Select Committee Business

From 8 August to 15 August 2003

Committee meetings

There were 19 committee meetings; 18 in the parliamentary complex and one in Christchurch.

Reports presented

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

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Counter-Terrorism Bill (27-2)

International treaty examination of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean

Government Administration

Auckland War Memorial Museum Site Empowering Bill (55-2)

Primary Production

Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Amendment Bill (117-1)

Transport and Industrial Relations

Road Traffic Reduction Bill (125-1)

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 Thursday, 14 August to further its consideration of the inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry and the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill. The Ministry of Economic Development briefed the committee about the Growth and Innovation Framework Indicators report.

The committee will not be meeting next week.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 13 August to consider the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill.

Next week the committee will meet on Monday, 18 August to continue consideration of the New Organisms and Other Matters Bill.

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

The committee met twice this week to consider the Immigration Amendment Bill. The committee also gave initial consideration to the Crimes and Misconduct (Overseas Operations) Bill. A closing date for submissions has been set for 12 September 2003. Finally, the committee reported on its international treaty examination of the Convention on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 14 August to hear evidence from the Office of Treaty Settlements and constitutional lawyer Alison Quentin-Baxter on the petition of Dr George Paterson Barton Vaitoa Sa and 100,000 others to repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982. The committee also considered the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill and the Border Security Bill. The committee will further consider these bills at its next meeting on Thursday, 28 August.

The committee also considered, and then presented, its report on the Auckland War Memorial Museum Site Empowering Bill. It recommended minor amendments to clarify the description of the site leased in the Auckland Domain for the museum, and that it is exempt from restrictions on activities on volcanic sites. Proposed amendments also aim to clarify that roads on the museum site remain the responsibility of the territorial local authority.

The committee is still calling for submissions on the Border Security Bill. Submissions close on 22 August 2003. The bill seeks to amend the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and the Immigration Act 1987 to enhance border security and to improve the information processes of the New Zealand Customs Service and the New Zealand Immigration Service. Proposed amendments aim to strengthen controls in respect of persons unlawfully entering or exiting New Zealand in remote locations, and provide for automated pre-boarding checks on travellers to New Zealand.

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

This week the committee received a briefing from the Ministry of Health on balanced score cards, a performance measurement tool for District Health Boards. The committee also continued its consideration of the Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill and also the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill.

The committee will be in Auckland next week to hear evidence on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill. This will be from 10.15 am to 12.30 pm and 1.45 pm to 2.35 pm on Wednesday 20 August. The hearing of evidence will be in Conference Room One at the Jet Inn Hotel, 63 Westney Road, Mangere, and will be open to the public.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 13 August to consider the Supreme Court Bill, and its inquiry into the 2002 General Election. Next week the committee will meet on Tuesday, 19 August and Wednesday, 20 August to continue consideration of the Supreme Court Bill.

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

The committee met this week on a Wednesday where it heard a submission and continued consideration of the Corrections Bill, considered the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, and the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill. It also received a public briefing on the Department of Corrections former 'Emergency Response Unit' from the Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections and General Manager of the Public Prisons Service.

The committee is not meeting next week.

The committee is calling for submissions on the Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill and the Sex Offenders Registry Bill. Submissions for both bills close on 17 September 2003. Copies 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 daytime telephone contact number. Submissions should be 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)

The committee next meets on Monday, 18 August to hear evidence on the inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. The meeting will be in Room G.003, Parliament House and will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 12 noon and 1.00 pm to 5.00 pm approximately.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The subcommittee considered the inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust on Thursday, 14 August. The committee considered the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill on the same day.

The committee will further consider the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill, and the inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, on Thursday, 28 August.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 14 August to consider four items. The Wine Bill, the New Zealand Horticultural Export Authority Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Amendment Bill were given further consideration. The committee also heard further evidence and gave further consideration to its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery.

The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 28 August.

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

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 27 August to continue its regular scrutiny of new government regulations.

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 14 August to continue hearing evidence on the Families Commission Bill. The committee will continue hearing evidence on the Families Commission Bill at its next meeting on Thursday, 28 August.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill (4 September 2003)

Finance and Expenditure

Taxation (Annual Rates, GST, Trans-Tasman Imputation and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (15 August 2003)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Crimes and Misconduct (Overseas Operations) Bill (12 September 2003)

Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Amendment Bill (31 October 2003)

Government Administration

Border Security Bill (22 August 2003)

Justice and Electoral

Care of Children Bill (25 September 2003)

Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill (3 October 2003)

Law and Order

Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill (17 September 2003)

Sex Offenders Registry Bill (17 September 2003)

Local Government and Environment

Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Bill (29 September 2003)

Transport and Industrial Relations

Civil Aviation Amendment Bill (3 September 2003)

Railways Bill (1 October 2003)

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

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