Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Well thank you very much Madam Speaker and here we are this evening in urgency. The Government have put this House in urgency to deal with the most significant legislation that will deal with the biggest problems in this country! And I must commend the Minister in terms of the introduction to the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill. He absolutely nailed it smashed it with the enthusiasm and energy that came out with that opening address. I acknowledge that I'm not even going to be able to come close in regards to that energy. But I do commend the Minister on that; for that reason alone—I don't think for any other reason—National will be supporting this piece of legislation because it was such a great opening gambit while this Government sits in urgency in order to deal with this matter which remarkably for those sitting at home watching are going Is the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill the biggest fish to fry in this country this evening?" Well I tell you what it is important but it is not the most important factor. But it does go to show that this Government—this is as good as it gets and that sadly is the reflection in regards of where this Government is at the moment. So let's turn our minds to this bill and I do want to acknowledge the Governance and Administration Committee. I tell you what—and I acknowledge the Minister and I've had the pleasure of being able to sit on that committee in regards to other bills that are passing through quite swiftly at the moment like a fast-flowing river of water—it is a very good committee the Governance and Administration Committee. But we had 36 submissions on that—local councils across the country—and I think that while it is correct to say that pretty much most of the submissions were in support it was acknowledged that the context in which the majority of local governments sit at the moment is sitting under a burden of regulation and reform brought upon by this Government and this is just another aspect in regards to that growing pile of treacle that is slowing down our country in order to achieve its outcomes. But the select committee went through this they did some good work and as a result we've got the bill back in the House to discuss this evening. The key changes in regards to this bill are in relation to the improvement around the land information memorandums (LIMs) and in particular improving the natural hazard information that is provided within those LIMs. As we have experienced and continue to experience the impacts of climatic change and the resulting floods and cyclones that we've seen in many communities across this country—in the last six months alone they have suffered greatly as a result of this—this bill will bring about improvements in regards to how that information is included within those statements and provide the appropriate mechanism in order for those disclosures to be made. Because it is clear that we are going to continue to see the impacts as we have seen to date and that will continue for very much the foreseeable future. It is the new normal in regards to how we need to deal and this bill in regards to those changes will deal with that. The other aspect—[Interruption] Sorry?Hon Kieran McAnulty: Lift your game man. You're all about enthusiasm come on!SIMON WATTS: Well there you go there you go—appreciate the cordial back and forth here from the Minister and he was right. He's just giving me a bit of an up. I'll try and gee it up a bit. Well I'll tell you what three minutes into your speech and I was struggling as well but you know you got to seven and I'm not doing too bad so just don't wait; the best is always to come. And that will be the case because we are coming up to the most exciting part of this bill and this is around the ability to withhold information that—oh a little bit of water there to clear the throat—around the ability of the Act to be able to withhold information in regards to the Official Information Act. And this is quite a serious issue so we want to just pay a little bit of you know a little bit of serious—jokes aside; this is important. The elements around ensuring that we've got the appropriate provision and provisions primarily relating to national security are needed to be improved and that has been the case here because as the Minister has outlined as well there are a number of assets and activities that our local government sector provide which do have implications in regards to our national security and it is important obviously to ensure that we've got the appropriate belts and braces around that to ensure that that information and the information in that regard is managed appropriately so therefore not to place us at any threat. So I think that aspect is obviously pretty simple and pretty sensible as well. I think the elements or the opportunity in this bill that have been foregone is the opportunity to potentially make some greater enhancements in regards to dealing with some of the core issues that local government are facing at the moment. Obviously we all sit in anticipation of the other bills that will no doubt come through urgency in due course in regards to other elements of great importance to those in Government and less so to those New Zealanders outside of this House. But that is no doubt going to be occurring. Other than those two key elements there is not too much else in this bill and on that basis while National will be supporting these bills in regards to the sensible changes we do see this as very much a missed opportunity in order to deal with the significant issues that our country faces. It does go and shoot home to the fact that this Government are pretty much out of ideas and this is as I said before an example of what they deem is about as good as it is going to get from here on in. I think if you take anything away from that you can read—I just remember though the last Prime Minister Ardern when she said "We won't be doing any more legislation in the local government space unless the sector are saying this is critically important for us to do." I think the reality is this is a bit of a long bow in regards to what is being demanded. I think the key issues that they want are obviously around the funding and financing and other aspects—Hon David Bennett: Nothing in it for them.SIMON WATTS: —maybe a little bit less regulation. "Nothing in it for them" says the Hon David Bennett. But on that note we'll leave it at that. I've contributed more than what the Minister did in his opening address and hopefully with a little bit more sprite and energy.Todd Muller: A lot more.SIMON WATTS: A lot more? Hon Member: A lot more.SIMON WATTS: A lot more sprite and energy and I tell you what it is difficult. But the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Amendment Bill will be supported by this side of the House and that is that and looking to the contribution of the next speaker. I'm sure it's going to be inspiring!"