Select Committee Business From 3 September to 10 September 2004

Committee meetings Nineteen committee meetings were held this week, 15 in the parliamentary complex, 3 in Auckland and 1 in Christchurch.

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

Commerce Petition 2002/0114 of Roy Reid and 223 others for Golden Bay Grey Power Inc Finance and Expenditure Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill (99-2) Transport and Industrial Relations Petition 2002/0128 of Douglas Phillips on behalf of the Otane and District Lions Club

Bills referred to select committees The Holidays Amendment Bill was referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee with a report due 4 October 2004. The Historic Places Amendment Bill was referred to the Government Administration Committee with a report due 8 March 2005.

Changes in committee membership Local Government and Environment Committee Hon Clem Simich to be a permanent member of the Local Government and Environment Committee (SO 187(2)).

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 9 September. It dealt with several items of general business and heard evidence on TVNZ’s accountability to Parliament. This hearing was open to the public.

Education and Science (Kirstin Lambert, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz) The committee did not meet this week. On 8 September the committee undertook a site visit of Te Wânanaga o Aotearoa in Hamilton. The committee next meets on 15 September when it will meet with a Japanese Parliamentary delegation from the House of Councillors. It will also further consider Petition 2002/106 of Jill Hounsell and its inquiry into Te Wânanaga o Aotearoa. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 11.00 am during the visit of the Japanese delegation. The subcommittee on the Inquiry into Teacher Education is scheduled to meet following the main committee meeting from 12 noon to 12.25 pm.

Finance and Expenditure (Lesley Ferguson, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz) On Monday the committee reported on the Public Finance (State Sector Management) Bill. A copy of the committee’s report can be accessed from the website www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. The committee met on 8 September to consider further the allocation of the 2003/04 financial reviews to subject committees and to consider the Taxation (Annual Rates, Venture Capital and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. Additionally, the committee met on 9 September to hear evidence from the Governor of the Reserve Bank on the September 2004 Monetary Policy Statement. The committee next meets on 15 September to consider further the September 2004 Monetary Policy Statement and to be briefed by the Inland Revenue Commissioner on the proposed tax amnesty. This briefing is not open to the public.

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee heard evidence on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill in Wellington on 7 September, and in Auckland on 6, 8 and 9 September.

The committee will hear further evidence on the bill in Wellington on 13 September, and in Christchurch on 15 and 16 September.

All meetings will be open to the public.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met this week to hear a further submission on its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Tonga. The committee also considered its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Latin America and its inquiry on the role of international human rights in foreign policy. The committee will meet next week to have a briefing from the delegation from the House of Councillors from Japan, to further consider its inquiries and to begin consideration of the financial reviews.

Government Administration (Lesley Ferguson, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 9 September to consider the Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill. The committee next meets on 16 September in Wellington, to hear evidence on this bill. The committee will also hear evidence on a petition from Daniel Angelesy and 23 others, on behalf of past customers of the Taranaki Power Board Group, which requests that the House examine the use of pre-ticked forms in public consultation processes. The committee will also hear from the Department of Internal Affairs on this matter.

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

This week the committee received a briefing from the New Zealand Food Safety Authority and the Ministry of Health on food fortification. The committee also heard evidence from the Paediatric Society of New Zealand on the petition of Shirley Ann Winikerei and 478 others, which requests that the House legislate that the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder be recognised as a notifiable disability. Next week the committee will meet on 15 September to hear evidence on the petition of Lianne Dalziel and 584 others that requests the House take note of the issue of renaming of enrolled nurses as nurse assistants. This will be open to the public from 9.00 am to 9.40 am. The committee will receive a briefing from the Ministry of Health on campylobacter, which will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 10.30 am. The committee will then hear evidence on two petitions relating to caregivers’ wages. The hearing of evidence will be open to the public from 10.45 am to 12.10 pm. The committee is currently receiving submissions on the Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3), with a closing date for submissions of 24 September 2004. Provisions in this bill include: removing fault from the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) medical misadventure provision; replacing current medical error and medical mishap definitions; and making changes to reporting provisions to require ACC to report any risks of public harm. Copies of the bill are available from Bennett’s Government Bookshops and the other usual key stockists.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met in Christchurch on 6 September and in Wellington on 8 September to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. On Wednesday the committee also considered the Electoral Matters Bill. Next week the committee will meet on 15 September to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill and to consider the Electoral Matters Bill and Petition 2002/55 of Lynley Jane Hood and Dr Don Brash. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 12.15 pm for the hearing of evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee heard evidence on the Criminal Procedure Bill from Mr John Rowan QC, the New Zealand Law Society, Mr Ian Lang, Mr Roger Stratford,
the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, and Mr Trevor Ansley. The committee also further considered the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) and Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill. The committee will further consider the above items on 15 September, and will hear further submissions on the Criminal Procedure Bill from: the Wellington District Law Society, the New Zealand Police Association, Ms Judith Ablett-Kerr QC, Mr Guyon Foley, Mr Chris Tennet, Dr Donald Stevens QC, Mr Anthony Rogers and the Criminal Bar Association, and the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties. The hearings of evidence will be open to the public, from 9.30 am to 12.10 pm in G.003, Parliament House.

