Select Committee Business From 4 June to 11 June 2004

Committee meetings Eight committee meetings were held this week, all in the parliamentary complex. There was one site visit.

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

Finance and Expenditure 2003/04 Supplementary Estimates of Appropriation

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 this week to continue its consideration of the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill.

The committee next meets on 17 June to hear evidence on the 2004/05 Estimates for Vote Consumer Affairs, this will be open to the public. The committee will receive a briefing on an alleged breach of the Commerce Act in relation to the auto-glazing industry. It will continue its consideration of the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill.

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

The committee met this week to consider the Reserve Bank’s June Monetary Policy Statement, the 2003/2004 Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations and to hear submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.

The committee is scheduled to meet on 16 June, when it expects to consider the Fiscal Strategy Report, the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update, the 2004/2005 Estimates of Appropriations, Votes Finance and Revenue, and continue with its hearing of submissions on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital, and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The Minister of Finance and Revenue is expected to appear before the committee during its consideration of the Fiscal Strategy Report, the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update, and the 2004/2005 Estimates of Appropriations, Votes Finance and Revenue. The meeting is expected to be open to the public from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm.

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

On 9 June the committee met to consider the Maori Fisheries Bill. The committee will continue consideration of this bill on 15 and 17 June.

The Committee is inviting public submissions on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill. Copies can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops, and information can be obtained from www.beehive.govt.nz/foreshore/home.cfm

Submissions close on Monday, 12 July 2004.

The bill establishes a new, comprehensive framework for recognising rights and interests in the foreshore and seabed, clarifies the status of those areas, and provides for the recognition of customary rights and interests.

For further guidance on making a submission, our publication Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee can be found on our website at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz Submissions should be addressed to the Clerk of Committee Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation Committee Room 9.12a Bowen House Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON

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

This week the committee met to further consider the Building Bill. The committee also conducted a site visit to the Department of Internal Affairs’ Censorship Compliance Unit and the Office of Film and Literature Classification, as part of its consideration of the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Amendment Bill. The committee next meets on 17 June to further consider these items, the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 4), and to hear evidence on the 2004/05 estimates examination of Vote Statistics from the Minister of Statistics Hon John Tamihere.

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

The committee will meet in Auckland on 17 June to hear submissions on its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Tonga. Submissions will be heard between 9.30 am and 1.00 pm at the Centra Auckland Airport Hotel.

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

This week the committee received a briefing on the Total Diet Survey. It also heard evidence from a further submitter on its inquiry into the health effects of Agent Orange. On 16 June the committee will hear further evidence from Veterans’ Affairs New Zealand on its inquiry into the health effects of Agent Orange. This will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 10.30 am, in room G.011 Parliament House. The committee will also consider the 2004/05 Estimates for Vote Health, the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, several petitions, and the agreement with Australia for the establishment of a joint scheme for the regulation of therapeutic products. None of these items will be open to the public.

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

The committee met on 9 June to consider the Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Amendment Bill, the Care of Children Bill, and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. The committee also considered Vote Attorney-General, Vote Justice, and Vote Parliamentary Counsel as part of its 2004/05 Estimates examination. The committee next meets on 16 June, when it will consider the Care of Children Bill and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

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

The committee is meeting on 16 June to further consider the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts, Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, and the 2004/05 Estimates: Vote Police. The meeting will be open to the public, from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm, during a hearing of evidence on Vote Police. Those giving evidence are the Minister of Police and senior officials from the New Zealand Police, including the Police Commissioner, Rob Robinson.

Local Government and Environment (Beth Watson, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 10 June to consider the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 3) and to continue its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. Next week the committee will meet on 17 June to continue its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken.

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

The committee met for a full day on 10 June. It commenced examination of the 2004/05 Estimates with hearings of evidence from Ministers for Votes Agriculture and Forestry, Biosecurity and Food Safety. The committee also considered Votes Fisheries and Lands. It also further considered and heard evidence on the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3). Next week it will continue consideration of the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 3).

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

The committee will next meet on 17 June to hear evidence on the Estimates for Votes Transport, ACC and Labour. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 12.45 pm.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation Foreshore and Seabed Bill (12 July 2004)

Social Services

New Zealand Superannuation Amendment Bill (2 July 2004) Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill (28 June 2004) Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill (25 June 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 at louise.sparrer@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 11 June 2004

ENDS

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