Macindoe TimHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Thank you Mr Speaker. Could I commence by joining others who have expressed their condolences this afternoon to the victims of yesterday's horrific tragedy on White Island. Some years ago my wife and I had the pleasure of doing exactly what yesterday's victims were doing: we travelled out by boat from Whakatāne had a wonderful trip out there entertained by dolphins landed on this extraordinary quite alien environment and thoroughly enjoyed travelling around the island. As I visualise today what would have happened I realise that there but for the grace of God go we because had we been caught in those circumstances I don't think there would have been anywhere to run. So I do want to pay tribute to those first responders those in the medical teams—including in my own city of Hamilton; I know that many at Waikato Hospital have been very busy helping with those who are injured—and to think in particular of the victims and their families and to send my aroha to all those who are caught up in such a tragic event.I wish to echo the comments of my colleagues the Hon Mark Mitchell and Simon O'Connor the chair of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee in expressing our considerable disappointment in the fact that this bill which is covering one of the most important measures that could possibly come before the Parliament is such a weak measure. It's not only a weak measure; it is extraordinary and very disappointing to see that members opposite are taking such short calls on a measure that is of such great importance. I find that absolutely baffling. I have no idea why they would be unwilling to explain to the public why they made so many compromises in order to accommodate the Green Party and not even be prepared to explain that to those who will be listening and I dare say many who will be listening with considerable concern today.I'm no longer a member of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee—I was until about six months ago and I thoroughly enjoyed that role. I was however on a couple of occasions able to sit in on the select committee's consideration of submissions. I think the thing that struck me about the submissions that we heard during that fairly truncated process was that the vast majority of those who chose to submit to the select committee focused very much on the civil liberties aspects as they affected those who might come under the purview of this bill rather than on the very important need to protect the vast majority of New Zealanders who would be very fearful of any possibility of an incident of terrorism being committed on our shores. I don't mean that to sound hypothetical because we have been the victims of terrorism in the past and sadly it seems almost inevitable that at some stage we will be again. That's why this bill is so important that's why this bill ought to be fit for purpose and that's why the National Party is so disappointed—in fact more than disappointed; frankly disgusted—that this bill is far from fit for purpose. It is weak and frankly it is likely to cause more harm than good.As my two previous colleagues have indicated we in the National Party would very much wish to be able to support this bill and we will continue to engage constructively particularly through the committee stages by putting forward Supplementary Order Papers intended to strengthen its provisions and make it fit for purpose. If anyone has ever been in or around the business of terror internationally terrorists do pose a very real threat. We know that there are some people who have become extraordinarily disturbed brainwashed—however you wish to put it. If they are going to be coming back to New Zealand with those demented ideas that threaten the security of innocent New Zealanders we as parliamentarians must do everything we can to ensure that our security agencies have all the measures in place that they need to protect us from those people and in particular to ensure that our citizens themselves are protected. There are no exceptions to that. That's our responsibility. That's what this bill should do and it most certainly does not. Both the Hon Mark Mitchell and Mr O'Connor have explained why it doesn't in several important ways. I look forward to supporting the Supplementary Order Papers that they will put forward to try to make things right.