Gallagher Martin: Policing Bill — In Committee 
Gallagher Martin: Policing Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:649;Page:17869] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I will take just a brief call on Part 1. I want to be very full in my praise of the Minister of Police who is an outstanding Minister of Police. 
Nathan Guy 
: You are going to take a small one? 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: I know that the member opposite is agreeing because in his heart of hearts he knows that to be true. 
I acknowledge the members of the Law and Order Committee who did a lot of work on the Policing Bill and particularly the chairperson Mr Ron Mark. I think Mr Mark would join with me in saying that this is a long-overdue bill—I was the previous chair of that select committee. 
I compliment our police advisers. I also compliment the many people who made submissions and in particular the New Zealand Police Association. It was my pleasure to attend along with other members the event recently when the Minister and the chief executive of that association launched their particular policy document. We do not have to agree with all of the policy document line by line but we do acknowledge absolutely that it is an excellent way in which to engage with and to basically listen to the organisation that represents the men and women on the front line so to speak. 
I also take this opportunity to highlight the fact that this bill—and I do not mean to be disrespectful towards our very esteemed public servants whom we hold in great affection—is not totally a product of drafting in some 8th floor 9th floor or 20th floor office. The bill is the result of a very comprehensive process of community consultation. I think that it is a very very good model and that it illustrates the fact that we do by and large have a broad cross-section of the House in support of it. I know that the MP for Hamilton East thoroughly agrees with me and I know he has been very complimentary about the Minister of Police with regard to this bill. 
In terms of the consultation process this bill followed a 2-year review of current policing legislation by a working group. As I mentioned the views of front-line police as well as of police staff associations were also fed into the bill’s preparation so the process really shows how important it is to engage with the profession of policing. The public was also consulted through public meetings select committees and a thing called an online wiki. 
Hon Annette King 
: A very new invention. 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: It is a very new invention. The Minister has taught me about this online wiki. 
Chester Borrows 
: How many of those can you have and still drive? 
MARTIN GALLAGHER 
: Chester Borrows is very keen on it. It is an example of electronic communication and the interface in terms of the way we are now using new means of communication. Opportunities were also provided for all parliamentary political parties to have input into the work on the new legislation. 
Finally I again stress the two key objectives of the bill. First the bill confirms and strengthens the legal arrangements for the way in which the police are organised and governed with a clearer focus on the balance between independence and accountability. Secondly it sets a platform for improving police effectiveness especially by updating the police’s approach to employment practices and by establishing a framework for the exercise of policing powers. 
Obviously through the rest of the Committee stage we will all have an opportunity to go through this bill with a degree of detail that we do not have in first and second reading debates. Without further ado I certainly commend this bill and I acknowledge the many hands that have been involved in the successful completion of this exercise.