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 189.[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. David Parker	Minister of Revenue
Hon. Carmel Sepuloni	Minister of Social Development and Employment
Hon. Ayesha Verrall	Minister for Seniors

Membership, 53rd Parliament

The following table lists the membership of the committee during the 53rd Parliament:

New Zealand House Finance and Expenditure Committee
Majority: Government (7/4)
Party		Member	Electorate
	Labour	Barbara Edmonds	Mana
	Labour	Ingrid Leary	Taieri
	Labour	Anna Lorck	Tukituki
	Labour	Greg O'Connor	Ōhāriu
	Labour	Duncan Webb	Christchurch Central
	Labour	Helen White	List (48)
	Green	Chlöe Swarbrick	Auckland Central
	National	Andrew Bayly	Port Waikato
	National	Nicola Willis	List (13)
	National	Hon Michael Woodhouse	List (12)
	ACT	Damien Smith	List (10)

References

Standing Orders of the House of Representatives 2020, SO 189
Elizabeth McLeay. "Parliamentary Committees in New Zealand: A House Continuously Reforming Itself?" (PDF). Parliament.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2 January 2015.

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[1] Standing Orders of the House of Representatives 2020, SO 189

[2] Elizabeth McLeay. "Parliamentary Committees in New Zealand: A House Continuously Reforming Itself?" (PDF). Parliament.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 2 January 2015.