Select committee business From 4 April to 11 April 2003

Committee meetings

There were 18 committee meetings, including one in Auckland.

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

Commerce 2001/02 financial review of Radio New Zealand Limited

Education and Science 2001/02 financial review of the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Limited 2001/02 financial review of the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Trade Development Board

Health Misuse of Drugs (Changes to Controlled Drugs) Order 2003 2001/02 financial review of the Otago District Health Board

Social Services Briefing from Ministry of Social Development on the New Zealand Living Standards 2000 report

Bills referred to select committees

The Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill was referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee.

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

Commerce (Michelle Malyon, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 10 April to further its consideration of the Industry New Zealand and Trade New Zealand Integration Bill, the petition of John Dickson and the financial review of Radio New Zealand.

The committee will next meet on Tuesday, 15 April to further consider the Industry New Zealand financial review and the Industry New Zealand and Trade New Zealand Integration Bill.

Mark Peck, Chairperson of the Committee, has announced that the committee is to inquire into the New Zealand electricity industry. The committee is inviting public submissions on the inquiry, with a closing date of 22 May 2003. The terms of reference for this inquiry are as follows:

The committee will consider:

what the electricity generation companies do in order to ensure balance is struck between thermal and hydro generation, to give security of supply in dry years

the asset utilisation by electricity generation companies and their planning for capacity development

the workability of corporate separation of generation and retail activities of the electricity generation companies

if and where the retail sector is acting competitively and to ensure that such competition is genuine and that barriers to switching suppliers are extinguished

whether the profits secured by electricity lines businesses since corporatisation have been excessive

the basis on which the Government authorised lines companies to value their assets when corporatising in 1993 and how they were expected to set charges as a result

how asset revaluations since corporatisation have been accounted for as they were taken into the lines companies’ books, and how they should have been treated for the purposes of price-setting

what, if any, further reforms to the regulatory regime are required to ensure lines companies in the future receive a fair rate of return on invested capital and that consumers are charged fair prices.

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 http:// http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. Submissions should be addressed to Michelle Malyon, Clerk of the Commerce Committee, Parliament House, Wellington.

Education and Science (Angela Van Dam, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Wednesday, 9 April to consider the 2001/02 financial reviews of the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Limited and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Limited. The committee also heard evidence on the inquiry into Teacher Education from: the New Zealand Post Primary Teachers Association; the New Zealand University Students Association; the Education Forum; the Specific Learning Disabilities Federation (SPELD NZ); the Association of Staff in Tertiary Education; and the Education Department, University of Canterbury.

The committee will next meet on 30 April.

Finance and Expenditure (Peter Hurndell, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to consider the 2003 Estimates of Appropriations, the Auditor-General’s Draft Annual Plan, the Income Tax Bill and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Amendment Bill.

Submissions on the Income Tax Bill are currently being received. The closing date is Thursday, 24 April 2003. You can get more information at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/programme/committees/submissions/ and at http://www.taxpolicy.ird.govt.nz/.

The committee is not scheduled to meet over the next two weeks.

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

The committee began consideration of the Counter-Terrorism Bill this week. It has set a closing date of 9 May 2003 for submissions. Further information can be obtained from David Sanders, Clerk of Committee, 04 471 9549.

The committee also presented its report on the 2001/02 financial review of the New Zealand Trade Development Board, known as Trade New Zealand.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 10 April to consider the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill and the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 3). The House referred both bills on 2 April with six-month report deadlines. The committee also considered the petition of Dr George Paterson Barton Vaitoa Sa and 100,000 others requesting the repeal of the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982. The committee further considered its 2001/02 financial reviews of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and the Hillary Commission for Sport, Fitness and Leisure (Sport and Recreation New Zealand).

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill proposes clarifying the orchestra’s role by detailing its principal objectives and functions, and requires the orchestra to operate in a ‘financially responsible manner’. The Statutes Amendment Bill (No 3) is an omnibus bill that seeks to make miscellaneous amendments to 39 different Acts. An omnibus bill provides for unrelated and non-controversial amendments to Acts already in force.

The committee is calling for submissions on both bills, with Friday, 30 May 2003 being the closing date. For more information on both bills and on how to make a submission, please refer to our website. Copies of both bills can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

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

The committee presented two reports this week, on the 2001/02 financial review of the Otago District Health Board, and on the Misuse of Drugs (Changes to Controlled Drugs) Order 2003. The latter report recommended that the House approve the notice of motion to approve this regulation, which will:

re-classify methamphetamine as a Class A drug from Class B2 classify methcathinone as a Class B1 drug classify 4-methylthioamphetamine as a class B2 drug classify Pemoline and Aminorex as Class C5 drugs.

It is anticipated that the reclassification of methamphetamine should reduce the prevalence of the drug in New Zealand society in the long term.

The committee met twice this week. On Monday it met in Auckland to hear evidence on the 2001/02 financial review on the Auckland District Health Board, its inquiry on the proposal to establish a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products, and on the petition of Andy Tookey and 1169 others, which asks that the House take action to address the organ donation shortage in New Zealand.

On Wednesday it met in Wellington, where it continued consideration of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill. The committee must report on this bill by 16 May 2003.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, when it will hear evidence on the 2001/02 financial review of the Canterbury District Health Board. This will be open to the public, from 9.45 am to 11.15 am, in Room G.003 Parliament House. It will also continue consideration of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Bill.

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

The committee met on 9 April to consider the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill; the financial review of the Legal Services Agency for 2001/02; and the Supreme Court Bill. This included hearing evidence from the Legal Services Agency.

