Select Committees
December 11th, 2008 at 9:00 am by David FarrarI guess the House has voted to populate the select committees, as the Parliamentary website now lists members for them. What I am interested in, is how many does the Government have a majority on.
- Commerce – National 4, ACT 1, Maori 1, Labour 3 – Govt 5/9
- Education & Science – National 4, ACT 1, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 5/9
- Finance & Expenditure – National 5, ACT 1, Maori 1, Labour 4, Green 1 – Govt 7/12
- Foreign Affairs/Defence/Trade – National 4, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 4/8
- Government Administration – National 4, Labour 3 – Govt 4/7
- Health – National 5, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 5/9
- Justice & Electoral – National 5, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 5/9
- Law & Order – National 5, ACT 1, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 6/10
- Local Govt & Environment – National 5, ACT 1, Maori 1, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 7/11
- Maori Affairs – National 3, Maori 1, Labour 3 – Govt 4/7
- Primary Production – National 4, Labour 3, Progressive 1 – Govt 4/8
- Regulations Review – National 3, Maori 1, Labour 3 – Govt 4/7
- Social Services – National 5, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 5/9
- Transport & Industrial Relations – National 5, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 5/9
- ETS Review – National 4, ACT 1, United Future 1, Maori 1, Labour 3, Green 1 – Govt 7/11
I have a fair idea of who the Chairs and Deputy Chairs will be, but I’ll wait until they have all been confirmed by their Committees before posting names!
So we can group the select committees a number of ways
National majority
Health, Justice & Electoral, Social Services, Government Administration, Transport & Industrial Relations
The Government should have no problems passing laws in these areas.
National/ACT majority
Education & Science, Commerce. Law & Order, Local Government & Environment,
This could be significant as ACT want to introduce significant education reforms. Also useful for Rodney with any regulatory and local government reform.
National/Maori majority
Maori Affairs, Regulations Review
Very useful for the Maori Party relationship, that with National they have a majority on the committee.
National/ACT/Maori majority
Finance & Expenditure
In this important committee, National will need both major partners to have a majority
National and two of ACT, Maori or United Future
ETS Review
So National can pass changes without ACT if Dunne and Maori Party agree.
No majority – tied
Foreign Affairs/Defence/Trade, Primary Production
To some degree these areas are less controversial than others, so not having a majority is less of an issue. At the worst the Select Committee makes no changes to a bill, and it is all done at Committee of the Whole stage. Also means no inquiries can be launched without a Government party voting for it.
As I said above, I’ll review the Chairs and Deputy Chairs later today or tomorrow, when they are confirmed.
Tags: Parliament, Select Committees
December 11th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I would rank Local Government and Environment as the two most controversial areas in the house at present and for the next three years.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 9:16 am
I’ve a fair idea of some of them too. The Parliament website lists them!
Committee: Chair/Deputy
Education: Allan Peachy/Chris Carter
Finance: Craig Foss/Chris Tremain
Govt Admin: David Parker/Jacqui Dean
L&O: Sandra Goudie/Clayton Cosgrove (odd, with a Lab/Green majority)
Maori Affairs: Tau Henare/Hone Harawira
Reg Review: None/Charles Chauvel
I’m sure the other committees will come on-line at some point
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Aren’t select committee memberships decided by Parliament’s Business Committee, not the House as a whole?
[DPF: Yes, which would explain why no vote in Parliament]
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 9:39 am
“No majority – tied
Foreign Affairs/Defence/Trade, Government Administration, Local Government & Environment, Primary Production
To some degree these areas are less controversial than others, so not having a majority is less of an issue. At the worst the Select Committee makes no changes to a bill, and it is all done at Committee of the Whole stage. Also means no inquiries can be launched without a Government party voting for it.”
Defence could get a bit more controversial soon:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10547518
Another socialist mismanagement disaster. Inquiry definitely required here I would suggest.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 9:46 am
So, a billion down the tube on Naval defense. Jesus H Christ, what the feck were those commies up to.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
So in other words, the three strikes bill to keep New Zealanders safe from scumbags is set to be gutted, and the Wets are just going to wash their hands of it. Arseholes.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Blair – 3 strikes will go to Justice, not Law and Order.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
It’s interesting that some parties don’t seem to have taken up their full entitlement to committee memberships.
S.O. 181 says that overall membership of committees should be proportional to party numbers in the House. National with 58 seats, has 55 places. Labour, with 43 seats, has 43 places, Greens – 9 and 9. Maori – 5 and 4, ACT 5 and 3, Progressives 1 and 1, UF 1 and 0.
The opposition seems to have taken its full complement, why are National, ACT and the Maori Party a little understrength? Why did no-one from ACT want on Justice – surely John Boscawen (EFA etc.) and David Garrett (3 strikes etc.) should have been duking that one out? And why is David Garrett not on a single select committee?
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
And for that matter – what did Louise Upston and Jonathan Young do that they missed out on spots on select committees?
Gotta say your analysis is looking a little premature, DPF. There seem to be some people missing.
Vote:December 11th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Yeah will be interesting to see if it changes in the next few days.
Vote:December 12th, 2008 at 1:09 am
I would expect a few changes. I can’t see David Garrett’s name anywhere yet.
Vote: