Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 19 August to receive initial briefings on the Securities, Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Bill, the Television New Zealand Amendment Bill, the New Zealand Productivity Commission Bill, and the Commerce Commission (International Cooperation, and Fees) Bill. The committee also heard two remaining submissions on the Securities, Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Bill.
The committee next meets on 26 August to hear evidence on the Television New Zealand Amendment Bill, and to consider the departmental report for the Securities, Trustees and Statutory Supervisors Bill.
Education and Science
The committee met on 18 August to consider the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill and hear evidence on the Education Amendment Bill (No 2). The committee also further considered the petition of Hans Kriek.
The committee will next meet on 25 August to hear further evidence on the Education Amendment Bill (No 2) and to further consider the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.
Electoral Legislation
The committee met on 18 and 19 August to consider the Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Bill.
Next week the committee will consider and hear evidence on the Parliamentary Service Amendment Bill, and continue its consideration of the Electoral (Finance Reform and Advance Voting) Amendment Bill.
Finance and Expenditure
This week, the committee called for submissions on the Taxation (GST and Remedial Matters) Bill which was referred to it. The bill proposes amendments to the Goods and Services Tax Act 1985 to provide for tax to be charged on supplies of land in transactions between registered persons at the rate of 0%, to simplify the method for making adjustments for changes in use, and to streamline transactions involving nominated persons. It also contains other policy and remedial amendments to the Income Tax Act 2007, Tax Act 2004, the Tax Administration Act 1994, the KiwiSaver Act 2006, and a range of other tax-related legislation. Submissions can be made online at the Parliament website (www.parliament.nz) by 9 September 2010.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
This week the committee received a briefing on Burma from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The committee will next meet on 9 September to hear evidence from the New Zealand Defence Force regarding matters raised by the Controller and Auditor-General in the report Inquiry into New Zealand Defence Force payments to officers seconded to the United Nations. It will also further consider the briefing on Burma.
Government Administration
The committee met on 18 August to consider the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill. The committee heard a submission from the Board of Governors of Christ’s College regarding the Christ’s College (Canterbury) Amendment Bill. The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand and Derek Round also made oral submissions to the committee on the Governor-General Bill.
The committee will next meet on 25 August to consider the Governor-General Bill.
Health
The committee met on 18 August and completed consideration of the petition of Craig Cameron Jackson, which requests that the House of Representatives conduct an inquiry into male suicide. The committee’s report is now on the Parliament website. The committee also heard further evidence from the Ministry of Health on the petition of Jennifer Maree Hooper, which requests that the House note that 826 people have signed a petition to make all and any necessary changes to New Zealand’s maternity system to increase safety and protection for all mothers and babies.
The committee will meet next on 25 August to resume consideration of the petition of Jennifer Maree Hooper and continue its consideration of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill.
Justice and Electoral
On 19 August the committee met to hear evidence from Professor Tom Babor of Connecticut University, and author of Alcohol: No ordinary commodity, on the Sale and Supply of Liquor and Liquor Enforcement Bill.
The committee’s call for written submissions on the Search and Surveillance Bill remains open until 3 September 2010. A copy of the committee’s interim report can be obtained from the Parliament website (www.parliament.nz). The committee does not intend to conduct any further hearings of evidence on the bill at this stage.
Law and Order
The committee met on 18 August and considered the Courts and Criminal Matters Bill and Electoral (Disqualification of Convicted Prisoners) Amendment Bill.
The committee next meets on 8 September to further consider these bills.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 19 August at The Conference Centre, Penrose, Auckland to hear further evidence on the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 26 August to conclude its hearings of evidence on this bill.
Māori Affairs
The committee met on 18 August to consider the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Bill. It also heard further evidence on the inquiry into the operation of the Maori Community Development Act 1962 and related issues. The inquiry into the tobacco industry in Aotearoa and the consequences of tobacco use for Māori was also considered.
The committee will next meet on 25 August to further consider the Ngati Tuwharetoa, Raukawa, and Te Arawa River Iwi Waikato River Bill and the inquiry into the tobacco industry in Aotearoa and the consequences of tobacco use for Māori.
Primary Production
The committee met on 19 August to hear evidence on the briefing from Commission IV of the Indonesian House of Representatives, and to consider the briefings on the Ballance farm environment awards and on agricultural education in New Zealand.
Next week the committee will be conducting a site visit to several aquaculture sites in the Marlborough Sounds.
Regulations Review
The committee met on 19 August to consider recently promulgated statutory regulations, regulation making powers in the Food Bill, and the complaint regarding three notices issued by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board on 25 March 2009.
The committee will next meet on 26 August to consider recently promulgated statutory and deemed regulations, and the complaint regarding three notices issued by the Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board on 25 March 2009.
Social Services
This week the committee was allocated the responsibility of examining the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Inquiry into the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Board. The committee will commence its consideration of the item of business at the appropriate time.
Standing Orders
The committee met for the first time in this Parliament on 19 August. Dr The Rt Hon Lockwood Smith was elected Chairperson, Hon Peter Dunne was appointed Deputy Chairperson. The committee considered the review of the Standing Orders relating to pecuniary interests and heard evidence from Dame Margaret Bazley DNZM, Registrar of Pecuniary Interests.
Transport and Industrial Relations
This week the committee considered further the Employment Relations (Rest Breaks and Meal Breaks) Amendment Bill and the Employment Relations (Workers’ Secret Ballot for Strikes) Amendment Bill. The committee will consider these two bills further at its next meeting.
The hearings of evidence on both bills have been completed and the committee is now considering them further in the light of this evidence. Advisers from the Department of Labour and Parliamentary Counsel are assisting the committee with this consideration. Both bills need to be reported to the House in late October.
