Select Committee Business

From 16 April to 23 April 2004

Committee meetings

Four committee meetings were held this week, three in the parliamentary complex and one in Christchurch.

Reports presented

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

Commerce

- 2002/03 financial review of Genesis Power Limited

- 2002/03 financial review of Meridian Energy Limited

- 2002/03 financial review of the Guardians of New Zealand Superannuation

Law and Order

- Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill (52-2)

Committee notes

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

Education and Science (Kirstin Lambert, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee last met on 8 April to further consider the 2002/03 financial review of the Tertiary Education Commission. The committee is not meeting next week.

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

The committee met this week to hear submissions on the Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill.

The committee is scheduled to meet on 5 May, when it intends to consider the Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital, and Miscellaneous Provisions) and the Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bills.

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz,)

On 22 April the committee heard submissions on the Maori Fisheries Bill in Christchurch. On 28 April the committee will hear further submissions on the bill in the Marina and Hatea rooms of the Kingsgate Hotel, Whangarei, at 10.00 am. Part of the meeting will be open to the public.

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

The committee did not meet this week. The next meeting has yet to be scheduled.

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

The committee did not meet this week. It next meets on 29 April to continue its consideration of the Building Bill.

Submissions are being called for on the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill, with a closing date of 30 April 2004.

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

On 28 April the committee will hear further evidence on the agreement for the establishment of a joint scheme for the regulation of therapeutic products. This will be open to the public from 10.45 am to 12 noon in room G.003, Parliament House. The committee will also consider other items of business.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 21 April to consider the 2002/03 financial review of the Legal Services Agency, the Judicial Matters Bill, and the Care of Children Bill. The committee also considered and heard evidence on the Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Amendment Bill.

The committee next meets on 28 April, when it will consider the Judicial Matters Bill and the 2002/03 financial review of the Legal Services Agency. The committee will also consider and hear evidence on the Care of Children Bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 4.00 pm to 4.30 pm for the hearing of evidence on the Care of Children Bill.

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

The committee met this week to consider the Police Complaints Authority (Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct) Amendment Bill. The committee will also meet next week on 28 April to continue considering this bill.

The committee presented its report on the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill on 20 April. This bill repeals the Secondhand Dealers Act 1903 and the Pawnbrokers Act 1963. The purpose of the bill is to reduce the trade in stolen goods and articles through secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers, and their agents and directors, by regulating their activities. It aims to make it harder for criminals to dispose of stolen goods and articles through secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers, and easier for the police to recover stolen goods and solve property crimes.

The chairperson of the committee, Mr Martin Gallagher said, "We recommend amendments to make it clear as to who is to be regarded as carrying on business as a secondhand dealer, and therefore obliged to apply for a licence, as well as some amendments to the certificate and licence provisions to improve their workability. We also recommend some amendments to the record-keeping and labelling requirements, for example the inclusion of internet auction providers in the bill. We also recommend amendments to the pawnbroking provisions, including not allowing itinerant pawnbrokers, and allowing unredeemed pledges to be sold by internet auction. We also recommend that buyback contracts be made illegal for both secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers."

The report can be found at

http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/52bar2.pdf

Local Government and Environment (Peter Hurndell, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee did not meet this week.

The committee next meets on 29 April when it expects to consider the Wellington City Council (Te Aro Reclamation Amendment) Bill, hear evidence on the financial reviews of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, and the Environmental Risk Management Authority, and receive a briefing on the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 3).

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

The committee did not meet this week .The committee's next meeting is on 6 May when it will give further consideration to the Meat Board Restructuring Bill and the 2002/03 financial reviews of AgriQuality Limited, and ASURE New Zealand Limited. The committee intends to start hearing evidence on Part 3 of the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3).

Closing dates for submissions

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

Finance and Expenditure

- Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (21 May 2004)

Government Administration

- Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill (30 April 2004)

Local Government and Environment

- Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 3) (7 May 2004)

Primary Production

- Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3) (3 May 2004)

Social Services

- Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Bill (23 April 2004)

- Charities Bill (3 June 2004)

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Local Government (Auckland) Amendment Bill (3 May 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:

Louise Sparrer

Senior Parliamentary Officer

ph: 471 9569, fax: 499 0486, or at louise.sparrer@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 23 April 2004

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