Logie JanJAN LOGIE (Green): Thank you Madam Speaker. It's also a real treat to get to rise and speak for the Green Party on the District Court (Protection of Judgment Debtors with Disabilities) Amendment Bill a member's bill brought to this House by the member Anahila Kanongata'a-Suisuiki. I just want to note that this is the second of her members' bills that I've had the pleasure of speaking on and I like this member's style—they've both been fabulous bills. Unfortunately the last one didn't have the universal support I thought it should have but it is wonderful to see the support in the House tonight for this piece of legislation. I really want to acknowledge the simplicity of it and the importance of it. It's not a massive change. It's not complex. It's addressing a very specific problem but while doing that it does help change the way that our institutions and society are structured to disable so many people unfortunately and I really want to acknowledge that. What the bill does—if people are just tuning in to this and have missed the very good speeches before me that I'd recommend they probably listen to—is that it amends the District Court Act 2016 to prohibit the seizure of goods of a judgment debtor with a disability where the item proposed to be seized is necessary for that person's care support or independence or to promote their inclusion and participation in society. I really think it probably just makes immediate sense to a lot of people that there's a really big difference between seizing somebody's massive TV that they may have spent too much money on and seizing a mobility aid that is essential to that person's participation in society and health. This piece of legislation makes sure that we recognise that difference and there is no chance for somebody's ability to basically have their human rights met to be compromised by the seizure of goods through our debtor process—also acknowledging as I think the member concerned raised that at the moment bailiffs can't seize a tradie's tools because that would undermine their ability to earn a living and pay back the debt. So if we can make that recognition then this is very very obvious and clear to me that we probably should have done this a long time ago. But it is really fantastic. I also want to acknowledge—while I have no idea what people in this House have been talking about when they've been referring to feijoa muffins; I'm not on the Justice Committee so I'm not in on the joke—the work of that committee that has made amendments to the legislation. It's really clear that people while absolutely supporting the legislation did still interrogate it and make sure that it was the best that it could be and that is Parliament working at its best to my mind. So the changes were to ensure that the definition of disabled people" was extended. The original definition was the same as in the Human Rights Act 1993. The new definition has been expanded to include people who have "long term physical mental intellectual or sensory impairments that in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others." and as has been mentioned by a previous speaker this really is bringing that social model of disability into our legislation. I think that is progress and is consistent with our international commitments. We're also clarifying that mobility vehicles may not be seized and that caregivers who are caring for people who require—so the caregiver owns the mobility device even if they're not using it. Their goods cannot be seized so as to ensure and protect the human rights of whoever they may be caring for. I think they are very sensible amendments to the legislation. I also too want to acknowledge that it is New Zealand Sign Language Week this week and acknowledge Kim Robinson and the many Deaf advocates that I have seen that have been calling for us to remove the barriers to their participation in our democratic institutions for there to be permanent sign language interpretation for Parliament at every stage for our news to have sign language interpretation and for public meetings that people may attend to engage on a democratic level or gather information to be able to be a full member of society—so that we ensure that they have access to interpretation. We have a very long way to go. That is just one community but because it is New Zealand Sign Language Week it felt appropriate to bring their calls for change into this House while we're all on the same page committing to removing one disabling law. So I hope we can see some more change for people who have been disabled by the laws and policies of this place and on that note I'm very pleased to congratulate the member and commend the bill to the House."