Roy Heather: Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Roy Heather: Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 14 December 2004. Volume:622;Page:17796. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
HEATHER ROY (ACT) 
: 
 It was interesting to hear Mr Cunliffe say that every year the Government does a little tinkering and fixing of legislation in which drafting mistakes have been made. I think that should be a bit of a lesson to us. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: No. 
HEATHER ROY 
: Dr Cullen does not agree but Mr Cunliffe is worried about the tinkering and fixing so that is important. We should think very carefully about the legislation that we push through the House particularly under urgency. If we did we might not have to look at it again or do as much tinkering and fixing as we are doing under this period of urgency. Of course there is always subordinate legislation that quite rightly fixes mistakes in legislation but I note that further down the Order Paper we have the Gambling Amendment Bill to amend legislation that was passed only last year. 
In terms of subordinate legislation I am particularly interested in the validation of the Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council levies. The National Party member gave us a very thorough look at the problems that have existed. Of course Dr Cullen quite magnanimously admitted the cross-party fault that has existed with the levy notices that were issued in 1983 through to 1987 and again in 1989. They do quite rightly require fixing. The industry could quite rightly have sought some form of compensation for levies that have been paid but perhaps were not actually necessary. The industry itself although it is keen to see these problems rectified was well aware of the authority that it could have exercised in dealing with these in quite a different way. 
I notice in the commentary on the bill that the Distilled Spirits Association when it gave its submission to the Regulations Review Committee put forward some proposals that have been ruled out as being outside the scope of this bill but I agree with the member when he says the proposals put forward by the association do need a good deal of consideration. I too hope these will be discussed during the Committee stage. In brief the association proposes a new model of product classification in bands based on alcohol content and suggests a requirement that information— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not part of this bill. 
HEATHER ROY 
: Sorry Mr Speaker but I do hope these will be discussed because they are very important points which were raised when the Distilled Spirits Association was asked for comment on this bill. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That does not make them in order now. 
HEATHER ROY 
: The bill addresses two matters with regard to the validation of Alcoholic Liquor Advisory Council levies: firstly the unauthorised setting of levies in the notices issued from 1983 to 1987 and again in 1989; secondly the unauthorised setting of differential rates according to alcohol content. 
This speech will be very brief because ACT New Zealand is supporting the bill but I want to sound a warning that it is very important that we look carefully at legislation when it is first introduced to the House not when we have to tinker and fix things as Mr Cunliffe has pointed out further down the track. It is very important that the select committee process is respected and that people are able to make submissions at the correct times and they are listened to very carefully when people have very valid concerns about the legislation that is being put forward. ACT New Zealand will support this legislation but we would like to sound this cautionary warning.