Select Committee Business From 17 September to 24 September 2004

Committee meetings No committee meetings were held this week.

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

Finance and Expenditure Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (110-2)

Health Briefing on a national organ donor register

Primary Production Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill

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 15 September. The next meeting, for both the committee and the subcommittee on the Inquiry into Teacher Education, is scheduled for 6 October.

Finance and Expenditure (Lesley Ferguson, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

As the House is in adjournment, the committee did not meet this week and is not expected to meet next week.

Recently, the committee has presented two reports to the House. The committee’s report on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement, September 2004 details the committee's discussion with the Governor of the Reserve Bank on the most recent Monetary Policy Statement, which announced the Governor’s decision to raise the official cash rate by 25 basis points. A transcript of the hearing of evidence is also appended to the report.

The committee also reported to the House on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The committee is recommending a large number of amendments to the bill, particularly regarding the tax exemption for foreign venture capital investors and the amended framework for resolution of tax disputes. In addition, the committee recommends that Supplementary Order Paper 210, addressing issues around the use of Australian unit trusts to reduce paying tax, and Supplementary Order Paper 218, regarding tax issues around the storms of February 2004, be incorporated in the bill with amendments. Both of these reports may be viewed at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Publications/CommitteeReport/Default.htm The next committee meeting is currently expected to be on 6 October. Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz,)

The committee will next meet on 4 October in Wellington to hear evidence on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill. This meeting will be open to the public.

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

The committee has called for public submissions on the Historic Places Amendment Bill, with a closing date of 29 October 2004, and the Public Records Bill, with a closing date of 5 November 2004.

Submissions on the committee’s inquiry into hate speech are also due by 1 October 2004. The terms of reference for the inquiry to consider are: Whether or not further legislation to prohibit or restrain hate speech is warranted. Whether censorship of material that vilifies certain groups would be a justified limitation on the rights and freedoms affirmed by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. An appropriate threshold test for prohibition or restraint of hate speech. Whether any prohibition or restraint of hate speech or hateful expressions would be a justified limitation on the rights and freedoms outlined in the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990. The steps taken by the international community to control hate speech and hateful expressions. People wishing to make a submission on either bill, or the inquiry into hate speech, need to send 20 copies of their submission by the relevant closing date. Submissions should be sent to the Clerk of Committee, Government Administration Committee, Room 10.12, Bowen House, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

The committee next meets on 7 October at the Centra Auckland Airport Hotel on the corner of Kirkbridge Road and Ascot Road, Mangere, to hear evidence on the Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz) The committee did not meet this week. On 21 September the committee reported to the House on a briefing it received on a national organ donor register. The committee notes its continued preference for a national indicative organ donor register, and has recommended to the Government several interim measures while the Ministry of Health’s review of the regulation of tissue and tissue-based therapy continues.

These include: that the Government proceed to investigate the option of an indicative register that records organ donation wishes, independent of its review of the regulation of human tissue and tissue-based therapy. that the Government conduct random sample research to gauge public awareness and attitudes towards all organ donation options and methods for recording preferences. that the Government review resources for Organ Donation New Zealand and ensure that resources are allocated to community and family education.

The committee is calling for public submissions on the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3), with a closing date for submissions of 22 October 2004. This bill amends provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 relating to the amount of a drug that a person would have to possess to be legally presumed to be in possession of that drug for the purpose of supply. It adds an ability for presumption of supply matters to be amended by Order in Council and amends the presumption of supply quantity for methamphetamine. It also adds a Ministry of Justice official to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs’ membership.

The bill creates new offences relating to the import and export of precursor substances—ingredients in the manufacture of illegal drugs. It creates powers of search and seizure without warrant for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (ingredients in the manufacture of methamphetamine). It also allows for controlled deliveries of precursor substances.

Copies of the bill are available from Bennetts Government Bookshops and the other usual key stockists. The committee will not meet next week.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee will meet next in Auckland on 27 September, to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. The meeting will be held in the Hobson Room at the Alexandra Park Function Centre, and will be open to the public from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon, 1.00 pm to 4.15 pm, and 5.15 pm to 7.00 pm.

The committee will then meet in Christchurch on 29 September, to continue to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. The meeting will be held in the Cathedral North Room at the Millennium Hotel, and will be open to the public from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon, 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm, and 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee is calling for submissions on the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill and the Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill.

The purpose of the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill is to give effect to the agreements between the Crown and Ngâti Awa concerning the reconstitution of the structure and operations of Te Rûnanga, so as to enable Te Rûnanga to receive and administer the Ngâti Awa settlement redress for and on behalf of Ngâti Awa.

The Ngâti Awa Claims Settlement Bill aims to give effect to a Deed of Settlement between the Crown and Ngâti Awa in respect of the latter’s historical claims under the Treaty of Waitangi. The Deed of Settlement also records the acknowledgments and the apology given by the Crown to Ngâti Awa.

Copies of the bills can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops

The closing date for the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill is Friday, 24 September 2004. The closing date for the Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill is Friday, 1 October 2004.

The committee requires 20 copies of each submission. For further guidance, 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 the Mâori Affairs Committee secretariat, Parliament House, Wellington. For further details, contact Miles Reay on (04) 471 9043, or email the secretariat at SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz.

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

Government Administration Inquiry into hate speech (1 October 2004) Historic Places Amendment Bill (29 October 2004) Public Records Bill (5 November 2004)

Health Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3)
(24 September 2004) Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) (22 October 2004)

Local Government and Environment Overseas Investment (Queen’s Chain Extension) (20 September 2004)

Maori Affairs Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill (24 September 2004) Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill (1 October 2004)

Primary Production Aquaculture Reform Bill (27 September 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

ENDS

© Scoop Media