Finance and Expenditure Committee
The Finance and Expenditure Committee (known as the Public Accounts Committee until 1962, and as the Public Expenditure Committee, from 1962) is a select committee of the House of Representatives, the unicameral chamber of the New Zealand Parliament, responsible for matters relating to the audit of the financial statements of the Government and departments, Government finance, revenue, and taxation. The committee is currently established by Standing Order 188.[1]
History
Following a reform of the former Public Accounts Committee in 1962, the Public Expenditure Committee was established and became the most influential parliamentary committee in New Zealand, establishing "a strong reputation for itself, principally because it enjoyed powers of investigation not granted to other committees and because it attracted able and ambitious members. It was the only committee able to set up its own inquiries (without reference from the House), had subcommittees chaired by opposition members, and enjoyed the support of staff from the Legislative department (now the Office of the Clerk) as well as the Audit Office."[2]
Jurisdiction
This committee looks at business related to economic and fiscal policy, taxation, revenue, banking and finance, superannuation, insurance, Government expenditure and financial performance, and public audit.
Ministers answerable
The wide scope of the committee's oversight means a number of government ministers are answerable to the committee. The table below lists them, and their position:
| Minister | Portfolio |
|---|---|
| Hon. Grant Robertson | Minister of Finance |
| Hon. Stuart Nash | Minister of Revenue |
| Hon. Carmel Sepuloni | Minister of Social Development |
| Hon. Tracey Martin | Minister for Seniors |
Membership, 52nd Parliament
The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 52nd Parliament:
| New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Majority: Government (7/6) | |||
| Party | Member | Electorate | |
| Labour | Kiri Allan | List (21) | |
| Labour | Tamati Coffey | Waiariki | |
| Labour | Greg O'Connor | Ōhāriu | |
| Labour | Deborah Russell | New Lynn | |
| Labour | Jamie Strange | List (36) | |
| Labour | Duncan Webb | Christchurch Central | |
| NZ First | Fletcher Tabuteau | List (4) | |
| National | Andrew Bayly | Hunua | |
| National | Rt Hon David Carter | List (3) | |
| National | Hon Paul Goldsmith | List (18) | |
| National | Hon Todd McClay | Rotorua | |
| National | Hon Michael Woodhouse | List (10) | |
| ACT | David Seymour | Epsom | |
See also
References
- ^ Standing Orders of the House of Representatives 2017, SO 188
- ^ Elizabeth McLeay. "Parliamentary Committees in New Zealand: A House Continuously Reforming Itself?" (PDF). Parliament.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2 January 2015.