Weekly Select Committee News - to 28 July 2000
SELECT COMMITTEE BUSINESS
21 July to 28 July
2000
Committee meetings
There were 22 committee
meetings, all in the parliamentary complex, and one site
visit (in Auckland) this week.
Reports presented
(10)
Social Services
Visit of the Social
Services Committee to Australia 6 – 9 June 2000 (I.
12A)
Housing Restructuring (Income-Related
Rents) Amendment Bill (29-2)
Health
Nurse
Maude Association Bill (323-1)
1998/99 financial
review of the Health Research Council of New
Zealand
Government Administration
Gaming and
Lotteries Amendment Bill (36-1)
Fire Service
Amendment Bill (35-1)
Estimates for 2000/01 Vote
Office of the Clerk
Law and Order
Estimates
for 2000/01 Vote Courts
Intelligence and
Security
(established pursuant to the Intelligence and
Security Committee Act 1996)
Estimates for
2000/01 Vote Communications Security and
Intelligence
Estimates for 2000/01 Vote Security
Intelligence
Bills referred to select committees
The
Student Loan Scheme Amendment Bill was referred to the
Social Services Committee.
The Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Amendment Bill (No 3) was referred to the Social Services Committee.
Committee notes
(for further
information on an item, please contact the committee staff
noted in brackets)
Commerce (Alan Witcombe,
SC-Commerce@parliament.govt.nz)
On 3 August the
committee will examine Vote Energy, administered by the
Ministry of Economic Development. The Minister of Energy,
Hon Pete Hodgson, is scheduled to appear and give evidence
from 12.10 pm for about 45 minutes.
The committee will also give further consideration to the Sale of Liquor Amendment Bill (No 3), Vote Commerce, Vote Communications, Vote Consumer Affairs and Vote Government Superannuation Fund.
Education and Science (Clare Sullivan,
SC-ES@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee heard evidence on
Vote Research Science and Technology and the Educational
Establishments (Exemption from Certain Rates)
Bill.
Employment and Accident Insurance Legislation (Marie
Alexander,
SC-EAI@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee
met twice this week. The Employment Relations Bill is due
to be reported by 1 August.
Finance and Expenditure
(Graham Hill, SC-FE@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met
on 26 July to hear evidence from Ministers and officials on
Vote Economic Development, Vote Finance, the Fiscal Strategy
Report and the Budget Economic and Fiscal Update. The
committee considered further the Taxation (FBT, SSCWT and
Remedial Matters) Bill. The committee also considered the
Taxation (Annual Rates, GST and Miscellaneous Provisions)
Bill. At its meetings next week the committee will hear
evidence on Vote Revenue and Vote State-Owned Enterprises.
For the remainder of the time the committee will hear
evidence from public submitters on the Taxation (Annual
Rates, GST and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
Foreign
Affairs, Defence and Trade (David Sanders,
SC-FD@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee visited New
Zealand Defence Force locations in Devonport and Whenuapai
on 27 July. The committee was participating in the Joint
Warrior Interoperability Demonstration 2000. This is "a US
Department of Defence annual command, control,
communications and computers (C4) technology demonstration
designed to evaluate how emerging commercial and military C4
technologies and practices can be quickly and effectively
applied to Joint and Combined operational problems in all
warfare dimensions whilst enhancing interoperability." Other
countries participating in the exercise included Australia,
Canada, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Next week the committee will continue its consideration of the Estimates and the International Crimes and International Criminal Court Bill.
Government Administration (Fiona
McLean, SC-GA@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee reported
on the Fire Service Amendment Bill. The committee was
unable to reach a recommendation as to whether the bill
should proceed. The particular difficulty dividing the
committee was as to whether clause 3(3) should be included
in the bill. Clause 3(3) seeks to repeal provisions in the
principal Act (sections 6(3), (4), and (5) of the Fire
Service Act 1975) which prevent certain persons from being
Commission members. The provisions apply to any person who
is a member of, or an office holder in, or an employee of,
any association of employees.
Government members supported the inclusion of clause 3(3) in the bill. They believe it is undesirable to restrict the options available to the Minister when he or she is considering the appropriate membership of the Commission. They consider the honours and appointments process is sufficiently robust to deal with any potential conflicts of interest that may arise from an individual being nominated for appointment to the Commission. Accordingly, Government members support the removal from the principal Act of what they consider to be a potentially discriminatory condition.
Opposition members supported the clause 3(3) amendment to the bill with one proviso. They agree with the submission of the New Zealand Fire Service Commission that employees or members of employee associations representing current members of the New Zealand Fire Service should not be eligible for membership of the Commission. Opposition members consider that a perceived conflict of interest would arise if an official of an employee organisation, representing employees of the New Zealand Fire Service, were to be appointed to the Commission. Accordingly, Opposition members did not support clause 3(3) of the bill proceeding in its present form.
The committee also reported to the House on the Gaming and Lotteries Amendment Bill. The committee recommended that this bill proceed and did not recommend any amendments.
The committee continued its examination of the 2000/01 Estimates. It heard evidence in relation to Vote Pacific Island Affairs, specifically on the Pacific Business Trust, Vote Arts, Culture and Heritage, Vote State Services and Vote Sport, Fitness and Leisure. The committee concluded its consideration of Vote Office of the Clerk and presented its report.
The committee will meet next Thursday to continue its consideration of the Estimates. It will hear evidence on Vote Internal Affairs and Vote Tourism from the Minister of Internal Affairs and of Tourism, Hon Mark Burton. The committee will also continue consideration of Vote Parliamentary Service, Vote Pacific Island Affairs, Vote State Services and Vote Sport, Fitness and Leisure.
Health (Nick Aldous,
SC-Health@parliament.govt.nz)
This week the committee
completed consideration and presented reports on the Nurse
Maude Association Bill and the Health Research Council
financial review. Next week it will consider the
Intellectual Disability (Compulsory Care) Bill and its
companion bill, the Criminal Justice Amendment Bill (No 7).
The committee will then hear further evidence from the
Minister of Health and officials on the 2000/01 Health
Estimates.
Justice and Electoral (Tracey Conlon,
SC-JE@parliament.govt.nz)
At its meeting on 26 July the
committee heard from the Parliamentary Counsel Office on its
examination of the Estimates for Vote Parliamentary Counsel.
The examination touched on the recruitment and retention of
staff, salary levels, resourcing levels, access to
legislation and revision-tracking of changes to draft
legislation.
The committee further considered the Estimates of Votes Attorney-General, Justice and Treaty Negotiations, and proceeded with consideration of its inquiry into the 1999 General Election and the Referenda (Postal Voting) Bill.
During its afternoon session, the committee heard further evidence on Supplementary Order Paper No 25 relating to the Matrimonial Property Amendment Bill. Evidence was heard from Judge Mahony, the Principal Family Court Judge, the National Council of Women and the Public Questions Committee. In addition, the committee heard a number of other submitters by teleconference.
The committee will be meeting again next Wednesday to further consider its examination of the Estimates, and to consider the Legal Services and Referenda (Postal Voting) Bills.
The subcommittee met in Wellington on 24 July, to continue consideration of the inquiry into matters relating to the visit of the President of China to New Zealand in September 1999. It heard further evidence from the New Zealand Police.
Law and Order (Wendy Proffitt,
SC-LO@parliament.govt.nz)
This week the committee met to
consider the Truth in Sentencing Bill. It also considered
Votes Police and Corrections and presented its report on
Vote Courts.
Next Thursday the committee will hear evidence from the Attorney-General, Hon Margaret Wilson, on Vote Serious Fraud. The Serious Fraud Office will also give evidence. The committee will continue its consideration of Vote Police and Corrections. It will also continue consideration of the Truth in Sentencing Bill.
Local
Government and Environment (David Bagnall,
SC-LGE@parliament.govt.nz)
On 25 July the committee heard
submissions on the Forests (West Coast Accord) Bill.
Submitters included Property Rights in New Zealand
Incorporated, the South Taranaki Branch of the Royal Forest
and Bird Protection Society, the Furniture Association of
New Zealand and Design Mobel, a leading furniture
maker.
At Wednesday's meeting (26 July), the committee heard evidence on the 2000/01 Estimates from Hon Sandra Lee, in her different capacities as Minister of Conservation and Minister of Local Government. In relation to Vote Conservation, the primary focus was on biodiversity issues, particularly pest control. Discussion of Vote Local Government ranged over the various significant policy developments expected in this area, culminating in the revision of the Local Government Act 1974.
The committee will meet next Wednesday (2 August) in the morning to consider the Resource Management Amendment Bill and the Resource Management (Costs) Amendment Bill, and in the afternoon to hear further evidence on the Forests (West Coast Accord) Bill. On Thursday (3 August), the committee will consider the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Amendment Bill (No 2).
