Select Committee Business

From 14 November to 21 November 2003

Committee meetings

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

Reports presented

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

Business

- Recommended sitting programme for 2004

Commerce

- 2002/03 financial reviews of the Electricity Corporation of New Zealand Limited, Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited, Mighty River Power Limited, Transpower New Zealand Limited, Broadcasting Commission (New Zealand on Air), Earthquake Commission, Government Superannuation Fund Authority, New Zealand Tourism Board (Tourism New Zealand), and Testing Laboratory Registration Council

Education and Science

- 2002/03 financial review of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology

Health

- 2002/03 financial reviews of the Wairarapa District Health Board, South Canterbury District Health Board, Southland District Health Board, and the Residual Health Management Unit

- Assisted Human Reproduction Bill (227-1)

Justice and Electoral

- 2002/03 financial review of the Crown Law Office

Law and Order

- Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill (18-2)

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Petition 2002/72 of Dorothy Maddock and seven others

Bills referred to select committees

The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill was referred to the Education and Science Committee with a report due by 13 February 2004.

The Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2) was referred to the Commerce Committee with a report due by 12 February 2004.

The Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Amendment Bill was referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee.

The Visiting Forces Bill was referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee.

Committee notes

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

Commerce (Michelle Malyon, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 20 November to hear evidence on SOP 152, which the committee will consider with the Business Law Reform Bill. It also continued to hear evidence on its inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry. The committee also continued its consideration of the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill.

Next week the committee will conduct a site visit on Tuesday, 25 November to the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 19 November to consider and hear evidence on the Education (Disestablishment of Early Childhood Development Board) Amendment Bill. The committee also considered the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand State and integrated schools.

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 3 December.

Finance and Expenditure (Peter Hurndell, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee did not meet this week.

The committee is scheduled to meet next week on Thursday, 27 November to hear evidence on the financial review of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and to consider the Income Tax Bill. The meeting will be open to the public during the hearing from approximately 10.15 am to 11.15 am.

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

The committee met this week to hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the State Services Commission and the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs. It also considered the Border Security Bill and the Maritime Security Bill.

Next week the committee will meet on Thursday, 27 November to hear evidence from Government Statistician on the 2002/03 financial review of Statistics New Zealand. The committee will also continue its consideration of the Border Security Bill, Maritime Security Bill, Building Bill and the petition to repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982. Other items will also be considered.

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

This week the committee considered a number of items, including the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill.

Next week the committee will travel to Auckland on Tuesday, 25 November to hear submissions on the inquiry into the health effects of Agent Orange. The hearing will be at the Jet Inn Hotel, 63 Westney Road, Mangere. It will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 4.30 pm.

The committee will be in Wellington on Wednesday, 26 November to hear further submissions on the inquiry. The hearing will be in Room G.003, Parliament House and open to the public from 10.00 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm. The committee will also consider other items of business.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 19 November to progress its financial reviews of the Parliamentary Counsel Office and the Ministry of Justice (the Office of Treaty Settlements). It also heard evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

Next week the committee meets three times. On Wednesday, 26 November it will be in Christchurch to hear evidence on the Care of Children Bill. On Thursday, 27 November the committee travels to Auckland to hear from submitters there on the Care of Children Bill. On Friday, 28 November the committee will hear evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. These meetings are all open to the public.

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

On 17 November the committee presented its report on the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill. It recommended that the bill be passed, with a small number of amendments. The bill proposes amendments to the Police Complaints Authority Act 1988. These amendments include changing the name of the Police Complaints Authority to the Independent Police Complaints Authority, and increasing the Authority's membership from one to three persons, including a chairperson, who will be a current or former Judge. The bill maintains the secrecy provisions currently in the Act; however, the bill provides for an exception to the secrecy provisions by allowing disclosure in certain circumstances.

The chairperson of the committee outlined that the main recommendations of the committee were around the new disclosure provisions included in the bill. He said, "The disclosure provisions in the bill as introduced were unduly complicated and potentially impracticable. As the primary objective of the provisions is to ensure that a defendant's right to a fair trial is not compromised, we have recommended substantial amendments to these provisions to achieve this objective in a similar way."

He also said, "We have also recommended an amendment to clarify that the Independent Police Complaints Authority has the same ability as the Ombudsmen to decline to investigate a complaint because the complainant had an adequate remedy, which for whatever reason, they chose not to exercise."

This week the committee heard evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the New Zealand Police. It also continued consideration of the Corrections Bill. The committee is not meeting next week.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 20 November to consider the Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Bill and the inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. The committee next meets on Thursday, 27 November, to further consider these items, as well as the Wellington City Empowering and Amendment Bill. The meeting will not be open to the public.

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

The committee met on 20 November to further consider the report of its inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust. The committee will not meet next week.

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

The committee met twice this week to consider its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery.

The next meeting will be on Thursday, 4 December to consider and hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of Land Information New Zealand.

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

The committee will not meet next week during the adjournment, but will meet in the following week to continue its scrutiny of new government regulations.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 20 November to hear evidence on the financial review of the Ministry of Social Development. At its next meeting on Thursday, 4 December the committee will continue to hear evidence on the financial review of the Ministry of Social Development.

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

The Holidays Bill and Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill were considered this week. The committee also heard evidence on the financial review of the Ministry of Transport.

The committee issued the following statement on the petition of Ross Sutherland and 584 others: "The Sutherland Petition is under active consideration by the committee. This petition requests that Parliament legislate to safeguard the long-term viability of Paraparaumu Airport as a full operational facility. There are some issues the committee wishes to pursue so it is obtaining independent advice and will report to the House as soon as possible."

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

- Electricity and Gas Industries Bill (30 January 2004)

- Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2) (30 January 2004)

Education and Science

- Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill (16 January 2004)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Mercenary Activities (Prohibition) Bill (31 January 2004)

Government Administration

- Architects Bill (5 December 2003)

Justice and Electoral

- Judicial Matters Bill (21 November 2003)

Primary Production

- Fisheries Amendment Bill (15 December 2003)

Standing Orders

- Members of Parliament (Pecuniary Interests) Bill (27 February 2004)

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, 21 November 2003

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