Select Committee Business
From 15 June to 22 June 2001
Committee meetings
There were 18 committee meetings this week, all in the parliamentary complex.
Reports presented (47)
Commerce
- Electronic Transactions Bill (74-2)
- Motor Vehicle Dealers Bill (144-1)
Justice and Electoral
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Parliamentary Counsel
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Justice, Vote Treaty Negotiations, Vote Attorney-General and Vote
Parliamentary Counsel
Social Services
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Child, Youth and Family Services
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Employment
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Housing
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Social Services
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Work and Income
Finance and Expenditure
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Audit, Vote Finance, Vote Revenue, and Vote State-Owned Enterprises
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Customs, Vote Defence, Vote Defence Force, Vote Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Vote Immigration and Vote Veterans’ Affairs
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Customs
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Veterans’ Affairs
Government Administration
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Statistics
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote State Services
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Tourism
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Sport, Fitness and Leisure
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Racing
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Parliamentary Service
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Pacific Island Affairs
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Ombudsmen
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Office of the Clerk
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote National Archives
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Ministerial Services
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Internal Affairs
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Emergency Management
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Youth Affairs
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Women’s Affairs
Health
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Health and Vote Health Service Providers
Local Government and Environment
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Local Government
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Conservation
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Energy - Energy Efficiency and Conservation
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Environment
Maori Affairs
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Maori Affairs
Transport and Industrial Relations
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Accident Insurance, Vote Labour and Vote Transport
Education and Science
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote National Library
- Petition 1999/21 of Gavin Piercy and 3660 others
Law and Order
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Corrections
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Courts
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Police
Intelligence and Security (established pursuant to the Intelligence and Security Committee Act 1996)
- Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01 for Vote Communications Security and Intelligence
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Security Intelligence
- Estimates for 2001/02 for Vote Communications Security and Intelligence
Bills referred to select committees
The Child Support Amendment Bill was referred to the Social Services Committee with a report due by 27 August 2001.
The Racing Bill was referred to the Government Administration Committee.
Committee notes
(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in italics)
Education and Science (Louise Gardiner, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)
On Thursday, 21 June, the committee conducted examinations of the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Research, Science and
Technology and Vote Crown Research Institutes. The committee discussed the votes with Hon Pete Hodgson, responsible
minister for both Votes; the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, and officials.
The committee reported on the petition of Gavin Piercy and 3660 others. The petition requests that the House hold an
indicative referendum on the following question: 'Should there be no further compulsory school closures until
comprehensive criteria have been established by law for the Minister of Education to follow when deciding to close a
school?'
In its report, the committee discusses the 1999 closure of Surrey Park School in Invercargill and current Ministry of
Education school closure policy. It recommends to the Government that the ministry make available, preferably as an
easily accessible booklet, comprehensive information detailing all stages of closure processes. This should include
guidance for schools placed in the same position as Surrey Park School, that are unwilling to participate in the
voluntary re-organisation process, known as the Educational Development Initiative.
On Wednesday, 20 June, the committee considered the Education Amendment Bill (No 2) and Supplementary Order Paper 133.
At next week's meeting on Thursday, 28 June, the committee will continue its examinations of the 2001/02 Estimates for
Vote Education. The meeting will be in Room G.011, Parliament House, with the public hearing on the Estimates occurring
from 11.45 am to 12.45 pm.
Finance and Expenditure (Julian Kersey, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on 20 June to consider the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Revenue, Vote State-Owned Enterprises and Vote
Women’s Affairs. The committee heard evidence from the Commissioner of Inland Revenue. For Vote State-Owned Enterprises,
the committee heard from the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit (CCMAU). For Vote Women’s Affairs, the committee
heard from the Minister of Women’s Affairs.
The committee reported on the Supplementary Estimates 2000/01 for Vote Audit, Vote Finance, Vote Revenue and Vote
State-Owned Enterprises. The committee decided to hear evidence on the Taxation (Annual Rates, Taxpayer Assessment and
Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill in Christchurch on 17 July, Wellington on 18 July, and Auckland on 19 July. This will
include the hearing of submissions related to proposed amendments on the GST treatment of non-residents.
Next week, on 27 June, the committee will hear more evidence on the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote State-Owned Enterprises.
It will also hear evidence on Vote Finance.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met this week to hear further evidence on the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Extension Bill. The committee
also considered the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Defence, Vote Defence Force and Vote Immigration. The committee will
begin hearing evidence on these votes at 3.30 pm on Tuesday, 26 June.
Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz)
Next week the Minister of Pacific Island Affairs is to appear before the committee as part of the committee’s
examination of Vote Pacific Island Affairs for the 2001/02 Estimates.
Health (Matthew Andrews, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on Wednesday, 20 June, to hear evidence from the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health on the
2001/02 Estimates for Vote Health. The committee will meet again on Wednesday, 27 June, and will hear further evidence
from the Ministry of Health.
