Luxton JoJO LUXTON (Labour): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I am really thrilled to be able to take a call on the Canterbury Earthquakes Insurance Tribunal Bill. I want to take the opportunity to acknowledge the Hon Andrew Little for bringing this bill to the House. He quite clearly understands and empathises with the issues that several thousand people in the Canterbury region have faced or are facing every day. I also want to acknowledge the people in Canterbury and in particular Christchurch on this the eighth anniversary of the 4 September earthquake. This earthquake marked the beginning of a series of events that has changed people's lives for ever.I can recall where I was at the time of the earthquake in September. When the earthquake hit the house that I was living in at the time felt like it was nothing more than a cardboard box being thrown around. Thankfully or miraculously we were never put into the position where we had to look to make an insurance claim because the house wasn't damaged in any way. However eight fast years may have flown for me—which I feel like eight years has really flown by; I can't believe that it's been that long since that earthquake—there are people in Canterbury who are still struggling after eight years who are still trying to get their claims settled.Now we can't control an earthquake and we can't control the immediate aftermath of an earthquake but what this bill does is it gives some control back to the people of Canterbury and many of those people have felt that they've had no control and no hope over their lives for the last eight years. They are living their lives—some of them I believe—in a truly truly dark way. They are living—it's like Groundhog Day: you wake up every day it's the same. You're facing the same battle trying to settle your claim. It's not fair. It's not good enough either. This bill will also bring back fairness and equity to the people who are fighting their claims. We know there are several thousand outstanding claims—several thousand too many. I acknowledge that some of these claims are likely to be quite tricky to work through but still eight years is a really long time.This bill provides a pathway forward. People still after seven and eight years are living in caravans outside their houses because their houses are unsafe to live in and they are still fighting their insurance claims to get their houses fixed repaired or replaced in total so that they can actually live a normal life again in their homes. As I said it is a pathway forward. It's really important for the people of Canterbury that they have this pathway forward which this bill enables because they have been left weary worn down suffering serious mental health issues trying to navigate their way through this legislation in order to get their claims resolved.What I think is really important about this bill is that it enables a shift from being worn down and weary to people being empowered and in control again. It gives policyholders a choice—a choice to access the tribunal which allows them the option to apply to the tribunal rather than going through the insurers or the Earthquake Commission. It's not going to be regimental in its approach and it will assess each individual claim and be flexible and tailor their response and their approach to each individual claim.This Government is delivering on its pre-election promises by establishing this tribunal for the people of Canterbury and in particular Christchurch. I really absolutely happily commend this bill to the House.