Mallard Trevor: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Mallard Trevor: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:668;Page:14915] 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) 
: 
 We have now reached not the most party-based politically contentious part of the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill but the bit that is actually contentious among members. I indicate that on Part 5 and on the amendments that will follow Labour will be having a conscience vote because this part concerns liquor licensing which has traditionally been subject to a conscience vote for Labour members of Parliament. There will be the ability of course for Labour members to table amendments to this part on which there will be a range of views. It is fair to say that my younger—half my age—colleague Iain Lees-Galloway and I have some views on this part that differ. 
My view is that overall between the work of the Minister for the Rugby World Cup and the work of the Government Administration Committee a pretty sensible regime has been put together. There is not much doubt that the intention of this part is to liberalise a set of rules and to make it easier to get liquor licences and in my opinion it will be easier to get a more coherent system for dealing with liquor licences on a temporary basis within particular areas to get some logical planning and some flow around not the big fan zones but the smaller areas and to ensure that that happens all around the country not only in places where matches are being played— 
Jacqui Dean 
: Even in the South Island. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: Even in Temuka or wherever it is that the member comes from. Applications for those licences will be made under this part. 
Further to that although I do not have the expertise of the Attorney-General on the definition of “extraterritorial” this legislation will affect ships at sea certainly ships within New Zealand’s territorial waters. Those ships will be able to have liquor licences under clause 57 “Interpretation” and the new interpretation of “ship”. I say to the Rugby World Cup people that although I myself was not there for the presentation I believe that Therese Walsh gave a cogent presentation on behalf of Rugby World Cup 2011. She made an argument for cruise ships to be able to have liquor licences issued under Part 5. What surprised me is that it became clear to members of the committee that there is a theoretical ruling—I am pretty certain it does not actually happen—that cruise ships while in New Zealand waters cannot have their bars open. It is a really interesting concept but we need to consider wider legal change if we want to make New Zealand an attractive place for cruise ships. Those of us who have cruised know about the consumption of alcohol on cruise ships—[ 
Interruption 
] I make absolutely clear to my younger colleagues who have different interpretations of that word that I was quite surprised to learn that generally cruise ships within New Zealand waters do not have liquor licences. Clearly the ferries and some of the ships that ply the coast do and that is important. 
I thank John Hayes as he and I worked together pretty well on subclause 59(3) to make sure that clubs with permanent charters would not be adversely affected and would be allowed to apply for this sort of special licence. I am sure that the Petone Working Men’s Club which is the biggest chartered club in the Wellington region and one of the biggest in the country will be pleased about this. 
But we also recognised that in granting these applications there was an element of risk; there was a danger to the community from the less than scrupulous. [ 
Interruption 
] I do not want to comment on what I am looking at Mr Chairman but I am not sure it is entirely appropriate for you to be addressed in that manner by that member! To return to the bill the question is what we do with people who breach their special licences made under the Rugby World Cup legislation. We have made clear that if they lose that licence they lose their general licence. They cannot just revert back to one of their old licences if they have a breach. And it is easier for a licensee to lose a licence under this legislation than would normally be the case so I sound a warning to people out there who will be running bars under this legislation. People do not have to do that. If they want to they can continue operating under their current licences with one exception and that is venues. If you are a venue with a current licence you will be required under this legislation to apply for a Rugby World Cup licence. That requirement was introduced at the request of the Rugby World Cup company in order to make sure there was consistency. 
I also know that my colleagues as members opposite do have different views about the containers in which liquor should be delivered. I am relatively old-fashioned in these matters and I just hate drinking beer out of paper cups. I know that the Chairman has a different view; the Chairman has drunk quite a lot of beer out of paper cups— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Rick Barker) 
: I say to the member that it is not appropriate to bring the Chair into the debate. What the Chair has or has not done is immaterial. I am here merely to facilitate the debate. The member sets high standards on the rules in the Chamber and I want to make sure he maintains his own standard. By the way I am not a venue. You said “you are a venue”; the Chair is not a venue. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: That could be interpreted in a number of ways. I think some pretty exciting games have been played there. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Rick Barker) 
: There has been a ruling. The member cannot go back to comment on it. The matter is closed. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: If it was it would have been even more exciting! 
I thank the Chair for that intervention. The point I am making is that experienced members of this House have been to a number of American football matches and they have been discussing them with me recently. There have been large paper cups of beer there and they have consumed them. I am relatively old-fashioned. I do not mind a tinny but I prefer—[ 
Interruption 
] Not a tinny house; the can. The generation gap here is awful. I do not mind drinking beer out of a can; that is the point I am making. I prefer to have it from a glass but I certainly disagree with those members including Judith Collins who wanted to force people to carry around paper cups of flat beer provided from pourers. I think that would make us look like a pretty Mickey Mouse operation. I say well done to Murray McCully because he stood up to Judith Collins. Not many people have done that. Not many people have stood up in that way. 
I now refer especially to clause 73 “Other conditions of licences”. Clause 73(1)(a) makes it clear that the licences must specify the days on which liquor can be sold—that is important—the hours and conditions relating to the sale and supply of low-alcohol beverages and the provision of food for consumption. But there is something missing here and it is one of the few things Iain Lees-Galloway and I agree on. It is the question of transportation—notices around transportation and the importance of that. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Rick Barker) 
: Before I call the next speaker I want to make an amendment to the vote. There was a mistake in the addition of the voting on the question that Part 4 stand part. The vote should have been announced as 68 for the Ayes 48 for the Noes. The record will be corrected.