Nimon Katie; Kuriger BarbaraKATIE NIMON (National—Napier): I do enjoy an omnibus bill and that is certainly what the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill is. It's really great to hear that this has got unanimous support.Look just to acknowledge first and foremost one of the most weighty and important parts of the bill obviously is dealing with those social workers that for unfortunate circumstances need to be suspended for whatever may have happened—protecting the safety of those that those social workers do work with. So of course this is putting their safety first and foremost but it also does protect those social workers and their profession. So that's kind of what I want to get to. For my two cents worth I think the profession of social work has seen a remarkable change in recent years and the work that they must deal with is growing. It's growing in complexity and it's growing in reach as well. I have very conveniently and coincidentally I suppose had the great fortune of meeting with a number of social workers in the Napier electorate recently and just to acknowledge some of those people in the work that they do and that they will benefit from something seemingly so technical with six policy changes and 10 technical changes. It does make a great difference and for these particular organisations one of which is Innov8 doing amazing work also LIFT Social Enterprise. As well as that we've got a new youth hub Maraenui youth hub that has just opened in Maraenui and they're all doing amazing work. But of course there have been a remarkable number of new graduates—especially from the Eastern Institute of Technology locally—getting into the social work profession. It is good and timely that they do get recognition as a profession by being registered and having to have a registration certificate because of course the effort that they go to to study to prepare to do the work that they do in the community to make a difference whether they're employed through a Government agency whether they're employed by a charitable organisation or whether they're just doing that work independently they all make a great difference in our community. I think it's very important to recognise and consider what having a Social Workers Registration Board being the regulatory authority but of course having them be registered having a practising certificate and having to continue to do that. Of course going back to the first point that they have to make sure that they're meeting that standard and that we're maintaining the safety and security of those people that they're working with and working for in the community and of course addressing the perverse outcome potentially of anything that may happen and protecting those in the community as well. But what that does to the gravity and the recognition of their profession undergoing—whether it's a diploma certificate or degree the work being done by social workers in that timely recognition of what they are doing. So just tightening up the process making sure that a lot of these policy points and some of the technical amendments are making sure that for the next five years—because of course that's what we're doing with this omnibus bill—we're in a better position to have that profession develop and that those people are being served. Of course we know many Government agencies have social workers as part of their workforce but like I said we've got a growing number of charitable organisations and private entities that are doing that great work; they do things across areas that some people may not recognise. I know when we were in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle the amount of social workers that presented to the civil defence hub to help communities after the cyclone and the work that they continue to do as a result of that. So I think that it's very important to have that credibility and that's something that I'm really pleased to see in this bill. And of course just to note that obviously like I had said the increasingly complex needs—to know whether a social worker is a registered and licensed or certificated social worker or not and that that is also OK. But much like with registered nurses and registered teachers that adds like I said to the gravity of the profession. So look like I said very pleased to be speaking on this bill and what some may see as just an omnibus bill that deals with some technical things it does make some important changes and some that I look forward to seeing how the profession develops over time. So of course with that I commend this bill to the House. Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is that the Social Workers Registration Amendment Bill be considered by the Social Services and Community Committee. Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Social Services and Community Committee.DEPUTY SPEAKER: I declare the House in committee for consideration of the Appropriation (2024/25 Estimates) Bill.