The committee has set a closing date of 1 September 2000 for submissions on the Tauranga District Council (Route K Toll) Empowering Bill.
MMP
Review (Louise Sparrer, SC-MMP@parliament.govt.nz)
The
terms of reference for the review of MMP are set out in a
press release located at
www.clerk.parliament.govt.nz/programme/committees/pressrelease.html.
Maori
Affairs (Kia Paranihi, SC-MA@parliament.govt.nz)
This
week the committee heard evidence on Vote Maori Affairs and
the Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill. It will continue
with these items next week.
Primary Production (Bob Bunch,
SC-PP@parliament.govt.nz)
The committee met on 27 July to
further examine the estimates of expenditure for Vote
Agriculture and Forestry and Vote Lands. The committee
questioned Ministers for over two hours about what their
intentions were for the coming year. Hon Jim Sutton,
Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Rural Affairs, was
questioned about the promotion of rural affairs in
government policy while the development of the LandOnline
project comprised the majority of questions to the Hon Paul
Swain, Minister of Lands.
The committee also considered its inquiries into organic agriculture in New Zealand and the sale of the Property Services Division of Terralink New Zealand Limited to its former employees.
Next week the
committee will further consider all four votes under
examination (Votes Agriculture and Forestry, Fisheries,
Biosecurity and Lands) as well as its
inquiries.
Privileges (Fay Paterson,
SC-Privileges@parliament.govt.nz)
On 25 July a matter of
privilege was referred to the committee. It relates to
proceedings initiated in the High Court in respect of the
Forests (West Coast Accord) Bill, which is currently before
the Local Government and Environment Committee.
Social
Services (Tim Cooper, SC-SS@parliament.govt.nz)
The
committee has now heard evidence on all six votes it is
examining as part of the 2000/01 Estimates. On Wednesday it
examined Vote Senior Citizens and Vote Housing. It also
advertised for submissions on two bills. The Student Loan
Scheme Amendment Bill has a closing date for submissions of
8 September 2000. The bill aims to give effect to the
Government's intention not to charge interest on student
loans for full-time, full-year students and low-income,
part-time students while they are studying. The Children,
Young Persons and Their Families Amendment Bill has a
closing date of 20 October 2000. This bill aims to ensure
that the principal powers relating to the searching of
children and young persons in residences run by the
Department of Child, Youth and Family Services, and the
seizure of items found during a search, are set out in
legislation, not regulations. 25 copies of submissions on
these bills should be sent to Tim Cooper, Social Services
Secretariat, Select Committee Office, Parliament Buildings,
Wellington 1.
Transport and Industrial Relations (Lyn
Main, SC-TI@parliament.govt.nz)
As part of its
examination of the Estimates, the committee heard evidence
on Vote Transport from the Minister of Transport and
ministry officials. Also present to give evidence were
senior managers from the seven entities with performance
agreements with the Minister. The Minister discussed the
Government’s plans for major public consultation on the Road
Safety Strategy to 2010 programme and intentions to take a
broad approach to road safety, including enforcement,
education and road engineering. Removing the caps on
alternatives to roading capital projects and on passenger
transport services were also discussed as part of the
government’s road safety strategy.
When the committee meets next week it will consider Vote Accident Insurance, and hear evidence from the Minister and officials. The committee’s examinations of the Estimates are due to be reported back to the House by 14 August.
Closing dates
for submissions
Committees are receiving submissions on
the following items with the closing date shown. Twenty
copies of submissions are required.
Commerce
Chartered
Professional Engineers of New Zealand Bill (1 September
2000)
Finance and Expenditure
Taxpayers’ Charter Bill
(31 July 2000)
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
New
Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Extension Bill (2 October
2000)
Justice and Electoral
Local Elections (Single
Transferable Vote Option) Bill (1 September 2000)
Local
Government and Environment
Tauranga District Council
(Route K Toll) Empowering Bill (1 September 2000)
MMP
Review
Review of MMP and other aspects of the electoral
system (31 July 2000)
Social Services
Social Welfare
(Transitional Provisions) Amendment Bill (11 August
2000)
Children, Young Persons and Their Families
Amendment Bill (No 3) (20 October 2000)
Student Loan
Scheme Amendment Bill (8 September 2000)
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
carol.rankin@parliament.govt.nz
Compiled in the Select Committee Office, Office of the Clerk, 28 July 2000