INDEPENDENT NEWS

Select Committee Business 8-15 June

Published: Fri 15 Jun 2001 02:14 PM
Select Committee Business
From 8 June 2001 to 15 June 2001
Committee meetings
There were 21 committee meetings, all within the parliamentary complex.
Reports presented (25)
Finance and Expenditure
- Government Superannuation Fund Amendment Bill (65-2)
- New Zealand Superannuation Bill (89-2)
Local Government and Environment
- Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Amendment Bill (132-2)
Social Services
- Social Security (Residence of Spouses) Amendment Bill (129-2)
Primary Production
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Votes Biosecurity
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Agriculture and Forestry
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Lands
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Fisheries
Commerce
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Commerce, Vote Communications, Vote Consumer Affairs, Vote Economic Development, Vote Energy, Vote Government Superannuation Fund and Vote Industry and Regional Development
Education and Science
- 1999/2000 financial review of the Education and Training Support Agency
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Research, Science and Technology
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Education Review Office
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Education
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Crown Research Institutes
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Culture and Heritage (National Library)
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
- International treaty examination of the Hague Conference on Private International Law
Government Administration
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Office of the Clerk
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Ministerial Services
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Emergency Management
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Youth Affairs
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Statistics
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Sport, Fitness and Leisure
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Racing
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Parliamentary Service
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Ombudsmen
Bills referred to select committees
The Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Bill, previously set down for consideration in the Committee of the Whole House, has been referred for further select committee consideration to the Justice and Electoral Committee for the purposes of receiving a briefing from judges of the Court of Appeal on the mode of hearing criminal appeals in the Court of Appeal.
Committee notes
(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in italics)
Commerce (Alan Witcombe, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)
This week the committee received a briefing from the Audit Office on the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Energy and heard evidence from the Minister of Energy and the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Economic Development (MED). In addition, the committee further considered the Electronic Transactions Bill (ET).
The committee also considered and reported on its report for the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates. The report was mainly a pro forma report but comment on two Supplementary Estimates (Vote Government Superannuation Fund and Vote Industry and Regional Development) was included.
The closing date for submissions on the Telecommunications Bill was 13 June 2001. Hearings will commence shortly.
Next week the committee will further consider the New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Amendment Bill (a private bill) and the Motor Vehicle Dealers Bill.
The committee will also hear evidence on the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Commerce and Vote Communications from the Minister of Commerce and the Minister for Communications respectively (Hon Paul Swain in both cases), after receiving briefings from the Audit Office.
Education and Science (Louise Gardiner, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)
On Thursday, 14 June, the committee conducted examinations of the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Education Review Office and Vote Education. The committee heard evidence on the votes from: Hon Trevor Mallard, responsible Minister for both votes; acting Chief Review Officer; and the Secretary of Education.
The committee also heard, from the New Zealand School Trustees' Association, the final submission on Supplementary Order Paper 133 relating to the Education Amendment Bill (No 2).
On Wednesday 13 June, the subcommittee on the inquiry into the teaching of reading in New Zealand met to continue consideration.
At next week's meeting, on Thursday, 21 June, the committee will conduct examinations on the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Research, Science and Technology and Vote Crown Research Institutes, hearing evidence from Hon Pete Hodgson, Minister for Research, Science and Technology. The meeting will be in Room G.011, Parliament House, with the Estimates hearing occurring from 10.20 am to 12.20 pm.
Finance and Expenditure (Julian Kersey, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on 13 June to consider the Estimates for 2001/2002 for Votes Revenue and State-Owned Enterprises. The committee heard evidence from the Minister of Revenue and the Commissioner of Inland Revenue. For Vote State-Owned Enterprises the committee heard from the Minister and the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit (CCMAU). Next week, on 20 June, the committee will hear more evidence from the Commissioner of Inland Revenue and CCMAU. It will also hear evidence on Vote Women’s Affairs from Hon Laila Harre.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee heard further submissions on the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Extension Bill. Further evidence will be heard at next week’s meeting.
The committee also considered two international treaties. The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade briefed the committee on the Australia New Zealand Social Security Agreement. The committee has decided to call for submissions on this treaty. The closing date is 20 July 2001. The committee also made a pro forma report on its consideration of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.
Finally, the committee met members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China for a discussion of issues of interest to both countries.
Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee reported the 2001/02 Estimates for Votes Emergency Management, Ministerial Services, Office of the Clerk, Ombudsmen, Parliamentary Service, Racing, Sport, Fitness and Leisure, Statistics, and Youth Affairs with the recommendation that the appropriations be accepted.
The committee continued its consideration of the inquiry into New Zealand’s adoption laws.
Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on Thursday, 14 June, to consider the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 6) and Supplementary Order Paper No 85; the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates for Vote Police; the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates and 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Courts and Vote Corrections.
The committee next meets on Thursday, 21 June, from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, to consider the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates and 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Police; the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates for Vote Courts, Vote Corrections and Vote Serious Fraud; and the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 6) and Supplementary Order Paper No 85 to the bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.45 am to 1.00 pm during the hearing of evidence on Vote Police. The Chief Executive and his officials, as well as the Minister of Police, will be present.
The committee is still seeking submissions on the Crown Organisations (Criminal Liability) Bill and the Criminal Investigations (Blood Samples - Burglary Suspects) Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions on both bills is 30 June 2001.
Local Government and Environment (David Bagnall, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)
On Tuesday, the committee presented its report on the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Amendment Bill. The bill, which was subsequently passed by the House on Wednesday, 13 June, introduced a transitional provision into the principal Act relating to applications for resource consent that were made but not finally determined before the Act came into force. The committee recommended that the bill be passed with amendments.
On Wednesday, the committee heard evidence from the Auckland City Council as promoter of three local bills. These bills are the Auckland City Endowments and Reserves Amendment Bill (which relates to the endowment status of certain inner city properties), the Auckland Improvement Trust Amendment Bill (which will empower the development of historic air raid tunnels under Albert Park) and the Auckland Aotea Centre Empowering Amendment Bill (which will allow the Board of Management of the Aotea Centre to also manage other facilities owned by the council). The committee also considered the 2001/02 Estimates and 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates for the five votes before it.
Next week evidence will be heard in public on Vote Environment from Hon Marian Hobbs, Minister for the Environment. The committee will also consider the Hawke's Bay Endowment Land Empowering Bill and the Auckland City Endowments and Reserves Amendment Bill.
The subcommittee on Otorohanga termites met on 14 June. It received a briefing from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry updating the ministry's efforts to eliminate the termites and heard evidence from a representative of the affected residents.
MMP Review (Louise Sparrer, SC-MMP@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met this week to continue its consideration of the issues raised in submissions on the review of MMP. The committee is scheduled to meet again next week. To date 290 submissions have been received on a wide range of issues concerning the electoral system.
Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on Thursday, 14 June. It considered a number of items of business before it, including: the inquiry into sustainable forestry management; the Foreign Fishing Crew Wages and Repatriation Bond Bill; the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates; and the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Agriculture and Forestry and Vote Biosecurity.
Next week the committee will examine 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Agriculture and Forestry and Vote Biosecurity for the full meeting on Thursday, 21 June. The Minister for Agriculture and Biosecurity, Hon Jim Sutton, will give evidence, first on the agricultural component of Vote Agriculture and Forestry (10.00 am - 11.30 am) and then on Votes Biosecurity (11.30 am - 12.50 pm).
The following week the committee will be examining the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Fisheries and the forestry component of Vote Agriclture and Forestry, including hearing evidence from the Hon Pete Hodgson, Minister of Fisheries and Forestry.
Regulations Review (Fiona McLean, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz )
The committee met on Wednesday, 13 June and will next meet on Wednesday, 20 June.
The committee has initiated an inquiry into the principles determining whether delegated legislation is given the status of regulations. The terms of reference for the inquiry are to examine:
- the principles that determine whether delegated instruments of a legislative character are given the status of regulations
- the principles to be considered when primary legislation delegates law-making powers
- whether there are delegated instruments of a legislative character that are not subject to the scrutiny of the Regulations Review Committee
- whether those instruments ought to be subject to the scrutiny of the Regulations Review Committee and, if so:
- whether the definition of “regulations” in section 2 of the Regulations (Disallowance) Act 1989 ought to be amended accordingly, to include some or all of these instruments, or
- whether the Standing Orders setting out the committee’s functions ought to be amended accordingly, to enable the committee to examine delegated legislative instruments that fall outside the definition of “regulations”.
The closing date for submissions is 27 July 2001. The committee would prefer to receive 20 copies of any submission. A discussion paper is available to any person who may wish to make a submission on the inquiry. The paper can be found at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/publications. The paper can also be obtained in hard copy from the Clerk of the Committee.
Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee will examine the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Transport on Wednesday, 20 June, from 11.00 am. The Minister of Transport and officials will appear.
Closing dates for submissions
Committees are receiving submissions on the following items with the closing date shown:
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Terrorism (Bombing and Financing) Bill (13 July 2001)
Australia New Zealand Social Security Agreement (20 July 2001)
Law and Order
Criminal Investigations (Blood Samples - Burglary Suspects) Amendment Bill (30 June 2001)
Crown Organisations (Criminal Liability) Bill (30 June 2001)
Regulations Review
Inquiry into the principles determining whether delegated legislation is given the status of regulations (27 July 2001)
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
ph: 471 9534, fax: 499 0486, or at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz
Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 15 June 2001

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