O'Connor Damien: Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
O'Connor Damien: Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR (Labour) 
: 
 It is with much pleasure that I rise to speak on the Smoke-free Environments (Controls and Enforcement) Amendment Bill. I have to say that one of the most worthwhile parts of my role as an Associate Minister of Health was working with Steve Chadwick who was the sponsor of a bill that made huge progress in reducing smoking in this country the Smoke-free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill. Effectively it has changed the whole perception of smoking.  
It is pleasing to see that further progress has been made although we have to acknowledge that it was through the efforts of the Maori Party and not the National Party at all. When in Government we sat and listened in this House to accusations of being a nanny State and accusations of interference with private property rights and people’s right to choose from that bunch of people over there. I would use the “h” word about them but I am not allowed to. It sickens me to hear some of the absolutely pretentious statements from members on the other side of the House who campaigned against us when we were trying to make progress on this area. They absolutely slammed the previous speaker Steve Chadwick for her efforts in taking up that bill which was originally brought into the House by Tuku Morgan. 
Colin King 
: Move on. Move forward. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: We have moved on but I think most people realise that the bill before us was not progressed because of the greater wisdom and the care for New Zealanders from the National Party; it was quite frankly because of the numbers game. The Maori Party threatened that it would not support the National Party on other legislation like the increase in GST which will hammer people as well because the Maori Party wanted a deal to make progress in one of the most significant areas of preventable deaths and preventable harms in this country.  
The very basis of occupational health and safety legislation is that every employer and employee should do everything possible where they have identified a hazard to reduce and if possible eliminate it. But the National Party ignored that basis. This legislation was brought to the table only through the threats of the Maori Party. Well I guess we have moved on.  
The Labour Party and all of us here acknowledge the progress but there is more to be done. We need to remove displays from the point of sale for tobacco. Where is the National Party on that matter? I have not heard a speaker say that that is the next thing National will do. Did members hear that from the National Party? 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: No not from one of them. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: Have those members shown any vision or any care? Do they care? No they do not care. Those members over there are squirming a little bit. 
Nicky Wagner 
: No we’re not squirming at all. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: Yes they are. I remind those members so that the lessons of history are learnt and we do not repeat the same mistakes. All the collective wisdom of the people in the House in getting up and making these statements is that they welcome our support for legislation that we will bring to the House to progress this matter when we get back into Government next year. It will be about displays and it will be about more funding for public health initiatives. It will be in areas where greater education has shown to make an effect on smoking.  
We still have too many people dying from smoking. In fact the statistics on Maori women are still quite disturbing. I know that Georgina te Heuheu over there wants to support this legislation and does so with genuine commitment unlike the vast majority of her colleagues.  
As I said the House knows our position. We have spoken of it and it has always been so. It was led by Helen Clark; we have to acknowledge that going way back. Trying to get smoking banned from restaurants was at first horrific. Apparently the sky would fall in! When we proposed it for bars I have to say—and I have said to many people—that one of the things I considered a real win as a Minister was to get the Hotel Association into my office assisting me to progress the legislation that banned smoking in bars. In the end it saw the wisdom in moving on this matter. It was better for its workers and its businesses because they did not have the cost of cleaning up. It came in to assist us in spite of its original concern about the effect on the association’s businesses. It saw the wisdom; we won it over. The association requested that the legislation be applied right across all clubs as well and we did that. I think that was fair— 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: And not have separate rooms. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: That is right. We were concerned about firstly the health of the workers and then of course the benefit of their businesses.  
We made huge progress in that area. I do not know how many people’s lives we have saved but the simple fact is that if we can stop someone from taking up smoking or get them to give up smoking then we extend their life. It is as simple as that. Every cigarette someone has will affect their health and reduce their life. Some people come along and say that they know someone who is 95 years and smoking. Well that is right but they might have lived to 105 years if they had not smoked.  
It is quite clear. The evidence is quite stark and the reality is quite alarming. We still allow it; I know that Hone Harawira has sought a complete ban on cigarettes. The reality is that marijuana is banned—it is illegal to smoke marijuana—but large numbers of people still smoke it. So a legal ban will not stop the problem. It will not reduce the deaths and misery caused by tobacco. We have to improve the education and we have to change the culture. I think we almost have got to the point where it is now socially unacceptable to smoke in front of someone else and blow smoke over them. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: Jonathan Coleman. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: That is right. The odd National Party person tries to disprove that generally held view; thankfully not too many of them do. Some can learn and I am sure that he too will be voting for this legislation which is great.  
The issue of cut-backs in funding for education in the area of tobacco and harm reduction is a major concern. We expect this Government to reinstate that money if it is true to its word. We have listened to all the wonderful speeches made in the House which are short but none the less well worded if not well meaning. We would like to see the Minister of Health Tony Ryall front up and reinstate some of the money that Labour had in place. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: He should stop hiding in his office. 
Hon DAMIEN O’CONNOR 
: No no. It would be too much for Tony Ryall to come to the Chamber and speak in support of the bill. We cannot expect that level of the “h” word from that man—we cannot. He has been in this House time and time again railing against Labour’s initiatives to try to improve the health of New Zealanders. When he was in Opposition he slammed us. I guess we have to acknowledge that at least he has the decency not to come down here and be a total “h” on this issue.  
There are a number of initiatives. There is still some debate on the issues of nicotine replacement therapy smokeless cigarettes the use of chewing tobacco and the other initiatives. Those proposals are put forward by well-intentioned well-meaning people who want to cut down the use of cigarettes in this country. I am afraid I am one of those people who say that if people want to cut the habit they should just go cold turkey. People can give up cigarettes. I smoked cigarettes for 9 years. It is possible to give it up and I am not saying that just because I did it. But with the assistance that we currently have in place such as nicotine replacement therapy and all the support and all the smart initiatives that we have people can give up smoking.  
I tell those people who might be listening tonight to have faith and to believe in themselves. When they do they will be better off their family will be better off their children will not be inspired to take up cigarettes and this country will be better off because we will save billions of dollars in health expenditure. For that reason alone I guess Tony Ryall should be here supporting the bill. It is a shame he is not.