Release From The Office of the Clerk

SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS

11 June 1999 to 18 June 1999

Committee meetings

There were 16 committee meetings, including one meeting in progress today in Christchurch. All other meetings were in the parliamentary complex.

The House was in urgency on Wednesday morning, which resulted in some disruption of scheduled committee meetings. Committees can meet while the House is sitting only if they have the leave (unanimous agreement) of each of the committee's members.

Reports presented (9)

Justice and Law Reform

Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Bill (262-2)

Regulations Review

Investigation into the Land Transfer Amendment Regulations 1998 and the Survey (Departmental Fees and Charges) Regulations 1998 (I. 16o)

Complaints relating to the Fisheries (Allocation of Individual Catch Entitlement) Regulations 1999 (I. 16p)

Internal Affairs and Local Government

Gaming Law Reform Bill (250-2)

Health

Petition 1996/1623 of Lois V Smith

Commerce

1997/98 financial review of Contact Energy Limited

Primary Production

Supplementary Estimates for 1998/99 Vote Lands

Intelligence and Security (established pursuant to the Intelligence and Security Committee Act 1996)

Petition 1996/1874 of Rod Donald and 7277 others

Petition 1996/1831 of Robert Leslie Leonard on behalf of the Anti Bases Campaign and 1373 others and Petition 1996/1871 of Robert Leslie Leonard and 171 others

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)

Commerce (Clare Sullivan, Louise Foley)

The committee began hearing submissions on the Commerce (Controlled Goods or Services) Amendment Bill and will continue to hear submissions on 21, 22 and 23 June. The committee also began its examination of the Estimates (Vote Energy and Vote Commerce) and heard evidence on the Motor Vehicle Dealers Amendment Bill. Education and Science (Graham Hill, Tim Cooper) The committee met on Thursday 17 June to hear evidence from the Education Review Office on Vote Education Review Office and the Ministry of Education on Vote Tertiary Education of the 1999/2000 Estimates. At the next meeting on 24 June the committee will hear evidence from the Minister of Education on Votes Education, Education Review Office and the National Library. The committee will then hear evidence from the Ministry of Education on Vote Education.

Finance and Expenditure (Nick Aldous, Ainslie Rayner)

The committee heard evidence on Wednesday on the Inquiry into the Powers and Operation of the Inland Revenue Department and is currently meeting in Christchurch to hear further evidence. The venue is the Russley Hotel, Roydvale Road, Christchurch. The meeting will be open to the public from 10.00 am to approximately 3.00 pm. The committee will hear evidence from an investment adviser and some individuals including (in the afternoon) David Henderson, author of Be Very Afraid. At the conclusion of this o Health (David Wilson, Sharon Woollaston) The committee met to hear the final four submissions on the Medicines Amendment Bill. It heard from Dr Jonathon Simon and Dr Derry Seddon (ret.) who have experience working with practice nurses acting in the role of nurse practitioners. They were supportive of the bill, but strongly recommended that the implementation of nurse prescribing is gradual and well-managed to prevent a turf-war between doctors and nurse prescribers. The committee also heard from the New Zealand Dental Hygienists' Association, Next week the committee will begin hearing evidence on the Health and Disability Services (Safety) Bill. The aim of the bill is to reform the law relating to the licensing of hospitals, rest homes and homes for people with disabilities to better ensure their safety.

Internal Affairs and Local Government (Kia Paranihi, Fiona McLean)

The committee presented its report on the Gaming Law Reform Bill on Wednesday 16 June. The bill attracted strong interest from industry, interest groups such as the Problem Gambling Society and the Public Health Association of New Zealand and various individuals. It was considered for some weeks alongside the Casino Control (Poll Demand) Amendment Bill which was reported back separately in an attempt to provide affected communities with a remedy against the development of recently approved casinos. The The committee has a number of local bills to consider and these will be on the agenda once the 1999/2000 Estimates of Appropriations are completed.

Justice and Law Reform (Jayne Wallis, Tracey Conlon)

The Business Committee has extended the date by which the Justice and Law Reform Committee is required to report finally to the House on the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No. 2). The committee now has until 30 June 1999 to make its report to the House.

The committee presented its report on the Criminal Justice Amendment Bill (No. 6) on 9 June. This bill was introduced as a companion measure to the Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Bill, but is of wider application. The bill aims to lower the threshold for the imposition of a minimum non-parole period in cases where indefinite sentences are imposed and in cases of serious violent offending. The committee recommended that the bill proceed, with an amendment to state more clearly when the court may impos The committee presented its report on the Crimes (Home Invasion) Amendment Bill on 14 June. The committee was unable to reach a majority view on whether to recommend that the bill proceed.

The report points out that the committee was split between two diametrically opposed views on the bill. The Government members of the committee, together with the member for Mauri Pacific and the member for ACT believe the bill should proceed so that crime that occurs in the sanctuary of the home will be dealt with more harshly by the courts. The Labour, Alliance and New Zealand First members of the committee believe that the bill should not proceed because it does not effectively achieve its intention o The committee's commentary sets out its discussion on the issues raised in relation to the bill and outlines proposed amendments that may be adopted should the House decide that the bill should proceed. Some clauses in the bill are shown as struck out because there was not a majority of the committee in favour of them. Standing Orders provide that a tied vote is lost.

Next week the committee will begin its examination of the 1999/2000 Estimates by hearing evidence from the Minister of Police and the New Zealand Police on Vote Police. The hearing will be open to the public at 10.30 am in Room 9.01/9.02, Bowen House.

Social Services (Marie Alexander, Susan Goodwin)

The committee's scheduled meeting was cancelled due to the House sitting under urgency. Leave of all of the members for the meeting to proceed was not forthcoming.

Transport and Environment (David Bagnall, Karen Smyth)

The committee's agenda for Wednesday was affected by the House sitting under urgency. As a result of this, the committee was unable to hear evidence from Hon Maurice Williamson on the 1999/2000 Estimate for Vote Transport. After the House rose at noon, the committee met to consider the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Bill.

Next week, on Wednesday 23 June, the committee will hear evidence from Hon Simon Upton on the Estimate for Vote Environment. Further consideration of the Conservation (Protection of Trout as a Non-commercial Species) Amendment Bill, the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park Bill, and the Energy Efficiency Bill is also scheduled.

In the morning, committee members will be meet informally with members of the Road Safety Committee of the Parliament of Victoria. The visitors have asked particularly to meet with Transport and Environment Committee members to discuss transport and road safety issues. The Victorian Road Safety Committee is currently conducting an Inquiry into Vehicle Roadworthiness. A number of New Zealand's road safety initiatives are derived from programmes in the state of Victoria.

Closing dates for submissions on bills

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

Commerce

Commerce (Controlled Goods or Services) Amendment (18 June 1999) Commerce Amendment (2 July 1999)

Education and Science

Education Amendment (8 July 1999)

Finance and Expenditure

Taxation (Annual Rates and Remedial Matters) (9 July 1999)

Government Administration

Acts and Regulations Publication Amendment (9 July 1999)

Courts Security (9 July 1999)

Justice and Law Reform

Bail (2 July 1999)

Shop Trading Hours (2 July 1999)

Truth in Sentencing (9 July 1999)

Social Services

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment (No.2) (28 June 1999)

Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Trans-Tasman Transfer of Protection Orders and Proceedings) Amendment (2 July 1999)

General

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

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