SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

From 31 August to 7 September 2001

Committee meetings

There were 20 committee meetings this week, all in the parliamentary complex.

Reports presented (1)

Primary Production

- Apple and Pear Industry Restructuring Act Repeal Bill (140-2)

Bills referred to select committees

No bills were referred.

Committee notes

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

Education and Science (Louise Gardiner, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)

The committee met on Thursday, 6 September, and received a briefing from the Ministry of Education’s Tertiary Advisory Monitoring Unit on trends in performance in the tertiary education sector. A key topic of discussion was the financial performance of institutions, both in the university and polytechnic sectors. Each sector has a group of institutions performing ably, maintaining operating surpluses above three percent. But weaker-performing institutions, both universities and polytechnics, have shown an ongoing decrease in operating surplus, and in some cases have run deficits. The meeting also addressed other tertiary education issues, such as student to academic staff ratios, research funding and student numbers.

Also on Thursday the subcommittee on the inquiry into student fees, loans, allowances and the overall resourcing of tertiary education met to continue consideration.

Next week, the committee will hear evidence on its review of Victoria University of Wellington. The meeting will be open to the public, and will focus on the performance of the university in 2000. It will be in room G.011, Parliament House, from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and is open to the public. The committee’s special report to the House on its review inquiries of public tertiary education institutions can be found at: www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/publications/. Please contact the committee secretariat on (04) 471-9487 or (04) 471-9526 if you have any queries regarding the meeting.

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

The committee met on Wednesday, 5 September. It considered the New Zealand Stock Exchange Restructuring Bill, the Taxation (Annual Rates, Taxpayer Assessment and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, allocations of the 2000/01 financial reviews, and the inquiry on the briefing from the Minister for State Owned Enterprises on the Crown Company Monitoring Advisory Unit.

The committee will meet again on Wednesday, 12 September. Two items of business (the petition of Glymor Thomas at 10 30 am and submissions on the Construction Contracts Bill at 11.45 am) 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 submissions on its inquiry into the role of human rights in foreign policy. The committee also agreed to have a briefing next week, in public, from the Auditor-General on his report into the purchase of the LAV IIIs and the LOVs. The committee considered further the Terrorism (Bombings and Financing) Bill.

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

Next week the committee meets to hear further evidence on the Racing Bill.

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

The committee met this week to discuss ongoing matters. It was unable to hold its scheduled meeting to hear submissions in relation to the cannabis inquiry in Christchurch on Friday, 7 September, because the House is in urgency. This meeting has been rescheduled for 17 October 2001.

Justice and Electoral (Wendy Proffitt, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)

This week the committee considered the Court Fees (Waiver) Bill, which is due to be reported back by 10 September. It also considered the Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Bill, the Human Rights Amendment Bill, the Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) and the inquiry into the 1999 General Election.

Next week the committee will consider the Crimes (Criminal Appeals) Amendment Bill, the Clean Slate Bill, the Human Rights Amendment Bill, the Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill, the Electoral Amendment Bill (No 2) and the inquiry into the 1999 General Election. It will also conclude hearing evidence on the Prostitution Reform Bill.

Please contact the Clerk of the Committee for further information about the committee’s meetings for the next month.

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

During this week’s meeting the committee received evidence from Bernie Harris, a former secretary of the Trust, on its inquiry into the Crown Forestry Rental Trust.

Next week the committee will receive a briefing from the Education Review Office on its recently released evaluation criteria for accountability reviews of Kura Kaupapa Maori. Te Puni Kokiri will also give a briefing on its quarterly update on the progress of State sector agencies in improving outcomes for Maori.

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

The committee had another busy week, meeting Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons and evenings and Thursday monring and afternoon. Its focus continued to be the two major pieces of legislation before it, the Apple and Pear Industry Restructuring Act Repeal Bill and the Dairy Industry Restructuring Bill, which deregulate the pipfruit and dairy export industries respectively.

On Thursday morning the committee reported on the Apple and Pear Industry Restructuring Act Repeal Bill. The deadline for reporting on the Dairy Industry Restructuring Bill is Tuesday, 11 September.

Next week the committee's schedule returns to a more sedate (and normal) level with one meeting scheduled for Thursday, 13 September. The focus of the meeting will be on the inquiry into sustainable forestry management, with hearing of evidence from the Department of Conservation.

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

This week the committee continued with its regular scrutiny of the Government’s new regulations. It heard evidence from Department of Internal Affairs officials about the Local Electoral Act Commencement Order 2001, which brings the Local Electoral Act 2001 into force except for section 135, which concerns the unauthorised publication of material promoting the election of any candidate.

In the afternoon, the committee heard more evidence on the complaints relating to the Sharemilking Agreements Order 2001. Federated Farmers and the Employment Relations Service of the Department of Labour both presented their responses to the complaints.

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

The committee will have a briefing, in public, on the New Zealand Cycling Strategy Foundation Project at its meeting on 12 September from 10.15 am to 11.00 am.

At the same meeting the committee will receive a briefing, in public, on issues concerning heavy motor vehicles from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm. The Ministry of Transport, Land Transport Safety Authority, Transit New Zealand and the Road Transport Forum are all taking part in this briefing. The committee will be discussing the implementation of the recommendations in the report on the inquiry into truck crashes by the Transport Committee in 1996. The committee will also be briefed on the draft Land Transport Rule on Vehicle Dimensions and Mass.

Closing dates for submissions

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

Commerce

Trade Marks Bill (21 September 2001)

Finance and Expenditure

Trustee Companies Amendment Bill (7 September 2001)

Health

Inquiry into the adverse effects on women as a result of treatment by Dr Graham Parry (10 September 2001)

Justice and Electoral

Sentencing and Parole Reform Bill (5 October 2001)

Human Rights Amendment Bill (28 September 2001)

Local Government and Environment

Rodney District Council (PENLINK Toll Road) Empowering Bill (20 September 2001)

Local Government (Rating) (26 September 2001)

Maori Affairs

Inquiry into the operations and performance of the Crown Forestry Rental Trust (21 September 2001)

Primary Production

Biosecurity Amendment Bill (24 September 2001)

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

ph: 471 9534, fax: 499 0486, or at carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz

Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 7 September 2001

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