Select Committee Business

From 15 October to 22 October 2004

Committee meetings Seventeen committee meetings were held this week, all in the parliamentary complex.

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

Finance and Expenditure 2003/04 financial review of Office of the Controller and Auditor-General

Government Administration 2003/04 financial review of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Office of the Clerk, Office of the Ombudsmen, Parliamentary Service, Statistics New Zealand and New Zealand Lotteries Commission

Health Petition 2002/0099 of Shirley Ann Winikerei and 478 others

Justice and Electoral Electoral Matters Bill (157-2)

Local Government and Environment Inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and the subsequent action taken (I.9A) Petition 2002/0032 of Graeme Collie and 114 others Petition 2002/0127 of Bruce Scott and 2831 others

Transport and Industrial Relations 2003/04 financial review of Ministry of Transport

Bills referred to select committees The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Amendment Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee with a report due 19 April 2005. The Animal Welfare (Restriction on Docking of Dogs’ Tails) Bill was referred to the Government Administration Committee with a report due 19 April 2005.

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 Education and Science subcommittee met on 20 October to continue its consideration of the Inquiry into Teacher Education. Following this the full committee met to hear evidence on the Petition 2002/106 of Jill Hounsell and 2268 others, and considered two other petitions before it. It also considered the 2003/04 financial review of the Ministry of Research Science and Technology, and its inquiries into Te Wânanga o Aotearoa, and Northland Polytechnic. The committee is calling for submissions on the Education (Establishment of Universities) Amendment Bill, with a closing date for submissions of 19 November 2004. Copies of the bill can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops. The committee next meets on 3 November when it will hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial review of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology. This will be open to the public from 10.30 am to 11.30 am.

Finance and Expenditure (Lesley Ferguson, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met this week to hear from the Minister of Finance on the Crown Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2004, as well as further hearings with representatives from the Treasury and the Ministry of Economic Development on the 2003/04 financial reviews of those departments. The committee reported on the 2003/04 financial review of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General, and had no matters to bring to the attention of the House.

The committee will not meet next week.

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz,) The committee met on 20 October to further its consideration of the Foreshore and Seabed Bill. The committee will not meet over the adjournment.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee further considered its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Tonga, and its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Latin America. The committee also completed consideration of two international treaty examinations: The amendment of the Agreement Establishing the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development (1990) The Treaty between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of Australia Establishing Certain Exclusive Economic Zone Boundaries and Continental Shelf Boundaries (2004)

Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met this week to hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial review of the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and Archives New Zealand, and to consider the Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill. The committee released the 188 substantive submissions it has received on its inquiry into hate speech. Copies of these submissions have been placed in the Parliamentary Library to allow the public to access them. The committee expects to be able to hear evidence from all those submitters who have indicated they wish to be heard. While most hearings will be in Wellington, the committee intends to hold a hearing of evidence in Auckland, and will make videoconferencing and teleconferencing available to those submitters who cannot make it to these venues.

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

This week the committee completed hearing evidence on two petitions relating to caregivers’ wages, commenced hearing evidence on the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3), and considered other items of business. The committee reported to the House on the petition of Shirley Ann Winikerei and 478 others. The petition requests that the House of Representatives legislate that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder be recognised as a notifiable disability. The committee’s report makes several recommendations to the Government, including: that adequate resourcing be made available to provide improved multidisciplinary assessment for a range of disorders affecting children, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder that legislation or standards be developed requiring mandatory warning labels on all types of alcoholic liquor reminding women of the dangers of drinking alcohol during pregnancy that a policy encouraging women not to drink any alcohol during pregnancy is adopted.

On 27 October, the committee will hear further evidence on the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3). This will be from 9.05 am to 10.40 am, 10.50 am to 1.10pm, 2.20 pm to 4.35 pm, 4.45 pm to 6.35 pm, and 7.35 pm to 8.40 pm. The hearings of evidence will be open to the public, in room G.003, Parliament House. 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. Copies of the bill are available from Bennett’s Government Bookshops and the other usual key stockists.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 20 October to consider the Civil Union Bill, and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. It also considered Petition 2002/55 of Lynley Jane Hood and Dr Don Brash and 807 others, and Petition 2002/70 of Gaye Davidson and 3346 others. The committee will meet on 26 October and 27 October, to continue its consideration of the Civil Union Bill, and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee further considered the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2), and Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill. The committee will not meet in the adjournment next week. The committee’s next meeting is scheduled for 3 November where it will consider and hear evidence on the 2003/04 financial review of the Serious Fraud Office. The chief executive, David Bradshaw, will give evidence at the hearing, which will be open to the public from 9.40 am to 10.10 am.

Local Government and Environment (Beth Watson, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz) On 19 October, the committee presented its report on its Inquiry in to the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and the subsequent actions taken.
Copies of the report can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops, or viewed at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Publications/CommitteeReport.aspx?Year=&Cat=13&CatName=Inquiries&Order=

The committee will next meet on 4 November to hear evidence from the Department of Conservation, and the Ministry for the Environment on their respective annual reports. The committee will also meet a delegation from the Italian Parliament and discuss the legislative framework for the devolution of responsibilities from central to local government, the practical functioning of the system, and the integration between local and central government. On 21 and 22 October the committee is visiting various sites in the Nelson area relating to matters that it has before it. The Nelson/Marlborough conservator from the Department of Conservation is accompanying the committee. He will brief the members as they travel and will also make a presentation to the committee on Thursday evening.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 19 October to consider the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill, and the Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz) On 12 October the committee continued its hearings on the Aquaculture Reform Bill. On the evening of 13 October and all day on 14 October the committee heard evidence on the bill at the Scenic Circle Hotel, Blenheim, from marine farming, Maori, local council and other interests from Nelson and Marlborough. On 15 October the committee visited mussel and salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds. The committee heard evidence in Wellington on the Aquaculture Reform Bill, from 19 October to 21 October. This completed the hearings of evidence on the bill. The committee will next meet on 2 November.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee heard evidence on a complaint by New Zealand Law Society and the New Zealand Bar Association into civil court fees. The committee has also called for submissions on the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3). The closing date for submissions is 12 November 2004.

The bill confirms and validates various items of subordinate legislation. Part 2 confirms and validates certain subordinate legislation made under Acts providing that it lapses after a time unless confirmed or validated by Act of Parliament. Copies of the bill 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 the committee, as submissions are usually released to the public by the committee. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. For further guidance on making a submission, 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 as follows: Mr Michael Wilkinson Clerk of Committee Regulations Review Committee Room 10.11 Bowen House Parliament Buildings WELLINGTON

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 21 October to consider further the New Zealand Superannuation Amendment Bill and hear evidence on the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill. At its next meeting on 4 November the committee will consider further the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill, the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Bill (No 4), and the Charities Bill.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 21 October to consider the 2003/04 financial review of the Ministry of Transport. The committee also further considered the Transport Legislation Bill and heard the final oral submissions on the Land Transport Amendment Bill. The committee will not meet next week. On 4 November it will meet to further consider the Land Transport Amendment Bill, and go on a site visit to the new Rescue Co-ordination Centre of New Zealand at Avalon in the Hutt Valley.

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

Commerce New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Amendment Bill (closing date not yet determined)

Education and Science Education (Establishment of Universities) Amendment Bill (19 November 2004) Government Administration Historic Places Amendment Bill (29 October 2004) Public Records Bill (5 November 2004) Animal Welfare (Restriction on Docking of Dogs’ Tails) Bill (closing date not yet determined)

Health Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) (22 October 2004) Regulations Review Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) (12 November 2004) Social Services Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill (31 January 2005)

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, 22 October 2004

ENDS

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