Select Committee Business

From 18 June to 25 June 2004

Committee meetings Thirteen committee meetings were held this week, all in the parliamentary complex.

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

Education and Science Education (Export Education Levy) Amendment Bill (101-2) 2004/05 Estimates Vote Crown Research Institutes 2004/05 Estimates Vote National Library

Health Petition 2002/0105 of Hon Dr Nick Smith

Local Government and Environment 2004/05 Estimates Votes Conservation, Local Government, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment

Primary Production Fisheries Amendment Bill (No 4) (109-2A)

Bills referred to select committees The New Zealand Sign Language Bill was referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee with a report due 21 December 2004. The Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill was referred to the Local Government and Environment with a report due 22 December 2004. The Civil Union Bill was referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee with a report due 23 December 2004.

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 24 June to consider and hear evidence on the 2004/05 Estimates for Vote Commerce and Vote Economic, Industry and Regional Development. The committee also furthered its consideration of the Electricity and Gas Industries Bill. The committee next meets on 1 July to consider and hear evidence on the 2004/05 Estimates for Vote Energy.

Education and Science (Kirstin Lambert, SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 23 June to hear evidence from the Acting Associate Minister of Education, Hon Margaret Wilson, on the 2004/05 Estimates: Vote Education. It also further considered the Education (Export Education Levy) Amendment Bill and progressed a number of petitions and other items of business currently before it. On 25 June the committee presented its report on the Education (Export Education Levy) Amendment Bill. This can be viewed at: http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/101bar2.pdf

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation (Miles Reay SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz,) On 22 and 24 June the committee considered the Maori Fisheries Bill. The committee is scheduled to consider the Foreshore and Seabed Bill on 29 June. The Committee is inviting public submissions on the Foreshore and Seabed Bill. Copies can be purchased from Bennetts Government Bookshops, and information can be obtained from www.beehive.govt.nz/foreshore/home.cfm

Submissions close at 5.00 pm on Monday, 12 July 2004.

Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders, SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz) The committee began its examinations of the 2004/05 Estimates. This week the committee heard evidence on Votes Customs, Defence and Defence Force. Further hearings are planned for Votes Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Official Development Assistance. The committee also heard a further submission on its inquiry into New Zealand’s relationship with Tonga.

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

This week the committee received a briefing on a national organ donor register. It also heard evidence on the petition of Robert Crawford and 6,371 others and considered a number of items of business. The committee reported to the House on the petition of Hon Dr Nick Smith, which requests that the House ask the Ministry of Health to ensure the Nelson Marlborough District Health Board is able to provide breast screening for those women at high risk of cancer. The committee was satisfied that the Ministry of Health is working with the district health board to resolve this issue. The committee’s report can be viewed at http://www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/Content/SelectCommitteeReports/hepet02105 On 30 June the committee will hear evidence from the Minister of Health on the 2004/05 Estimates for Vote Health. This will be from 1.00 pm to 2.00 pm, in room G.002 Parliament House, and will be open to the public.

Justice and Electoral (Angela Van Dam, SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 23 June to hear evidence on Vote Justice as part of the 2004/05 Estimates process. The committee also considered the Care of Children Bill and the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill. The committee met on 24 June to further consider the Care of Children Bill. The committee will next meet on 29 June when it will consider the Lawyers and Conveyancers Bill.

Law and Order (Tracey Rayner, SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met this week to consider the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill and the 2004/05 Estimates: Vote Police. The committee will meet again next week to consider the 2004/05 Estimates: Vote Courts and the Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, their Parts, Components and Ammunition, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime. The meeting will be open to the public, between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm, during a hearing of evidence on Vote Corrections, which is to be attended by the Minister of Courts and senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, including the Secretary for Justice, Ms Belinda Clark.

Local Government and Environment (Beth Watson, SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 24 June to consider and hear evidence on 2004/05 Estimates Vote Climate Change and Energy Efficiency . The committee has reported 2004/05 Estimates Votes Conservation, Local Government and Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment to the House. The committee continued to consider its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken. On 1 July the committee will meet to continue to consider its inquiry into the alleged accidental release of genetically engineered sweet corn plants in 2000 and subsequent actions taken.

Maori Affairs (Miles Reay, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz) The committee is scheduled to hear evidence on 2004/05 Estimates Vote Treaty Negotiations on 1 July.

Regulations Review (Michael Wilkinson, SC-RR@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee continued with its scrutiny of new Government regulations. The committee also continued with its consideration of three separate inquiries into delegated legislation, incorporation by reference, and affirmative resolution procedures.

Social Services (Graham Hill, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz) The committee met on 24 June to continue hearing evidence on the estimates of appropriation 2004/05 for Votes Housing and Community and Voluntary Sector. The committee also considered the Charities Bill and the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill. The committee will next meet on 8 June to discuss general business.

Transport and Industrial Relations (Kath Henderson, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz) This week the committee met on 24 June to consider the 2004/05 Estimates for Votes Transport, ACC and Labour and the Railways Bill. The committee will next meet on 22 July to further consider the 2004/05 Estimates, the Employment Relations Law Reform Bill and the Railways Bill. The meeting will not be open to the public.

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

Fisheries and Other Sea-related Legislation Foreshore and Seabed Bill (12 July 2004)

Justice and Electoral New Zealand Sign Language (30 July 2004) Civil Union Bill (closing date yet to be determined) Local Government and Environment Wellington Regional Council (Water Board Functions) Bill (closing date yet to be determined)

Social Services New Zealand Superannuation Amendment Bill (2 July 2004) Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill (28 June 2004) Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill (25 June 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

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>