Justice and Electoral (Wendy Proffitt, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)
Last week the Minister of Justice and new Secretary for Justice, Belinda Clark, appeared before the committee on the
2001/02 Estimates for Vote Justice. This week four Crown entities (the Human Rights Commission, Race Relations
Conciliator, Police Complaints Authority and Legal Services Agency) appeared before the committee on Vote Justice. All
these entities have been the subject of review recently. They each have current or forthcoming change, on which members
questioned them. The committee also considered the Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Bill, the Victims’ Rights Bill
and Supplementary Order Paper No 112, the Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Inquiry into the 1999 General
Election. In the evening it heard submissions from a range of submitters on the Prostitution Reform Bill.
Next week Hon Margaret Wilson will appear before the committee on Votes Attorney-General, Treaty Negotiations and
Justice. The committee will also continue considering the Victims’ Rights Bill and Supplementary Order Paper No 112, the
Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Bill, the Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Inquiry into the 1999 General
Election at an all-day meeting.
Please contact the Clerk of the Committee for further information about the committee’s meetings for the next month.
Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on Thursday, 21 June, to consider the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates and 2001/02 Estimates for Vote
Police, the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates for Vote Courts and Vote Corrections, and the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 6)
and Supplementary Order Paper No 85. The meeting was open to the public for a hearing of evidence on Vote Police from
Commissioner Rob Robinson and other officials.
On Friday, 22 June 2001, the committee presented reports on the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates for Vote Police, Vote
Courts and Vote Corrections.
The committee next meets on Thursday, 28 June to consider the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 6) and Supplementary Order Paper
No 85, and the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Serious Fraud. The meeting will be open to the public from 11.00 am to 12.00
noon, during the hearing of evidence on Vote Serious Fraud. The Director of the Serious Fraud Office will be present at
the hearing, as will the Attorney-General, Hon Margaret Wilson, as the Minister Responsible for the Serious Fraud
Office.
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)
The committee considered the Hawke's Bay Endowment Land Empowering Bill and the Auckland City Endowments and Reserves
Amendment Bill. Evidence was heard from the Minister and officials from the Ministry for the Environment on the 2001/02
Estimates for Vote Environment.
The committee presented its reports on Supplementary Estimates for 2000/01. In its report on the Supplementary Estimates
for Vote Environment, the committee expressed concern about the continuing roll-over of funding for the clean-up of the
former Fruitgrowers Chemicals site in Mapua. The committee also noted the provision of funding for flood protection in
Alexandra and legal aid and Environment Centre grants.
The committee's report on the Supplementary Estimates for Vote Conservation noted that the vote has received an eight
percent increase, but that most of this increase arises from transfers in funding between years or from the allocation
of responsibilities to the department. The report also outlines changes in "priority activities" that have led to
significant transfers of funding between output classes. The committee suggests that the department be clearer in its
reporting and explanation of funding transfers contained in Supplementary Estimates in future years.
The committee also reported on the Supplementary Estimates for Vote Energy - Energy Efficiency and Conservation, Vote
Local Government and Vote Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.
Next week the committee will hear evidence from Ministers on the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Energy - Energy Efficiency
and Conservation, Vote Conservation and Vote Local Government. The committee will also consider the Auckland City
Endowments and Reserves Amendment Bill.
Maori Affairs (Marcus Ganley, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)
This week the committee heard evidence from the Minister of Maori Affairs on Tuesday night and Thursday morning on the
2000/01 Supplementary Estimates and the 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Maori Affairs. Following Thursday's meeting the
committee reported on its examination of the 2000/01 Supplementary Estimates for Vote Maori Affairs. Next week the
committee will further consider the 2001/02 Estimates.
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, 21 June, to examine Votes Agriculture and Forestry and Biosecurity. The Minister for
Agriculture and Minister of Biosecurity appeared before the committee to give evidence and answer committee questions on
the 2001/02 Estimates.
Next Thursday, 28 June, the committee continues with the Estimates with the Hon Pete Hodgson, Minister of Forestry and
Minister of Fisheries, appearing from 11.30 am to 12.45 pm in Room G.010, Parliament House. The committee will also
consider the Misuse of Drugs (Industrial Hemp) Amendment Bill.
Regulations Review (Fiona McLean, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz )
The committee met on Wednesday, 13 June. It will next meet on Wednesday, 27 June. It will hear evidence on a complaint
about the Domestic Violence (Programmes) Regulations 1996 (SR 1996/174). Evidence will be heard from both the
complainant and the government departments responsible for administering the regulations, the Ministry of Justice and
the Department for Courts. The complainant is The Inner City Group for Men - The Manukau Group for Men. The Ministry of
Justice administers the regulations, and the Department for Courts is responsible for appointing members to Domestic
Violence Approval Panels. The hearing will be open to the public from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm.
Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee is examining 2001/02 Estimates for Vote Accident Insurance on Wednesday, 27 June at 3.45 pm and Vote
Labour on Thursday, 28 June at 3.45 pm. The Minister for Accident Insurance and the Minister of Labour will be attending
the relevant meetings.
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, 22 June 2001