Select Committee Business

From 13 February to 20 February 2004

Committee meetings

Fifteen committee meetings were held this week, 12 in the parliamentary complex, one in Oamaru, one in Kurow and one in Auckland. There was one site visit.

Reports presented

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

Commerce

- Business Law Reform Bill (56-2)

Education and Science

- Education (Disestablishment of Early Childhood Development Board) Amendment Bill (77-2)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- 2002/03 financial review of the New Zealand Trade Development Board (Trade New Zealand)

- 2002/03 New Zealand Antarctic Institute (Antarctica New Zealand)

Health

- 2002/03 financial review of the New Zealand Blood Service

Bills referred to select committees

The Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill was referred to the Finance and Expenditure Committee with a report due by 16 August 2004.

The Statutes Amendment Bill (No4) was referred to the Government Administration Committee with a report due by the 18 August 2004.

The Meat Board Restructuring Bill was referred to the Primary Production Committee with a report due by the 27 May 2004.

The Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Bill was referred to the Social Services Committee with a report due by 18 August 2004.

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 19 February to consider and hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of Solid Energy NZ Ltd. The committee also received a briefing from the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General about the inquiry into expenses incurred by Dr Ross Armstrong as Chairperson of three public entities. The committee also furthered its consideration of the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill and the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2). The committee also met in the afternoon and evening to consider and hear evidence on the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill.

Next week the committee will meet on 24 February to further its consideration of the Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill and the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 2).

The committee will also meet on 26 February to consider and hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of the Broadcasting Standards Authority, and will further its consideration of other financial reviews.

The committee will again meet in the afternoon and evening to consider and hear evidence on the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill. These hearings will be open to the public.

Education and Science (Graham Hill, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee heard evidence on the State Sector Amendment (No 3) Bill and considered further the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill. It reported on the Education (Disestablishment of Early Childhood Development Board) Bill. At its next meeting the committee will continue hearing evidence on the State Sector Amendment (No 3) Bill.

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay,)

The committee is inviting submissions on the Maori Fisheries Bill, which implements agreements made in the Deed of Settlement, and referred to in the Treaty of Waitangi Settlement Act 1992. The bill also provides for the development of iwi interests in fisheries and fishing "in a manner that is ultimately of benefit to all Maori'. To achieve this, the bill provides for the establishment of a framework for the allocation and distribution of assets.

Copies can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops, or viewed on the Ministry of Fisheries website at: http://www.fish.govt.nz/current/press/maori-fisheries-bill.pdf. Submissions close on 15 March 2004.

The committee also intends to appoint an independent adviser on the bill.

Expressions of interest are sought from contractors who consider they have relevant knowledge, experience, and skills to provide advice in the following areas:

- Independent analysis and evaluation of the legal content and implications of the bill.

- Independent analysis and evaluation of written and oral material submitted to the committee.

- Any other issues thought necessary to be brought to the committee's attention.

Legal qualifications, knowledge of the New Zealand fisheries industry, and experience with the Waitangi Tribunal and Maori issues are preferred.

Applications should be forwarded to the Clerk of Committee by 12.00 noon on Monday, 23 February. The successful applicant will be required to commence duties no later than 2 March.

The committee will next meet to consider the bill on 24 February.

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

The Committee began hearing evidence on the Mercenary Activities (Prohibition) Bill. The committee also began it consideration of the Visiting Forces Bill and completed its consideration of the financial reviews of the New Zealand Trade Development Board and the New Zealand Antarctic Institute.

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

The committee met twice this week, on 19 February in Wellington to consider and hear evidence on the 2002/03 financial review of Sport and Recreation New Zealand and the Building Bill, and on 20 February in Auckland to hear further evidence on this bill.

Next week the committee will meet on 26 February in Wellington to further consider and hear evidence on the Building Bill and Border Security Bill.

