Select Committee Business

From 10 October to 17 October 2003

Committee meetings

There were 17 committee meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

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

Local Government and Environment

- Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) (302-3)

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Land Transport Management Bill (19-2)

- Petition 1999/210 of Jill Jeffs and 14,475 others

- Petition 2002/26 of Dr the Honourable Lockwood Smith

- Petition 2002/40 of Doreen Roberts and 543 others

- Petition 2002/67 of Dr Muriel Newman and 4060 others

- Rodney District Council (PENLINK Toll Road) Empowering Bill (150-2)

Privileges

- Question of privilege relating to an article published in the Sunday Star-Times purporting to summarise the contents of a draft report of the Maori Affairs Committee on its inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust (I.17D)

Bills referred to select committees

The Members of Parliament (Pecuniary Interests) Bill was referred to the Standing Orders Committee.

Committee notes

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

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

The committee met on Thursday, 16 October to hear evidence on the inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry. The committee also called for submissions on Supplementary Order Paper No 152, which proposes amendments to Clause 93 of the Business Law Reform Bill. The closing date for submissions is 12 November 2003.

The committee will next meet on Thursday, 23 October to continue to hear evidence on the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill and the inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry. It will also continue its consideration of the Business Law Reform Bill.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 15 October to consider the 2002/03 financial review of the Education Review Office and the inquiries into teacher education and Northland Polytechnic. The sub-committee met on Wednesday, 15 October to consider the inquiry into decile funding in New Zealand State and integrated schools.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 22 October to consider the 2002/03 financial reviews of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 15 October to consider the Taxation (Annual Rates, GST, Trans-Tasman Imputations and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and Income Tax Bill. It is not scheduled to meet next week.

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

The committee met this week to give further consideration to the Crimes and Misconduct (Overseas Operations) Bill and the Volunteers Employment Protection Amendment Bill. Consideration was also given the international treaty examination of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 16 October to hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from chief executive Mark Prebble. It also considered the Border Security Bill and the Maritime Security Bill.

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

This week the committee received a briefing on management of hospital-acquired infection from the Audit Office. The committee further considered the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill, the Assisted Human Reproduction Bill, and its inquiry into the proposal to establish a trans-Tasman agency to regulate therapeutic products. The committee will meet next week to further consider several items of business.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 15 October to hear evidence on the Care of Children Bill, to consider its 2002/03 financial reviews and its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, and to hear evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. During the hearing of evidence on the Care of Children Bill, both Caritas and Relationship Services stressed the need for provision to be made for counselling for children in the Family Court, both prior to and in the context of the child’s interaction with a lawyer. During the hearing of evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill a number of submitters raised objections to the bill’s proposed restrictions on legal work and multidisciplinary firms. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand expressed concern at the prospect of lawyers selling real estate and submitted the bill risks exposing the consumer to uncertainty. Jack Hodder recommended the rank of Queen’s Counsel be abolished, in favour of a ‘level playing field’ for all lawyers.

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 22 October to hear evidence on the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm.

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

The committee continued consideration of the Corrections Bill this week. It will not be meeting next week.

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

On Monday, 13 October the committee reported on the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2), which contains dog control measures. The report is available on the website. The committee met on Thursday, 16 October to further consider its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken and to consider several local bills. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 23 October. The meeting will not be open to the public.

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

On Thursday, 16 October the committee considered the Ngati Tama Claims Settlement Bill. The committee will not be meeting next week.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 16 October. It heard further evidence in its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery, from two submitters, about the effect of the recent Court of Appeal decision on the appeal of Trevor Goodship/Pranfield Holdings Limited v Minister of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries; and Attorney-General for Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The committee also gave further consideration to the inquiry.

It will meet again on Thursday, 23 October to give further consideration to the inquiry.

Privileges (Lyn Main, SC-Privileges@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee presented its report on the question of privilege relating to an article published in the Sunday Star-Times purporting to summarise the contents of a draft report of the Mâori Affairs Committee on its inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust to the House on 14 October. This report can be purchased from Bennett’s bookshops or read on the website.

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

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 22 October to continue its regular scrutiny of new Government regulations.

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

On Thursday, 16 October the committee considered the Families Commission Bill. The committee will not be meeting next week.

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

The committee reported on the Land Transport Management Bill on 13 October along with four related petitions. The committee considered the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill, the Holidays Bill, and Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill at its meeting on Thursday, 16 October.

The committee will consider the Civil Aviation Amendment Bill at the Thursday, November 6 meeting. The bill has a report due date of Thursday, 13 November 2003.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

- Supplementary Order Paper No 152 relating to Clause 93 of the Business Law Reform Bill (12 November 2003)

Education and Science

- Education (Disestablishment of Early Childhood Development Board) Amendment Bill (31 October 2003)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Diplomatic Privileges and Immunities Amendment Bill (31 October 2003)

Government Administration

- Building Bill (31 October 2003)

- Maritime Security Bill (17 October 2003)

Justice and Electoral

- Judicial Matters Bill (21 November 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

at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 17 October 2003

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