Upston LouiseHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. I am pleased to take a call in this debate on the shortened report back that the Minister for the Environment Hon David Parker has proposed. For those who are listening and may not have seen one of these debates before when the suggestion of a truncated report back is being proposed it's a month. The normal report back for any piece of legislation is six months. So to have a report back in three days over a month is quite frankly appalling.But I'm finding myself in a bit of a contradiction in terms of when the Government wants the public to have scrutiny and when it doesn't. So in terms of one of the other points that Hon David Parker made I felt it was worth explaining not just to the House but to those who might be watching over the internet or listening on their radio or watching this debate live on TV. Because we do have a unicameral system it means that our Parliament and the scrutiny of the executive and decisions that are made by the Government is more precious—because there isn't an Upper House. There is no other scrutiny. So when a piece of legislation like the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Amendment Bill is put before this Parliament then the only opportunity for scrutiny is by the select committee—and not just the select committee; the key opportunity is for members of the public.The Minister's made a number of comments about the fact that it's a simple piece of legislation but actually from a public scrutiny and accountability consideration whether it's simple or complex is irrelevant. It is about scrutiny. It's about public accountability. It's about transparency. So when we have a shortened report back with little over a month and a Budget in the middle of it I might add—the ability for submitters to consider the implications—particularly when members opposite have said that they want to make sure that there are no mistakes.Members on this side have talked about the need of the parliamentary process of the select committee to go through the legislation with a fine-tooth comb to make sure there are no mistakes and no unintended consequences. That is the role—that is a precious role—that our Parliament holds dear in terms of the scrutiny of legislation. I would be deeply concerned if this is a continual habit to have shortened report-backs for pieces of legislation.The other side say Oh it's not significant." I would've thought the Greens would have thought it was incredibly significant for those who are requesting permits in this piece of legislation—the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Amendment Bill. I would have thought they thought it was critical—the ability for the public to have a say for the public to hear from the parliamentary select committee who will look after this piece of legislation and for them to advertise that this bill is open for public consultation; the commitment of this Parliament to get legislation right. Particularly in this case given that there has been an error which is why this legislation is before us I'm somewhat puzzled.The Minister opposite didn't outline and did not explain why only a month is being given in terms of this report back. That is a crying shame in terms of scrutiny. If it is as the members opposite say that it is simple—so I'm going to argue the other side of this one to see if they are listening. If it is as simple and straightforward as they would have the House believe why don't they take my colleague Hon Scott Simpson's proposition? Why didn't they put it through all stages today if it was so straightforward and so urgent? So the Government can't argue both ways on this extension—sorry on this report back that's been shortened.Hon Scott Simpson: Truncation.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: It's truncated to just over a month when the normal period is six months. So it puts a huge burden on the public who might want to submit on this legislation—a huge burden. Let's say for example—I'll walk the House through it. If the report back is 11 June then the public submissions if they're lucky might get a week. They might get a week to consider what that side of the House has already said is a significant and important piece of legislation and our exclusive economic zone is a critical part of New Zealand's environment—so less than a week for submitters to submit on a piece of legislation that every member of this House wants to ensure is accurate and is correct.So I'm deeply puzzled as to why we have a Government that insists and persists on shortened report-backs for select committees. It's a trend that we've seen in a number of different pieces of legislation.Hon Member: Oh!Hon LOUISE UPSTON: It's a trend that is damaging New Zealand's democracy. That side of the House might think that it's boring but the members of the New Zealand public who hold this democracy dear to them want to know that this is a Government that is committed to transparency to accountability and to the ability for scrutiny of legislation that's put before this House. Unfortunately I'm not sure that the Ardern-Peters Government can give that commitment to the New Zealand public.This is important. When we talk about a truncated select committee process—so giving members of the public potentially less than a week for them to provide a submission—Kieran McAnulty: Five minutes ago you wanted to get on with it today. Now you're complaining it's truncated.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Members opposite can change their minds. I'm sure my colleague would be happy to put the motion again if you're in such a rush. But you can't have it both ways. You can't have a shortened report back and truncate it to just over one month which is absolutely outrageous in terms of the public's ability to interact with our Parliament to interact with the legislation. It's sort of smacking of a Government who knows best and I would really hate to see that the new Government only six months in has a bit of a pattern of not allowing New Zealanders to participate in the legislative process.I'm happy to suggest to the House that my colleague put the motion again if that side of the House is indicating it which they are. They are indicating very strongly that that they are ready to pass this legislation through all stages. It would be good the Hon Scott Simpson to put your motion again. They've obviously had a change of heart which is interesting to see. So for those in the whips' chairs text the Minister and make sure that he's happy to change his perspective on the report back which he's currently truncated to 11 June. Just make sure he's now ready to come on board with the motion that the Hon Scott Simpson has put on the floor.Simon O'Connor: Great motion.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: It's a great motion to get this piece of business dealt with. That is of course unless the Government wants it fast back to the House so that you've got more legislation to debate and that's the real reason behind a truncated select committee process. This side of the House is still failing to understand why on the one hand you say you need the time and on the other hand that side of the House is saying let's get on with it. "Let's get on with it"—that's the invitation from the Ardern-Peters Government for this particular piece of legislation.If this is indeed something else and it's not about the importance of the legislation and it's about the need for the Environment Committee to have a piece of work—if that's the real agenda behind a truncated report back well that's sad; that's really sad. But that is an option. It is one of the reasons that the Minister may have wanted to have a truncated report back to 11 June.There are a few members of the select committee opposite that are sort of looking down a bit now. Maybe that is the real business. They're looking for things to do. They're a bit bored. Being a backbench MP is not that much fun unless you've got crunchy select committee work to do. Well in terms of scrutiny of legislation that's the critical part that's the critical role for the Government backbench MPs. So you have to examine the legislation make sure your Ministers haven't made mistakes give good scrutiny to every single piece of legislation and not be willing to tolerate shortened report-backs such as this one which is just over a month which is outrageous and New Zealanders will be disappointed in the Government for doing this."