Local Government and Environment (Beth Watson, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)

At its meeting on 9 September, the committee heard evidence on the Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill and considered several of the petitions that it has before it.

At its meeting the committee will continue its consideration of its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. Consideration will also be given to several of the petitions that it has before it.

Monday, 20 September 2004 is the closing date for public submissions for the member’s bill on the Overseas Investment (Queen’s Chain Extension) Amendment Bill, a member’s bill. This bill amends the process of consent for an overseas person purchasing land adjacent to the sea, any river or lake by requiring consideration to be given to issues of public access.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee is calling for submissions on the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill and the Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill.

The purpose of the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill is to give effect to the agreements between the Crown and Ngâti Awa concerning the reconstitution of the structure and operations of Te Rûnanga, so as to enable Te Rûnanga to receive and administer the Ngâti Awa settlement redress for and on behalf of Ngâti Awa.

The Ngâti Awa Claims Settlement Bill aims to give effect to a Deed of Settlement between the Crown and Ngâti Awa in respect of the latter’s historical claims under the Treaty of Waitangi. The Deed of Settlement also records the acknowledgments and the apology given by the Crown to Ngâti Awa.

Copies of the bills can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops

The closing date for submissions on the Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill is Friday 24 September 2004. The closing date for submissions on the Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill is Friday 1 October 2004. The committee requires 20 copies of each submission. For further guidance, our publication Making a Submission to a Parliamentary Select Committee can be found on our web site at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz. Submissions should be addressed to the Mâori Affairs Committee Secretariat, Parliament House, Wellington. For further details, contact Miles Reay on (04) 471 9043, or email the secretariat at SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz) On 9 September, the committee considered the Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill. On 16 September, the committee will consider the Animal Products (Dairy Products and Other Matters) Bill and commence consideration on the Aquaculture Reform Bill. The Aquaculture Reform Bill has been referred with a report deadline of 29 November 2004. The committee has set a submission deadline of Monday, 27 September 2004. Anyone interested in giving oral evidence on the bill should contact the committee secretariat at the earliest opportunity.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee examined a number of draft rules, including the Land Transport (Road User) Rule. The committee will next meet on 15 September to consider the regulation-making powers in the Foreshore and Seabed Bill.

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 9 September to hear evidence on the New Zealand Superannuation Amendment Bill and hear further evidence from organisations on the Charities Bill. At the next meeting on 16 September the committee will continue hearing evidence on the Charities Bill. This meeting is open to the public and the committee encourages all those interested in the bill to attend this meeting to hear what the submitters are saying. Many of the witnesses giving oral evidence will be doing this using video conferencing facilities. The submitters are the Dunedin Council of Social Services, the Dunedin Community Volunteer Centre, the Dunedin Budget Advisory Service, the Disability Information Service, the ME Information and Support Service, Caring Communities Incorporated, Otago Consumer Action on Mental Health, SPELD New Zealand, Koputai Annexe Charitable Trust, Scouting Otago, Otago University, the Southern Trust, the Bishop’s Office (Catholic Pastoral Centre), Central Lakes Trust and Pioneer Generation Ltd, the Law Foundation, Amnesty International, Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand, Hutt Valley Benefit Education Service Trust, Funding Information Services, Central Regional Health School, and Boys Brigade New Zealand.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 9 September and considered the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill. The committee reported to the House on Petition 2002/128 of Douglas Phillips on behalf of the Otane and District Lions Club. The committee also began consideration of the Holidays Amendment, Transport Legislation and Land Transport Amendment Bills. The committee is calling for submissions on the Transport Legislation Bill, closing on Wednesday 15 September and for submissions on the Holidays Amendment Bill, closing on Friday, 17 September. The following press release was issued:

Holidays Amendment Bill The Transport and Industrial Relations Committee is required to report this bill to the House by 4 October 2004. In view of the very short reporting time the committee resolved that oral submissions would be sought from the following representative groups: Business New Zealand, Chambers of Commerce (Auckland and Wellington), The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, the New Zealand Law Society as well as three industry groups and three major employers. The committee hopes to come to a thorough understanding of the differing points of view on the provisions of the bill through careful consideration of these representative submissions. Written submissions from any other interested parties will be received until the close of Friday, 17 September 2004.

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

Government Administration Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill (10 September 2004) Inquiry into hate speech (1 October 2004) Historic Places Amendment Bill (closing date yet to be determined)

Health Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill (No 3)
(24 September 2004)

Local Government and Environment Overseas Investment (Queen’s Chain Extension) (20 September 2004)

Maori Affairs Te Runanga o Ngati Awa Bill (24 September 2004) Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill (1 October 2004)

Primary Production Aquaculture Reform Bill (27 September 2004)

Transport and Industrial Relations Transport Legislation Bill (15 September 2004) Holidays Amendment Bill (17 September 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
ph: 471 9569, fax: 499 0486, or at louise.sparrer@parliament.govt.nz Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 10 September 2004

ENDS

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