Bennett GlenGLEN BENNETT (Labour—New Plymouth): May I take both of them Mr Speaker? It's been an interesting conversation this evening and also an interesting evening when we have two bills around alcohol: the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Amendment Bill and of course the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Harm Minimisation) Amendment Bill. As I listened intently—mostly—this evening I feel like there's sort of a we're responsible drinkers" and "she'll be right" and you know we're going to be party poopers and that type of thing for those of us who voted against this. I mean personally I know I'd love to have a greater conversation around the review of looking at the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act but that's not for tonight's debate—that is around the exemption for race meetings.I just find it interesting that we would pick a certain sector and then also that we would pick a certain sector and say if we don't do this—some of the bits I picked up this evening—it's all going to shut down. It's these small rural clubs which I have in my own electorate—you know I'm part of that rural community. If they're going to close down because they can't drink alcohol there then so be it. I mean it's around the racing right? It's around the experience. So it really does surprise me that people feel that if we can't have a drink—I really question that.Simon O'Connor: No one said that.GLEN BENNETT: I've heard comments along those lines. If this is the reason—if you can go to the races and not have a drink and you can go to the races and there are no drinks provided then that's OK or you can go to those bigger events.But when I look and listen and again think as Simon O'Connor said in this conversation often around harm minimisation—but there are some real issues and for me when I'm at home and I get an opportunity on a Wednesday night which isn't often because I'm here regularly I will go to the Salvation Army Bridge programme on a Wednesday night and be part of their recovery programme. I've been an attender of that for many many years and to sit there and to listen to stories that I can't disclose in this space but to listen and hear the impacts and effects—and I know that you know people say "Well it's just one drink." or that everyone's responsible in these spaces. That can be true but also that can be not true as well. If you look at the fact that in New Zealand we are a heavy drinking society—we are a heavy drinking society. So for me I will do all I can to ensure that we do ensure that our communities are kept safe.When I look at the numbers they say around—and they can't identify it completely but the average number they say is around 600 to 800 people a year die of alcohol-related impacts. So when we look at this and the exemption for race meetings again I come back to: what harm would be done if—for example the police have obviously been participating and have been turning up to race meetings and they don't just turn up for the sake of it; they have a role to play and something to do. I look in terms of what is through the select committee process and I look at the Ministry of Justice as they considered the bill; I look also at the Ministry of Justice and the New Zealand Police and the Health Promotion Agency who all advised that it's likely that there is potential harm that is caused in these spaces.Also I come back to the fact that they talked about the context in the relation of a wider review. So again I find it interesting that we're talking on this bill right now and shortly we're talking on harm minimisation when it comes to the sale and supply of alcohol. I'm really open and I really want to listen and understand and I have but I come back to the people that I know. Yes maybe everyone in this House are responsible drinkers. Does that mean that we have to shut it down for those who aren't? Well I don't know but I know I want to make sure that I keep my community safe. I know that I want to make sure that we live in a country that is empowering and open but also is responsible and is to care for all people and to make sure that we do the right thing. So I won't be supporting the bill but I have appreciated the debate this evening."