The committee will meet three times next week: on 15 April in Auckland and on 16 and 17 April in Wellington.

The committee’s next meeting, on 15 April, will be held in the Montrose Room of the Gateway Hotel in Auckland. It will hear submissions on the Supreme Court Bill and on the inquiry into the 2002 General Election. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.00 am (to be confirmed) to 1.00 pm and from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm for the Supreme Court Bill hearings, and from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm for the hearings on the inquiry.

The committee will meet on 16 April to consider the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill and the Clean Slate Bill, and to continue hearing submissions on the inquiry into the 2002 General Election. The meeting will be open to the public from 2.00 pm to 6.30 pm for the hearing of evidence on the inquiry in Room G.003 in Parliament House, Wellington.

At the committee’s meeting on 17 April, it will consider the Retirement Villages Bill and hear submissions on the Supreme Court Bill and on the inquiry into the 2002 General Election. The meeting will be in Room G.003, Parliament House, and will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and from 4.00 pm to 5.00 pm for the hearing of evidence on the Supreme Court Bill and from 5.00 pm to 6.00 pm for the hearing of evidence on the inquiry.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee met to consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill, two petitions and some general business.

The Corrections Bill was also considered for the first time. The committee is seeking submissions with a closing date of Wednesday, 21 May 2003. This bill provides a new legal framework for the corrections system, which covers the administration of custodial sentences and remands, community-based sentences, home detention, and parole.

Much of the bill deals with the operation of prisons. It repeals the Penal Institutions Act 1954 and its associated regulations. Some of the provisions of the Penal Institutions Act 1954 are substantively carried forward. There are also extensive additions and amendments. A number of provisions contained in the Penal Institutions Regulations 2000 are elevated, some with amendments, into the primary legislation. These are generally regulations that have a significant impact on human rights, such as those setting out the minimum entitlements of prisoners.

The purpose and principles statements of the bill, and some of the provisions setting out statutory roles and responsibilities, cover the corrections system as a whole. That is, they apply not only to prisons, but also to areas for which the Community Probation Service is responsible.

The bill incorporates certain sections of the Criminal Justice Act 1985 that relate specifically to the powers and functions of probation officers. It does not, however, contain administrative provisions relating to specific community-based sentences and orders. Such provisions are in the Sentencing Act 2002 and the Parole Act 2002, and it was considered that there would be nothing to be gained from incorporating them in this bill.

The bill largely deals with significant matters of principle and policy. Extensive regulations will be required to cover matters of detail and implementation. Accordingly, the bill specifies a wide range of matters that may be dealt with by regulation.

Existing provisions for tertiary legislation (operational standards and security operational standards) are not carried forward. However, the bill does provide for the chief executive of the Department of Corrections to issue instructions and guidelines, and for prison managers to make rules.

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 Committee, as submissions are usually released to the public. 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 http:// http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. Submissions should be addressed to Tracey Rayner, Clerk of the Law and Order Committee, Parliament House, Wellington.

The committee is not meeting during the April adjournment. It next meets on Wednesday, 30 April to further consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill, consider both the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill and the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill, and consider one petition and some general business.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

On 10 April the committee considered the Te Whanau-a-Taupara Trust Empowering Bill and the financial review of the Maori Broadcasting Funding Agency, Te Mangai Paho. The committee will not meet next week.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 10 April to further consider its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery. It also set the deadline for submissions on the Horticultural Export Authority Amendment Bill (No 2) for Monday, 12 May 2003 and considered the 2001/02 financial review of ASURE New Zealand Limited.

The committee meets next Wednesday, 16 April to consider and hear evidence on the Wool Industry Restructuring Bill and to consider and hear evidence on the scampi inquiry.

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz)

At the committee’s meeting on 10 April the committee received a briefing from The Treasury and the State Services Commission on statements of intent. The committee also considered further a briefing from the Ministry of Social Development on the New Zealand Living Standards 2000 Report and a briefing from the Department of Labour, the Ministry of Social Development and Statistics New Zealand on measuring employment and unemployment. The committee will meet next on 1 May to consider further the briefing on measuring employment and unemployment and three petitions from John Robert Tonson about the rights of children and the actions of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services in proceedings before the Family Court.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 10 April, in morning and afternoon sessions, which were open to the public, and heard submissions on the Land Transport Management Bill and the Road Traffic Reduction Bill. On Monday, 14 April the committee will meet in Christchurch, at the Antarctic Centre in Orchard Road, to hear further submissions on these bills. That meeting will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 1.05 pm and from 2.15 pm to 4.00 pm. The committee is next programmed to meet on the afternoon of Wednesday, 30 April from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm and then the following day from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm to hear the last of public submissions on the bills.

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

Commerce Status of Redundancy Payments Bill (17 April 2003) Copyright (Parallel Importation of Films and Onus of Proof) Amendment Bill (22 May 2003) Radio New Zealand Amendment Bill (22 May 2003) Inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry (22 May 2003)

Finance and Expenditure Income Tax Bill (24 April 2003)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Counter-Terrorism Bill (9 May 2003)

Government Administration New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill (30 May 2003) Statutes Amendment Bill (No 3) (30 May 2003)

Health Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill (11 April 2003)

Justice and Electoral Supreme Court Bill (11 April 2003)

Law and Order Corrections Bill (21 May 2003)

Primary Production Wool Industry Restructuring Bill (14 April 2003) New Zealand Horticulture Export Authority Amendment Bill (No 2) (12 May 2003)

Transport and Industrial Relations Holidays Bill (30 May 2003) Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill (6 June 2003)

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, 11 April 2003

© Scoop Media