on the financial review of the Ministry of Transport on 7 November. At its next meeting on Thursday, 14 November it will hear evidence on financial review of the Department of Labour. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.30 am to 12.50 pm.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Finance and Expenditure

Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill (8 November 2002)

Health

Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill (27 November 2002)

Inquiry into the proposal to establish a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products (13 November 2002)

Law and Order

Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill (29 November 2002)

Local Government and Environment

Marine Reserves Bill (31 January 2003)

Primary Production

Hop Industry Restructuring Bill (11 November 2002)

Reserves and Other Lands Disposal Bill (18 November 2002)

Wine Bill (18 November 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, 8 November 2002

© Scoop Media