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

On 18 February, the committee heard evidence from the Capital and Coast District Health Board on its financial review for the 2002/03 financial year. The committee also met with the Standing Committee on Health of the Australian Capital Territory and considered other items of business. On 19 February, the committee presented its report on the 2002/03 financial review of the New Zealand Blood Service. This report can be viewed at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/hefnzbs.pdf

The committee will next meet on 25 February, when it will hear evidence on 3 petitions and consider other items of business. Between 11.00 am and 12.30 pm the committee will hear evidence on two related petitions. The petition of Debbie and Tim Short and 124,000 others requests that Parliament urge the Government to urgently amend the Government Breast Screening Programme to include women aged from 40 years to 70 years (the same as Australia) instead of the present 50 years to 64 years. The petition of Kathryn McIlraith and 9852 others requests that the House take immediate action to ensure that women who have had breast cancer receive the follow-up treatment including radiation therapy that meets internationally accepted clinical guidelines.

The committee will then hear evidence from the Ministry of Health on the petition of Judy Goulden and 649 others. This petition requests that the House of Representatives urge the Government to stop the implementation of Primary Health Organisations. This will be open to the public from 12.30 pm to 12.55 pm. The committee will meet in room G.002, Parliament House.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 18 February to consider its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, the Care of Children Bill, and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

The committee's next meeting will be on 25 February, when it will consider the Care of Children Bill, its inquiry into the 2002 General Election, and petition 2002/55 of Lynley Jane Hood and Don Brash and 807 others. It will also hear evidence on the Judicial Matters Bill. The meeting will be held in room G.003 in Parliament House and will be open to the public for the hearing of evidence on the Judicial Matters Bill from 3.30pm to 6.00pm.

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

The committee met this week to continue consideration of the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, and hear evidence on the Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill. Next week the committee will further consider the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill and the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill.

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

The committee met in Oamaru on 19 and 20 February and in Kurow on 19 February to hear submissions on the Resource Management (Waitaki Catchment) Amendment Bill.

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

The committee met on 19 February for a briefing from the Office of Treaty Settlements on the Ngati Tama Te Runanga trustee elections, and progress of other settlement claims.

The committee was also briefed by the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General on its report: The State Services Commission: capability to recognise and address issues for Maori.

The committee will next meet on 26 February to hear evidence on the petition of Des Kahotea and 26 others requesting changes to the Ture Whenua Act 1993.

This item of business will be open to the public.

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

The committee met on 19 February to give further consideration to the Fisheries Amendment Bill (No.2) and the Resource Management (Aquaculture Moratorium Extension) Amendment Bill. It also commenced consideration on the 2002/03 financial review of Quotable Value New Zealand Limited. Next week, the committee will meet twice, on 23 and 26 February to give further consideration to the two bills and to the 2002/03 financial reviews of Animal Control Products Limited and Landcorp Farming Limited.

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

The committee heard evidence from the Controller and Auditor General and the Ministry of Social Development on the Auditor-General's report Social Security Benefits: Accuracy of Benefit Administration. The committee will not be meeting next week.

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

The committee met on 19 February in room G.002, Parliament House. The meeting was open to the public while the committee heard submissions on the Railways Bill.

On 26 February the committee will be open to the public from 10.05 am to 10.45 am when further submissions on the Railways Bill will be heard.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Finance and Expenditure

- Public Finance (state Sector Management) Bill (2 April 2004)

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation

- Maori Fisheries Bill (15 March 2004)

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Inquiry into New Zealand's relationship with Tonga (28 March 2004)

Justice and Electoral

- Parole (Extended Supervision) and Sentencing Amendment Bill (20 February 2004)

Primary Production

- Meat Board Restructuring Bill (15 March 2004)

Standing Orders

- Members of Parliament (Pecuniary Interests) Bill (27 February 2004)

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Employment Relations Law Reform Bill (27 February 2004)

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:

Louise Sparrer

Senior Parliamentary Officer

at louise.sparrer@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 20 February 2004

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