Burton Mark: Third Readings 
Burton Mark: Third Readings 
[Volume:632;Page:3859] 
Hon MARK BURTON (Minister of Local Government) 
: 
 I move  
That the Dog Control Amendment Bill the Litter Amendment Bill the Local Electoral Amendment Bill the Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill the Local Government Act 1974 Amendment Bill the Local Government (Rating) Amendment Bill the Rates Rebate Amendment Bill and the Land Transport Amendment Bill (No 2) be now read a third time 
. The purpose of the Local Government Law Reform Bill was to refine the legislative framework within which local authorities operate to reflect recent policy decisions to clarify existing provisions and to improve the effectiveness of regulatory tools. These bills clearly show the wide array of interests and responsibilities that local government administers and consequently make changes to eight pieces of legislation. Those Acts range from the Litter Act 1979 to the Local Government Acts of 1974 and 2002 and to the Land Transport Act 1998. 
Perhaps the most important of the amendments are those to the Rates Rebate Act of 1973 to ensure that eligible ratepayers are able to receive their full entitlement under the expanded rates rebate regime that comes into force on 1 July 2006. This bill ensures that rebates will be able to be applied to uniform annual general charges to charges levied by councils and to postponed rates. As I indicated to the House at the time of the second reading from 1 July there will be a significant increase in the number of people eligible for assistance to pay their rates. In most cases the income threshold under which people will be eligible for a full rebate is to increase from $7400 up to $20000. For people on incomes above $20000 the rebate is progressively abated meaning however that a couple receiving only Government superannuation as their income will in many cases still qualify for a rebate. In addition there will be increases in the maximum rebate from $200 currently to $500 and in the additional income allowance for each dependant from $156 to $500. 
Whereas in the 2004-05 rating year fewer than 4000 people actually received a rebate up to 300000 New Zealanders will be eligible for rates rebate as a result of these excellent changes. These changes will have a positive impact on many New Zealanders particularly on older people and others on low incomes. It may surprise some listeners—but perhaps not—that both the ACT party and the National Party voted against Part 7 of the original bill which dealt with the rates rebate. That perhaps reflects en masse the attitude well described by the  
Sunday Star-Times 
 
when describing National’s leader Don Brash as “the voice of ignorance narrow political advantage and selfishness.” Certainly their voting against that provision was bewildering for most other members of this Parliament. But I digress. 
In regard to other elements of this bill I say that the amendment to the Land Transport Act clarifies a number of technical issues raised through legal advice. 
Although much of the debate at the Committee stage focused on microchipping the new Dog Control Amendment Bill actually contains many other positive changes to the Dog Control Act that will help to further improve public safety around dogs. Those include clarifying the fact that dangerous and menacing dog classifications apply across New Zealand providing enhanced abilities for dog control officers to seize dogs that have actually made an attack and dealing with disqualifications and increased penalties for irresponsible dog owners. Although not voting for comprehensive microchipping the House has none the less ensured that microchipping for other than working dogs will come into force as planned from 1 July. Microchipping will significantly increase the probability that the owners of dogs that attack or menace will be identified so creating a strong incentive for those owners to make sure that their dogs do not have the opportunity to cause harm. 
These bills collectively are part of the Government’s ongoing work to ensure efficiency effectiveness and responsiveness in New Zealand’s local government legislation. Though many of the provisions in the bills are technical in nature they continue and refine the platform of local government that this Labour-led Government enacted in 2002 thus acknowledging the responsibilities of the sector and providing for its ongoing constructive development. The key goal for both central and local government is positive outcomes for communities and their citizens. The working relationship established between our two spheres of government is vital to achieving that goal. These bills further advance the relationship. With the upcoming Commonwealth Local Government Forum conference to be hosted by New Zealand in the city of Auckland next year I am also mindful that international local government relationships can be advanced with the ability of our local authorities to provide the benefit of their experience and expertise—beyond their boundaries—to local government bodies overseas if they so wish. 
These bills and the changes that have been made throughout the parliamentary process are further evidence of cooperation between local and central government which has developed well over the past 6 years and which will continue to grow with this Government in the future. I am in no doubt that the changes provided by these bills will provide more certainty for councils as they administer and work within the existing legislation and they will also provide communities with greater certainty in their dealings with their local authorities. As I indicated at the outset it is highly desirable that the local government law reform legislation be enacted before 1 July to ensure that ratepayers eligible for a rates rebate are able to receive their full entitlement. In conclusion I want to acknowledge the hard work of the Local Government and Environment Committee of all my officials and of the select committee staff to ensure that that can in fact occur.