SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

From 10 May to 17 May 2002

Committee meetings

There were 17 meetings, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented

(available at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/cgi-bin/select-reports)

Commerce

- 2000/01 financial review of the New Zealand Tourism Board

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- International treaty examination of the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

- International treaty examination of the 1989 International Convention Against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries

Law and Order

- Crimes (Publications) Bill (266-1)

Government Administration

- 2000/01 financial review of the Building Industry Authority

Bills referred to select committees

The Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill was referred to the Law and Order Committee.

The Masterton Trust Lands Bill was referred to the Local Government and Environment Committee.

The Shop Trading Hours Act Repeal Act (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee. This was previously known as the Shop Trading Hours (Abolition of Restrictions) Amendment Bill, which has already been reported back to the House twice by the Commerce Committee.

The Rodney District Council (PENLINK Toll Road) Empowering Bill was referred to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. This had previously been reported back to the House by the Local Government and Environment Committee.

Committee notes

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

Commerce (Alan Witcombe, SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee gave consideration to three bills: Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill, Motor Vehicle Sales Bill, and Crown Minerals Amendment Bill. The committee also heard evidence from Glenharrow Holdings Limited on the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill. Allan Hunter appeared before the committee and gave evidence in relation to his petition seeking an inquiry into the business practices of the major trading banks.

Two bills have been referred to the committee recently. The Fair Trading Amendment Bill (No 3) has a closing date of 14 June for public submissions. The Shop Trading Hours (Abolition of Restrictions) Bill was referred to the committee for the third time this Parliament. No decision has been made in relation to submissions.

Next week the committee will meet from 9.00 am to 1.00 pm to give further consideration to the Motor Vehicle Sales Bill and Crown Minerals Amendment Bill.

Finance and Expenditure (Julian Kersey, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on 15 May to hear evidence on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s May Monetary Policy Statement. It also considered the CAP Pilot, the Taxation (Relief, Refunds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill and the inquiry into revenue effects of fraudulent investment schemes.

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 22 May in Room G.006, Parliament House, to hear evidence on the revenue effects of fraudulent investment schemes from 11.15 am to 1.00 pm. This is open to the public. The committee will receive a briefing on full consolidation of Crown accounts. It will also consider the Taxation (Relief, Refunds and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, and issues raised by the 2000/01 financial review of New Zealand Post Limited and the relationship of those issues with Parliament’s ability to scrutinise State enterprises.

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

The committee presented its report on the 2000/01 financial review of the Building Industry Authority.

The committee next meets on Thursday, 23 May to continue its consideration of the Responsible Gambling Bill.

Health (Matthew Andrews, SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met this week to consider its inquiry into strategies relating to cannabis use; its inquiry into adverse effects on women as a result of treatment by Dr Graham Parry; the financial review of Lakes District Health Board; and the petition of John Hugh Grenville East.

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

The committee next meets on Wednesday, 22 May to continue hearing submissions on the Local Government Bill. The committee expects to complete hearings in a couple of weeks.

Maori Affairs (Marcus Ganley, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)

On Thursday, 16 May the committee heard further submissions on the Crown Forestry Rental Trust inquiry. The committee also resolved to release submissions received on its inquiry into Te Ohu Kai Moana. The committee issued a press release explaining this decision which read, in part:

“Submissions to a parliamentary committee remain confidential to the committee until they are released by the committee or the submitter speaks to their submission before the committee.

“Unfortunately it appears that some parties may have obtained copies of submissions without them being released by the committee. This is regrettable. In order to put all participants on an equal footing, the committee today has resolved to release all submissions under Standing Order 224.”

Next week the committee will receive a briefing from the Office of Treaty Settlements on the Ngati Ruanui settlement and hear further submissions on the inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 16 May to further consider its inquiry into sustainable forestry management. It also commenced hearing evidence on the Animal Products Amendment Bill and had a briefing from Environment Southland in Invercargill via videoconference on aquaculture issues around Stewart Island.

Next week the committee is again scheduled to consider its inquiry into sustainable forestry management, hear evidence on the Animal Products Amendment Bill and receive a briefing from the Controller and Auditor General on the sale of Animal Health Laboratories.

Regulations Review (Andrew Fieldsend, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz)

At its meeting on 15 May the committee scrutinised a number of regulations and considered regulation-making powers in two bills. In the afternoon it heard evidence from the Minister of Transport, the Secretary for Transport, and the Director of Land Transport Safety on complaints relating to the Land Transport Rule: Frontal Impact. A representative of the Motor Industry Association also gave evidence.

The committee will next meet on Wednesday, 22 May, when it will consider departmental responses to its requests for information relating to various regulations. From 3.15 pm to 5 pm it will hear submissions relating to its inquiry into the principles determining whether delegated legislation is given the status of regulations. The hearing will be open to the public.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee has completed the hearing of evidence on the Health and Safety in Employment Amendment Bill this week. It will consider possible amendments to the bill during its next few meetings. These meetings will not be open to the public. The committee’s reporting deadline has been extended to 25 June 2002.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

Fair Trading Amendment Bill (No 3) (14 June 2002)

Education and Science

National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa) (1 July 2002)

Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (5 June 2002)

Justice and Electoral

Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Bill (8 July 2002)

Clean Slate Bill

Law and Order

Land Transport (Street and Illegal Drag Racing) Amendment Bill (7 June 2002)

Primary Production

Animal Products Amendment Bill (27 May 2002)

Social Services

Residential Tenancies Amendment Bill (15 July 2002)

War Pensions Amendment Bill (No 2) (7 June 2002)

General

You can find further information about select committees on our website at www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz.

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