Smith NickHon Dr NICK SMITH (National): This bill comes down to a simple principle: that this Parliament owes a duty of care for the ambulance officers the firemen the police the correction officers and the doctors in A & E that every day keep our community safe. I am appalled at the hand-wringing that we have seen from Government members refusing to provide those good people with the protection that they deserve.I'm actually appalled at the sort of evidence we heard at the Justice Committee. Let me give you one: 90 percent of the doctors and nurses that work in our A & E up and down New Zealand have been physically assaulted in the course of providing care for New Zealanders. That's a disgrace. The very people that provide the care—regardless of people whatever violence they've been caught up with—are assaulted in their job. Let me give you another one: since Labour's been in Government there's been a 92 percent increase in the number of assaults against our corrections officers. These are the people who actually put their life at risk to look after some of the nasty bad people in society that pose harm. And again I say this Parliament owes those corrections officers the basic principle that if you assault if you beat up if you hurt those people who society requires to be there on the front line—that we're going to protect them and the members opposite won't. It is as simple and as blunt as that.When I hear the Labour members opposite talk about principle—let's talk about what happened to this bill. When it was a New Zealand First bill and they needed New Zealand First to put them into the Government they supported it but when it's a National bill suddenly they flip-flop and they're opposed to it. Their opposition to this bill has got far more to say with the petty politics that I've seen almost every members' day in the term of this Parliament. When National members sponsor good bills Labour are so narrow-minded and petty that they oppose it regardless. That pettiness was exposed in the select committee. Members on this side of the House heard the evidence and proposed amendments that would make the bill better. Labour members of the committee admitted the amendments would make the bill better but voted against them. Well I think we owe a duty as members on select committees whatever the bill is to make it the best possible bill. Members opposite are like robots for the executive and will just do whatever they're told even when it breaks their basic principles.I look forward to engaging with the ambulance officers the policemen the corrections officers that get weasel words from members opposite. When it comes to voting in this Parliament these guys are more interested in backing those that hurt our people on the front line. I say to members opposite: have a damn good look in the mirror. This is one of those occasions when Parliament needs to not speak but act in favour of backing those public servants those volunteers in communities from Kaitāia to Bluff who put their life and their work on the line to protect society. I'm proud to be part of the National Party that knows right and that's prepared to back these good people and is prepared to send a very clear message to the community of New Zealand: that you don't beat up on those people on the front line.