Select committee business From 13 June to 20 June 2003 Committee meetings

There were 15 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex. In addition the Education and Science Committee travelled to Australia as part of the annual committee exchange programme.

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

Commerce Petition 2002/6 of John Andrew Dickson

Finance and Expenditure 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Audit Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s Monetary Policy Statement, June 2003

Primary Production Wool Industry Restructuring Bill (26-2)

Transport and Industrial Relations Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (40-2)

Bills referred to select committees

The Courts and Criminal Matters Bill was referred to the Law and Order 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, 19 June to further its consideration of the petition of John Dickson. The committee also furthered its consideration of the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Economic, Industry and Regional Development. The Minister was present and this was open to the public.

The committee will next meet on Thursday, 26 June to further its consideration of the Consumer Credit Bill and the Status of Redundancy Payments Bill. The committee will also be hearing evidence on the Copyright (Parallel Importation of Films and Onus of Proof) Amendment Bill. This will be open to the public.

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

The committee visited Australia this week and met with colleagues, officials and academics in Canberra and Melbourne as part of the annual committee exchange.

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

The committee met this week to further consider the Income Tax Bill, the 2003/04 Estimates of Appropriations for Vote Audit, and the June 2003 Monetary Policy Statement. In addition, the committee met with a delegation from Uganda. The delegation comprised members from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and departmental officials.

Reports relating to the 2003/04 Estimates of Appropriations for Vote Audit and the June 2003 Monetary Policy Statement were presented to on 19 June.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 25 June to consider the 2003/04 Estimates of Appropriations for Vote Revenue, Vote Energy, Vote State-Owned Enterprises and Vote Immigration. This meeting will be open to the public from 11.45 am to 12.45 am for hearing of evidence on Vote Immigration.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 19 June to continue its examination of the 2003/04 Estimates of Appropriations for Vote State Services, Vote Sport and Recreation and Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage. The committee will next meet on Tuesday, 24 June to consider Vote Tourism, and will hear evidence from Hon Mark Burton, Minister of Tourism. The committee will also meet on Thursday, 26 June to consider the Statutes Amendment Bill (No 3) and further consider the Estimates of Appropriations.

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

This week the committee heard evidence from the Minister of Health and the Ministry of Health on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Health. It continued consideration of the Health (Screening Programmes) Amendment Bill and its inquiry into the health effects of cannabis.

Next week the committee will continue hearing evidence on its inquiry into the proposal for a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products. This will be from 9.30 am to 10.45 am, in Room G.003 Parliament House, and will be open to the public.

The committee is inviting public submissions on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill and the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill. The committee is particularly interested in receiving submissions that consider the proposals contained in Supplementary Order Paper 80. The closing date for submissions is 7 July 2003.

The committee is also inviting submissions on its inquiry into the health effects of Agent Orange on New Zealand defence personnel who served in the Vietnam War. The closing date for submissions is 21 July 2003.

Further information on these items of business is available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Programme/Committees/Submissions/

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 18 June to consider the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill, the Clean Slate Bill and the Supreme Court Bill. It heard evidence from Professor Philip Joseph on the Supreme Court Bill.

The committee will meet next on Wednesday, 25 June to consider its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, the Supreme Court Bill and the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Parliamentary Counsel and Vote Attorney-General. The meeting will be held in room G.005 in Parliament House. It will be open to the public for the hearing of evidence from the Rt Hon Sir Thomas Eichelbaum (a former Chief Justice) on the Supreme Court Bill from 10.30 am to 11.30 am and for the hearing of evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Parliamentary Counsel and Vote Attorney-General from 12.00 noon to 1.00 pm.

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

The committee met on Wednesday,18 June to consider the Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Amendment Bill and hear further evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Police. Evidence was given by the Commissioner of Police. The committee next meets on Wednesday, 25 June when it will consider the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Police, Vote Courts, Vote Corrections and Vote Serious Fraud, and the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 19 June to hear evidence from the Minister for the Environment on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Environment and from the Minister of Energy on Vote Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. The committee also further considered its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. The committee next meets on Thursday, 26 June to further consider the Estimates and its inquiry. The meeting will not be open to the public.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 19 June to consider and hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote Maori Affairs. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 26 June to consider the inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

The committee is calling for submissions on the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill. The closing date for submissions has been extended until 30 June 2003. Submissions should be addressed to Miles Reay, Clerk of the Maori Affairs Committee, Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Information about making a submission can be found on our website.

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

The committee met twice this week to make progress on legislation. On Wednesday, 18 June the committee gave further consideration to the Wine Bill while on Thursday, 19 June the committee considered and heard evidence on the New Zealand Horticultural Export Authority Amendment Bill (No 2).

Next week the committee will meet on Thursday, 26 June to give further consideration to the Wine Bill, the New Zealand Horticultural Export Authority Amendment Bill
(No 2), the 2003/04 Estimates for Votes Biosecurity, Vote Agriculture and Forestry, Vote Fisheries, Vote Food Safety and Lands, and the inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 25 June to continue its regular scrutiny of new government regulations.

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

The committee met on Thursday,19 June to hear evidence on Vote Social Development, Vote Housing and Vote Employment from the Minister for Social Development and Employment. The committee also heard evidence on Vote Child, Youth and Family Services from the Associate Minister with responsibility for Child, Youth and Family Services. At the next meeting the committee will hear evidence on Vote Community and Voluntary Sector from the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector. The committee will also continue hearing evidence on Vote Employment.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 19 June to hear evidence on the 2003/04 Estimates for Vote ACC. The committee also considered the Holidays Bill and Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill.

On Thursday 26 June the committee will be open to the public in Room G.002 from 10.30 am to 11.45 am for its hearing of evidence on Vote Labour, followed by a further hearing of evidence on Vote Transport. The Vote Transport hearing of evidence will be specifically related to the Transport Accident Investigation Commission. The committee will then continue consideration of the Road Traffic Reduction Bill.

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

Health Inquiry into the exposure of New Zealand defence personnel to Agent Orange and other defoliant chemicals during the Vietnam War and any health effects of that exposure (21 July 2003) Assisted Human Reproduction Bill (7 July 2003) Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (7 July 2003)

Local Government and Environment Christchurch City Council (Robert McDougall Gallery) Land Vesting Bill (27 June 2003) Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) (20 June 2003) Wellington City Council (Te Aro Reclamation) Amendment Bill (31 July 2003)

Maori Affairs Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill (30 June 2003)

Social Services Families Commission Bill (11 July 2003)

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