Brown Peter: Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
Brown Peter: Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 2) — First Reading 
[Volume:632;Page:4526] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I held back on taking the call hoping the Greens would take a call and add to the debate. But if there is anybody listening who took note of Keith Locke’s contribution I am not sure he or she would understand what we are actually debating. I say to those people who may still be listening that we are actually discussing the Customs and Excise Amendment Bill (No 2). 
I do not intend to take a long call but there are a couple of points I want to make. First of all I am pleased the National Party is supporting this bill because New Zealand First most certainly is. I listened with interest when National Party members said they were going to scrutinise it thoroughly in the select committee after only a minute or so earlier stating they could not find any penalties in the bill for using a mobile phone. Well the penalties are outlined clearly in the bill under clause 18(2) which states: “Every person who commits an offence against this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $1000.” So I urge the National Party members that if they are going to scrutinise this bill thoroughly at the select committee they should at least read it first. 
The second point I want to make is around the flippant remarks by Brian Connell about the Rt Hon Winston Peters which caused me some concern. Let me say to those members over there that I will take a wager with any one of them that by the end of this term of Parliament the relationship between the USA and New Zealand will be far better than it has been for many a year. That will be totally as a result of Winston Peters’ efforts as Minister of Foreign Affairs. If any of them are prepared to take a wager I am up for it. I and my colleagues know firsthand that Winston’s dealings with American officials and politicians and what have you are top-notch. He is highly regarded. He has effectively been in the job for only 10 minutes and he is already getting the degree of respect for his efforts that we should be showing him here. When I say “we” I mean Parliament here. He is travelling the world representing this country and doing a damn good job. 
Anybody who has any doubts about this bill being required and about our border controls being upgraded should only have to watch the television programme  
Borderline 
 which is on television on a Monday evening I think and he or she will know that we are way behind the eight ball and that much in this bill has to be implemented and implemented pretty promptly. 
I conclude by mentioning Maryan Street’s reference to a clash of human rights. This type of legislation puts human rights on the back burner. There are three main objectives that we must have and that this legislation must target: first safe travel for the public; second properly authorised and administered entry and exit for the public; and third a safe working environment for the officials—the customs officers who do the job. From time to time that will conflict with innocent people and with the human rights of innocent members of the public. It will inconvenience them. I say to this House that that has to take second priority to getting this environment and these conditions correct. It is absolutely important that we control our borders that we know who is coming and who is going and that those people follow the rules of this land. 
New Zealand First will support this bill going to a select committee.