Committee notes
Commerce
The committee met on 2 August to consider the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill. It also considered its inquiry into the price of milk, the briefing on Commerce Commission decisions regarding utility companies, the report from the Controller and Auditor-General on Transpower New Zealand Limited: Managing risks to transmission assets, and a number of petitions before the committee.
When the committee next meets on 16 August it will continue to consider the Consumer Law Reform Bill. It will also consider a number of petitions before the committee.
Education and Science
The committee met this week on 1 August to hear evidence on the inquiry into 21st century learning environments and digital literacy. The committee also considered the 2010/11 financial review of the New Zealand Teachers Council, and the inquiry into Pacific languages in early childhood education.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Finance and Expenditure
The committee met on 1 August, when the committee met with a delegation of parliamentarians from the Legislative Assembly of Niue.
The committee will next meet on 15 August, when the committee will hear further evidence on the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Covered Bonds) Amendment Bill.
Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
The committee met this week to consider the Geneva Conventions (Third Protocol—Red Crystal Emblem) Amendment Bill. It also considered the international treaty examination of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, and the petitions of Edwina Hughes and John Stansfield.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Government Administration
The committee met on 1 August to further consider the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Bill. The committee also considered the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill, a Member’s bill in the name of Sue Moroney and the Lobbying Disclosure Bill, a Member’s bill in the name of Holly Walker.
The committee will next meet on 15 August.
Health
This week the committee met on 1 August to hear evidence on the inquiry into preventing child abuse and improving children’s health outcomes and to continue its consideration of the Natural Health Products Bill and the Medicines Amendment Bill. It also considered the petition of Alexander Milne, and the petition of Jennifer Maree Hooper.
The committee will not be meeting next week.
Justice and Electoral
The committee met on 2 August to consider the inquiry into the 2011 general election, and the petition of Naginbhai Neil Gelabhai Patel.
The committee is due to meet next on 16 August, when it will further consider the inquiry into the 2011 general election, and petition of Naginbhai Neil Gelabhai Patel.
Law and Order
The Committee met on 1 August to hear evidence on the Bail Amendment Bill and further consider the Corrections Amendment Bill.
The committee will next meet on 8 August and 9 August in Auckland to hear further evidence on the Bail Amendment Bill.
Local Government and Environment
The committee met on 2 August to consider the South Taranaki District Council (Cold Creek Rural Water Supply) Bill, the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill, the Riccarton Bush Amendment Bill, and the Mount Maunganui Borough Reclamation and Empowering Act Repeal Bill. The committee heard evidence from submitters on the Building Amendment Bill (No4).
The committee will again hear evidence from submitters on the Building Amendment Bill at its next meeting on 19 August.
Māori Affairs
The Māori Affairs Committee met on 1 August to hear evidence on its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children.
When the committee next meets on 15 August it will continue to consider its inquiry into the determinants of wellbeing for Māori children.
Primary Production
The committee met on 2 August and initiated two briefings, one on the 2012 Balance Environmental Farm Awards and the other from the Animal Health Board on biosecurity matters. It also further considered the briefing on agricultural development in the Waitaki Basin and Mackenzie country.
Privileges
The committee this week elected the Hon Christopher Finlayson as chairperson and appointed the Hon David Parker as deputy chairperson. The committee has one item of business before it at present: a question of privilege concerning the defamation action Attorney-General and Gow v Leigh, which the Speaker referred to the previous committee last year.
Regulations Review
The committee did not meet this week.
The committee will next meet on 16 August to consider a number of deemed regulations.
Social Services
The committee met on 1 August to consider and hear further evidence on the Child Support Amendment Bill. Hearings of evidence were held in Wellington at Parliament and the hearings were open to the public. The committee also considered the petition of Graeme Axford, and initiated a new item of business called ‘Information request to the Minister for Social Development’.
The committee is not meeting during the adjournment.
Transport and Industrial Relations
The committee met on 2 August to consider the Immigration Amendment Bill, the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill, and the petitions of Meng Foon, Iain Lees-Galloway, and Richard Aslett and 7,436 others.
The committee has called for submissions on the Holidays (Full Recognition of Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day) Amendment Bill. The closing date for submissions is 13 September 2012.
The committee will not meet next week.
