O'Connor SimonSIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): Well I'm not sure but hey. Look thank you very much. I don't know whether I should confess to the House with recent events in the United Kingdom but one of my most excellent meetings when I was the chair of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee was with Liz Truss actually. She and I had a wonderful private lunch together talking primarily trade. I do want to make it very clear I gave no advice beyond trade! But actually we had a really excellent discussion at that time—actually echoing a lot of what speakers prior have just brought out which is the deep relationship and respect between our two countries. And with all due respect to Ms Truss and everything that she's been through I would have to say that when she was the trade Minister at that time she saw the real value of that New Zealand agreement. I think that's been passed on to subsequent trade Ministers obviously both in the Governments here—to use the plural—in New Zealand and then certainly through the UK itself. Look as I say it's been a deep respect and I suppose it's our intertwined histories which have helped to a degree but I think as well and obviously I can't speak for the UK that they can see the strategic advantage in getting these good deals over the line with the likes of New Zealand and Australia. So it's a good deal and no one on this side of the House disputes that. The fact that so many tariffs will fall away relatively quickly is quite positive. And in order to make sure I am not erroneous—that's probably not very plain is it? So that I don't get things wrong—Chris Penk: Oh careful!SIMON O'CONNOR: Careful sorry. Pulling back—pull back. It's obviously going to go right across our sectors as they've got here. Apples their tariffs are going to fall away—will be tariff-free within three years—milk is going to be over four years; cheese and butter over five years which if one reflects on the time it takes to sort of cure these things it sort of makes sense; and beef and lamb is going to be over 15 years. Obviously—Hon Member: Ha ha!SIMON O'CONNOR: I know that was just a terrible terrible joke. It's late at night. But long and short this is a good deal. This is a very very positive deal.So as others have done I think it's rightful even at a second reading speech to acknowledge within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Trade and Enterprise all those involved with these negotiations they've done an excellent job and they should be thanked. It doesn't take away from the work of the Minister the Government of the day and Governments actually who have contributed to this but I think the team at MFAT can take a bow.I'll echo also what Todd McClay was saying. When I was last in the UK I went to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and was quite stunned as well at the number of New Zealanders there and particularly in the trade section. I don't think it should be understated the contribution that New Zealanders have made to the United Kingdom in its ability to engage with us. I have absolutely no doubt—in fact I sort of feel weird to even have to say it—that the New Zealand negotiators in New Zealand have argued the best deal and the New Zealanders working in the UK have absolutely pursued the best for the UK. But perhaps what we can see is that the understanding the cooperation the language the jargon and the use of plain and useful English has been beneficial and we have this deal here and now. Look it is good that there is cooperation or agreement I think largely across the House. I do have to point out to members on the other side in Government that they were at one point protesting the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and simply putting the word comprehensive" in front of it doesn't change things. So I don't think we need to—for want of a better term and again a bad pun—cry over spilt milk which will soon be tariff-free. It's just a sign actually that bipartisanship on trade needs to continue. We've had a blip on the road when it came to the TPP and I just hope all in this House have learnt from that. We must I believe keep that bipartisan approach to trade in our foreign affairs space as much as we can and certainly as we've seen earlier in the House around our national security.Well actually that's a thought. Now that I've mentioned TPP we've got this trade deal with the UK. So firstly on that we do need to get this ratified as soon as possible. There's no need to delay and I think I do need to echo what others are saying. We shouldn't allow the politics particularly of New Zealand to get in the way. Strike now and strike quickly. Get the UK across the line.Again in a recent trip—granted to America but I was talking to MPs from the Commons and Lords. Strangely enough from the Lords—they're keen; they're supportive. Let's run with that. Yep there can certainly be I expect an advantage for a Prime Minister to be in the UK next year signing the deal but actually our farmers growers and others need this relief now. So the quicker we can get this done the better. And kudos for the select committee moving this through swiftly. Having gone through the report it absolutely makes sense—again for viewers at home to really understand that the select committee and this Parliament does not change the negotiated treaty. That's a power for the executive. That's what the Government does. The treaty is negotiated. What we're discussing tonight is the domestic legislation which brings this deal into reality. I think the sharp eyes of your committee Madam Chair are well and truly present including not wanting to give the Governor-General with no disrespect to her too much power; it's always good that a Governor-General acts on the advice of Ministers.So our last couple of thoughts—one within the arts realm and one within sort of some suggestions of how we might move further. There's an artist resale scheme. So I'm putting on my arts culture and heritage hat. I think this House is going to have to have a lot of discussion around that. I'm very aware that the legislation tonight does not—repeat: does not—include legislation around that scheme but it has to be implemented within two years. I will signal to the House with my somewhat and so far limited discussions with the sector there's a variety of views around that resale scheme. Again for those tuned in at home—probably all two of them: my father and mother; hi mum and dad I'll call you at some point—the artist resale scheme is something that the UK has asked that New Zealand bring about. It's not something that New Zealand is asking for; this is if you will an imposition through the deal. I think that has to be approached really really carefully. So I'm looking forward to that legislation coming into the House.We also have to via this trade deal extend our copyright terms from I think 50 to 70 years. I think it brings New Zealand in line with pretty much everyone else. That's going to have a un-comfortability Madam Chair—Madam Speaker; I apologise as I'm switching between your dual roles—but I think that's going to take a little bit of conversation as well. But I think from my personal view aligning New Zealand's copyright laws and various rights terms with the rest of the world makes sense and will actually make us a better and easier approach when we deal with the EU.Look a quick comment on that I think it's really important that New Zealand maintains its negotiation strong stance with the EU. I know that they'll be listening to these speeches tonight from across the House. We want a good deal with the EU. They're an important trading partner. We want that to happen but I think it's also important for this House to understand—and those across the Realm across New Zealand to understand—that actually there is a difference in the deals and the UK deal at this point is better—much much better—than it is with the EU. So there's in my opinion room for improvement there.I think too we absolutely must—and this is an encouragement to the Government—look to engage further trade deals and yes India is one of them. They are a massive superpower. They are a massive economic power. We are gifted I think in this country with a wonderful Indian - New Zealand community who themselves have said to us really clearly that they want to help engage that. It's so and so important. It won't surprise people who know my views around the likes of China we cannot have all of our trade in one basket. Our trade with China is important. That's a respectful trading relationship. I want to see that continue but we cannot solely depend on that. New Zealand must diversify and we are doing that tonight by this free-trade agreement with the United Kingdom. We are doing it as we seek a deal with the EU. But we must must go much wider.My last thoughts if I might are actually just an encouragement for us to go further. I'm a great supporter of something called "CANZUK"—this is a suggested agreement between the likes of Canada Australia New Zealand and the United Kingdom; five Realms all who share a similar head of State and Government. Actually there can be a lot more cooperation particularly in the movement of people. I know it's not formally within this agreement but boy what a day that will be when New Zealanders Aussies Canadians and those from the United Kingdom can actually travel to one another's countries without visas—we can travel freely work freely. I think that will be an excellent day. It's my hope that this trade deal is just one step in that direction.But as I started and to bookend this speech thank you to all of those involved and I acknowledge you and your committee for the hard work taken.Hon Member: Whoo!"