Select Committee Business

From 29 August to 5 September 2003

Committee meetings

There were 13 committee meetings; one in Auckland and 12 in the parliamentary complex.. One committee undertook a site visit.

Reports presented

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

Education and Science

- New Organisms and Other Matters Bill (47-2)

Government Administration

- New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill (25-2)

Local Government and Environment

- Forests Amendment Bill (311-2)

Bills referred to select committees

The Judicial Matters Bill was referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee.

The Building Bill was referred to the Government Administration 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, 4 September to further its consideration of the inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry. The committee also heard evidence on the Business Law Reform Bill.

The committee will next meet on Thursday, 11 September to further its consideration of the inquiry into the New Zealand electricity industry.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 3 September to hear evidence on its inquiry into teacher education and petitions on targeted funding for isolation. The committee also considered the petitions of Claire Wood and Graham Crawshaw, and the financial review inquiries into Northland Polytechnic and Te Wânanga o Aotearoa.

Next week the committee will meet on Wednesday, 10 September to consider the financial review inquiry into Northland Polytechnic, the visit of the committee to Australia (15 to 19 June) and the petitions on targeted funding for isolation.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 4 September to hear evidence from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Human Rights Commission and the Ombudsman of Samoa on the petition of Dr George Paterson Barton Vaitoa Sa to repeal the Citizenship (Western Samoa) Act 1982. The committee will next meet on Thursday, 11 September to consider this petition, and will hear evidence on the Border Security Bill.

On Tuesday, 2 September the committee reported on the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Bill with the recommendation, by majority, that it be passed with amendments. The main purpose of this bill is to clarify the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra’s structure and its role as a touring national orchestra by prescribing in legislation its principal objectives and functions.

Establishing the orchestra’s functions in legislation is intended to provide a common understanding about its responsibilities and define its relationship with the Government. The bill intends that the orchestra will operate in a responsible manner and maintain its financial viability while meeting its principal objectives and performing its functions as a national orchestra.

The bill restructures the orchestra from being a purely profit-making company under the Companies Act 1993 to being an autonomous non-company Crown entity. In becoming an autonomous Crown entity, the orchestra will be subject to the reporting requirements set out in the Public Finance Act 1989. Notwithstanding these requirements, in artistic matters the orchestra will still be able to operate independently and without ministerial direction.

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

This week the committee heard evidence on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill and considered other items of business. Next week the committee will continue hearing evidence on the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill. This will be on Wednesday, 10 September, in Room G.003, Parliament House, and will be open to the public from 9.30 am to 11.55 am. From 12 noon until 12.30 pm, the committee will hear further evidence on the petition of Andy Tookey and 1169 others, regarding organ donation in New Zealand.

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

The committee met this week to continue its consideration of the Supreme Court Bill. Consideration of this item continues at its next meeting on Wednesday, 10 September. The committee will also consider three petitions it currently has before it; one of these is the petition of Lynley Hood and Dr Donald Brash and 807 others. The meeting is not open to the public. The committee is currently calling for submissions on two bills: Care of Children Bill and Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

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

The committee met this week on Wednesday, where it heard submissions on the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill. The committee is meeting next week on Wednesday, 10 September, where it will continue consideration of the Telecommunications (Interception Capability) Bill, and the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill. It will also continue to hear submissions on the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers Bill, which will be from 9.25 am to 10.25 am, and hear submissions on the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill, which will be from 10.25 am to 11.45 am. These will take place in Room G.005, Parliament House, and will be open to the public.

The committee is calling for submissions on the Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill and the Sex Offenders Registry Bill. Submissions for both bills close on 17 September 2003. Copies can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops. The committee requires 20 copies of each submission. Those wishing to include any information of a private or personal nature in a submission should first discuss this with the Clerk of Committee, as submissions are usually released to the public. Those wishing to appear before the committee to speak to their submissions should state this clearly and provide a daytime telephone contact number. Submissions should be to Tracey Rayner, Clerk of Committee, Law and Order Committee Secretariat, Parliament House, Wellington.

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

The committee met on Thursday, 4 September in Auckland to hear submissions on the Local Government Law Reform Bill (No 2) and Supplementary Order Paper 79, which relates to the proposed amendments to the Dog Control Act 1996.

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

The committee did not meet this week. On Thursday, 11 September the committee will further consider inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust, and visit the Office of Treaty Settlements.

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

The committee did not meet this week. It will meet on Thursday, 11 September to give further consideration to its inquiry into the administration and management of the scampi fishery.

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

The committee will meet on Wednesday, 10 September to continue its regular scrutiny of new Government regulations.

The committee is calling for submissions on the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 2). The bill confirms and validates various items of subordinate legislation made under Acts providing that it lapses after a time unless confirmed or validated by Act of Parliament. Submissions close 26 September 2002. Copies of the bill are available from Bennetts Government Bookshops.

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

The committee went on a site visit on Thursday, 4 September to a Department of Child, Youth and Family Service care and protection residence at Epuni. At the next meeting on Thursday, 11 September the committee will continue hearing evidence on the Families Commission Bill and consider its financial reviews of government departments, and consider further several inquiries.

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

Land Transport Management Bill

The committee met on Wednesday 3 September to begin consideration of the Land Transport Management Bill. This will continue next week after Question Time until 6.00 pm on Wednesday, 10 September.

Civil Aviation Amendment Bill

The committee met on Thursday, 4 September from 9.00 am to 10.00 am to begin consideration of this bill. Oral submissions will begin in Auckland next Friday, 12 September from 10.00 am at the Auckland Airport Centra Hotel. The meeting will be open to the public. This bill has a report due date of 13 November 2003.

Holidays Bill and Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill

On Thursday, 4 September the committee heard further submissions on the Holidays Bill and Holidays (Four Weeks Annual Leave) Amendment Bill from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm. The final oral submissions on these bills will be heard next week, in meetings open to the public. The meeting times and locations will be:

- Thursday, 11 September from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm in Room G002, Parliament House

- Thursday, 11 September from 6.00 pm to 9.30 pm at the Auckland Airport Centra Hotel. This bill has a report due date of 1 December 2003.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

- Crimes and Misconduct (Overseas Operations) Bill (12 September 2003)

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

Justice and Electoral

- Care of Children Bill (25 September 2003)

- Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill (3 October 2003)

Law and Order

- Police Complaints Authority (Conditional Name Protection) Amendment Bill

(17 September 2003)

- Sex Offenders Registry Bill (17 September 2003)

Local Government and Environment

- Resource Management (Energy and Climate Change) Amendment Bill (29 September 2003)

Regulations Review

- Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 2) (26 September 2003)

Transport and Industrial Relations

- Railways Bill (1 October 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, 5 September 2003

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