O'Connor DamienHon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister of Agriculture): Thank you Madam Speaker. I'll take a brief call just to clarify the Government's position in bringing this bill into the House. Our Government is leading in unprecedented times. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic we are seeing worldwide disruption to our social and economic lives. In New Zealand many in the private sector as has been said are losing their jobs or facing significant pay reductions. On 15 April the Prime Minister announced that Ministers and Public Service chief executives had agreed to a six-month pay reduction in recognition of the wide impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on many people's incomes. We were clear that this initiative is about leadership not austerity. Our Government will continue to work towards fair pay for lower-paid workers—especially the people we have been relying on as essential workers. I note the solidarity displayed by other leaders across the executive across Parliament and across local government who have also committed to making a pay reduction. The Public Service chief executives whose pay is set by the State Services Commissioner have already implemented this reduction. Several Crown entity chief executives have reached agreement with their boards to do the same. Of course many of those wishing to take this reduction including Ministers have their pay determined by the Remuneration Authority under the Remuneration Authority Act 1977. The authority exists to de-politicise the setting of pay for public and statutory officials. The authority is not allowed to make a determination that reduces an individual's pay other than for local government in some circumstances and the organisations making the payments must pay according to their determination. The Government has considered several possible mechanisms to effect the pay reduction. Of those we believe the simplest and fairest is to amend the Act to enable the authority to make a temporary determination in regard to certain officers covered by the Act. This approach allows the authority to consider individual circumstances in each case—for example whether that person has already made an equivalent donation to charity. It also preserves the principle that the authority determines what is paid. This is a time-limited bill that comprises one clause and one schedule—fairly simple most would say. The clause allows the Remuneration Authority to determine a temporary pay reduction of up to 20 percent for up to six months for some of the people whose remuneration it determines. The Schedule details which of the positions covered by the Remuneration Authority are within the scope for the clause. The authority has the right to determine that no reduction or a smaller reduction is appropriate in the circumstances of some individuals so reductions will in fact vary. The bill sets the maximum available reduction at 20 percent for a period of up to six months. The Schedule sets out those who are covered by this bill including many public sector leaders such as Ministers MPs and chief executives of several Government departments. Crown entity members and local government elected members are also included. Some other positions where pay is determined by the Remuneration Authority are outside the scope of this bill including the judiciary quasi-judiciary roles such as tribunal members Governors-General and community board members. The Remuneration Authority consults with those whose pay it determines and can be trusted to apply any reduction carefully fairly and in consultation with those affected. Any determination for reduced pay will need to be made by 30 June 2020 this year and applied on or before 30 July this year. The provision will expire on 31 January 2021. After the temporary reduction determination expires the pay of those affected will return to their base amount. These are the facts—the clear facts—of this short essential piece of legislation that I'm sure the vast majority of this House will support.