Hutchison Paul: Disability (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Hutchison Paul: Disability (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Bill — Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 02 September 2008. Volume:649;Page:18337. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to speak on Parts 1 2 and 3 of the Disability (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) Bill. National agrees entirely with it. We very much cooperated with the Government during the process of this bill. It was right that we questioned the Government from time to time on its processes. We had a rather mealy-mouthed interpretation from the Labour list member who emanates from the deep south Lesley Soper. I thought it was a bit mean in spirit compared with the very generous spirit of the National Party towards this bill and its supporters. 
If we look at Parts 1 2 and 3 we see that a huge number of pieces of legislation have to be amended by the bill in order for us to fulfil the various requirements of the convention. There are not only amendments to the Human Rights Act 1993—an excellent Act brought in by the last National Government—but also a variety of amendments to a huge spectrum of other statutes ranging from the Community Trusts Act to as my learned colleague Chris Finlayson pointed out such unlikely legislation as the Soil Conservation and Rivers Control Act the Taranaki Scholarships Trust Board Act the Te Ture Whenua Maori Act and a whole variety of others. 
I shall for a moment concentrate on some of the issues around those suffering from psychiatric disabilities. We had a very strong submission from the Mental Health Commission which pointed out that ratifying the convention was important because the vulnerability of disabled people including people with psychiatric disability demanded international safeguards at the highest level. The convention enables disability to be understood and addressed at a social level and will serve as a positive framework for positive reforms of New Zealand law Government policies and community attitudes that promote social inclusion of people with psychiatric disabilities. There are many areas of exclusion of people with psychiatric disabilities. For instance they are excluded from education boards. There is no question that many people with a mental disability are able to make a very positive contribution to such boards but under the present statute they are not able to participate to be elected or to be appointed to those boards. These changes will make it possible for them to participate and I think that is very positive indeed. 
I think it is also important to point out how significant the prevalence of mental conditions in New Zealand is. This was very much emphasised by the Mental Health Commission. It said that about 20 percent of New Zealanders are currently experiencing or have recently experienced a mental health alcohol-related or drug-related problem. Out of the 20 percent 4.7 percent of the survey population were assessed as currently having a serious disorder. Once again that points out how very important it is that the stigma prejudice and discrimination that exist at so many levels of society towards those with mental health conditions are corrected. This legislation which will help correct that situation is very welcome.