Select Committee Business

From 24 May to 31 May 2002

Committee meetings

There were 15 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

(available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/select-reports)

Finance and Expenditure

- Taxation (Relief, Refunds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (179-2)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 4) (184-2)

- Transnational Organised Crime Bill (201-2)

Social Services

- Social Security (Working Towards Employment) Amendment Bill (178-2)

Health

- 2000/01 financial review of the Canterbury District Health Board

- 2000/01 financial review of the Bay of Plenty District Health Board

Government Administration

1. Petition 1999/234 of Christopher Joseph O’Neill

Bills referred to select committees

The Climate Change Response Bill was referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee with a report required by 19 July 2002.

Committee notes

(for further information on an item, please contact the committee staff noted in brackets)

Education and Science (Ethan Tucker, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 30 May to hear evidence from two submitters (the New Zealand Educational Institute and the New Zealand School Trustees Association) on the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand schools. The committee also heard evidence on a petition concerning the establishment of a secondary school in Papamoa.

The committee will next meet on Thursday, 13 May.

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

The committee gave initial consideration to the Climate Change Response Bill. This bill implements in domestic law provisions necessary to allow the Government to be able to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The closing date for submissions is 28 June 2002.

The committee also considered all the petitions before it, the Estimates, and the International Treaties Bill.

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

The committee will not meet next week. Its next scheduled meeting is on Thursday, 13 June.

Health (Michael Wilkinson, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week and further considered its inquiry into adverse effects on women as a result of treatment by Dr Graham Parry. The committee reported on its financial reviews of Canterbury District Health Board and the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Justice and Electoral (Louise Sparrer, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 29 May. Initially, it considered the 2002/03 Estimates for Vote Justice, Vote Parliamentary Counsel and Vote Attorney-General. The committee then considered its inquiry into the 2001 local elections and heard evidence on the Retirement Villages Bill.

The Retirement Commissioner appeared before the committee to discuss the role of his office and ways in which the effectiveness of the legislation could be monitored. Aged Concern submitted that a greater degree of clarity is required in documentation provided to prospective retirement village residents. Christchurch City Council expressed concern that the bill would capture housing provided by local authorities.

The committee will meet next on 19June, when it plans to continue its consideration of the Estimates for 2002/03, the inquiry into the 2001 local elections and the Retirement Villages Bill.

Local Government and Environment (Marie Alexander, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee will meet in Wellington all day on both Tuesday, 4 June and Wednesday, 5 June to continue hearing submissions on the Local Government Bill.

Maori Affairs (Marcus Ganley, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 30 May to continue its consideration of the Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill and to hear further evidence on its inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust. The committee will next meet on 13 June.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 30 May to make progress on three items of business. It initiated the Estimates examination by considering Vote Agriculture and Forestry, Votes Biosecurity and Vote Food Safety. Four organisations then gave evidence on the Animal Products Amendment Bill. Finally, further consideration was given to the inquiry into sustainable forest management.

Next week, during the adjournment, the committee will meet for a full day on Thursday, 6 June. In the morning session (10.00 am to 1.00 pm) Hon Jim Sutton, Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Biosecurity, will answer committee questions about Vote Agriculture and Forestry and Votes Biosecurity. In the afternoon session (2.00 pm to 5.00 pm), the committee will complete hearing evidence on the Animal Products Amendment Bill and will commence consideration of issues raised in submissions. It will also give further consideration to the sustainable forest management inquiry.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 29 May to consider the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill and the Rodney District Council (PENLINK Toll Road) Empowering Bill.

The committee’s next meeting will be on 12 June, when it will continue consideration of the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

Fair Trading Amendment Bill (No 3) (14 June 2002)

Education and Science

National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) Bill (1 July 2002)

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Bill (5 June 2002)

Finance and Expenditure

Taxation (Annual Rates, Maori Organisations, Taxpayers Compliance and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (28 June 2002)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Climate Change Response Bill (28 June 2002)

Justice and Electoral

Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill (8 July 2002)

Clean Slate Bill (8 July 2002)

Law and Order

Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill (7 June 2002)

Local Government and Environment

Masterton Trust Lands Bill (4 October 2002)

Primary Production

Supplementary Order Paper No 280 in relation to the Animal Products Amendment Bill (4 June 2002)

Social Services

Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (15 July 2002)

War Pensions Amendment Bill (No 2) (7 June 2002)

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

carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 31 May 2002

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