Select Committee Business

From 24 September to 1 October 2004

Committee meetings Four committee meetings were held this week, 2 in the parliamentary complex, 1 in Auckland and 1 in Christchurch.

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 has not met for two weeks due to the adjournment. The committee will next meet on 7 October to hear evidence on petition 2002/0134 of John Clifford Hurley and 9145 others regarding the Dobson hydroelectric development. The committee will also give further consideration to the briefings on the alleged breach of the Commerce Act in the auto glazing industry and TVNZ’s accountability to Parliament.

Health (Catherine Parkin, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz) The committee did not meet this week. Next Wednesday the committee will hear evidence on two petitions relating to caregivers’ wages. This will be open to the public from 10.30 am to 12.55 pm. The committee will also consider a number of other items of business. On Wednesday the committee also intends to present to the House its report on its 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.

The committee is calling for public submissions on the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3), with a closing date for submissions of 22 October 2004. This bill amends provisions in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 relating to the amount of a drug that a person would have to possess to be legally presumed to be in possession of that drug for the purpose of supply. It adds an ability for presumption of supply matters to be amended by Order in Council and amends the presumption of supply quantity for methamphetamine. It also adds a Ministry of Justice official to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs’ membership.

The bill creates new offences relating to the import and export of precursor substances—ingredients in the manufacture of illegal drugs. It creates powers of search and seizure without warrant for ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (ingredients in the manufacture of methamphetamine). It also allows for controlled deliveries of precursor substances.

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) Next week the committee will meet on 4 October to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 9.00 am to 12 noon, 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm, and 5.00 pm to 6.45 pm.

The committee will then meet on 6 October to consider the New Zealand Sign Language Bill and the Electoral Matters Bill. The committee will also receive a briefing from the Human Rights Commission and will continue to hear evidence on the Civil Union Bill and the Relationships (Statutory References) Bill. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz) The committee will next meet on 6 October to hear further evidence on the Criminal Procedure Bill from the New Zealand Law Society. Further consideration will also be given to the Crimes Amendment Bill (No 2) and Crimes (Drug Rape) Amendment Bill and the 2003/04 financial reviews of the Department of Corrections, New Zealand Police, and Serious Fraud Office.

Primary Production (Bob Bunch, SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz) Next week the committee commences hearing evidence on the Aquaculture Reform Bill. On 5 October the committee will meet at Parliament House from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm to hear evidence on the bill from marine farming submitters, including the New Zealand Aquaculture Council and Mâori. On 6 October from 5.30 pm to 7.10 pm, and 7 October from 9.00 am to 8.30 pm, the committee will meet in Auckland at the Centra Auckland Airport Hotel to hear further evidence on the bill from marine farming, Mâori, local council, and other interests from Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Gisborne. On 8 October, the committee will visit an oyster farm and export factory at Clevedon. The following week, commencing 12 October, the committee will continue to hear evidence on the Aquaculture Reform Bill. On 12 October hearings will be held at Parliament House from 3.30 pm to 6.00 pm. On 13 October and all day on 14 October the committee will hear evidence on the bill at the Scenic Circle Hotel, Blenheim, from marine farming, Mâori, local council, and other interests from Nelson and Marlborough. On 15 October the committee will visit mussel and salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds. In the third week of October the committee will hear evidence in Wellington on the bill, from 19 October to 21 October.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 30 September to consider the Holidays Amendment Bill. The committee will next meet on 7 October to begin hearing submissions on the Transport Legislation Bill.

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

Government Administration Inquiry into hate speech (1 October 2004) Historic Places Amendment Bill (29 October 2004) Public Records Bill (5 November 2004) Health Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) (22 October 2004) Maori Affairs Ngati Awa Claims Settlement Bill (1 October 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, 1 October 2004

ENDS

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