Twyford PhilPart 2 Amendments to other enactmentsHon PHIL TWYFORD (Minister for Economic Development): Thank you Madam Chair. I want to just make a couple of comments about the provision in Part 2—I think it's one of the Schedules. I haven't got it in front of me but it reinstates a former provision in the legislation that allowed local government entities to delegate administration of public transport services in those regions. Nicola Willis: When are you going to fix our buses? Hon PHIL TWYFORD: That's a very good question actually which does relate to this provision. The former Government—the former National Government—by mistake and inadvertently changed the law and actually abolished the ability of local government authorities to delegate public transport services. It is in fact a useful provision. It is a useful provision to have in the law and a number of councils have petitioned our Government asking that this enabling provision be reinstated into the law. In fact the mayor of Christchurch Lianne Dalziel has specifically lobbied our Government asking for the mistake that the National Government made in repealing this provision to be reversed reinstating the ability of councils for instance to come to an arrangement. It might be the case—and I don't want to speak for the local authorities in Canterbury—that Environment Canterbury might choose to delegate public transport responsibilities and powers to Christchurch City Council. Councils in Wellington—in fact Wellington City Council has asked for this provision to be reinstated in the legislation after it was inadvertently repealed by the former National Government because Wellington City Council would like to have a conversation about the future of public transport services in Wellington. I think if I'm not incorrect Wellington City Council was of the view that it would like to manage public transport services in Wellington because it thinks it can do a better job than Greater Wellington Regional Council. Nicola Willis: You can do that right now. Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Other councils—it's not possible to do it right now. There is no ability under the law currently—Michael Wood: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. A member opposite is consistently using the pronoun of you" in interjections in a way that is directly aimed at the member who is on his feet speaking. I believe that is out of order including being out of order with the Speaker's most recent interpretation of that matter.CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Thank you but that is entirely the judgment of the Chair. Hon PHIL TWYFORD: Thank you Mr Chair.I really just want to make the comment that it's a good thing for councils to have the flexibility to be able to come to an arrangement at a regional level as to which of the councils—whether it's a regional council or a city council or potentially even a district council to come to an arrangement as to which one of those local government entities—should have the responsibility for managing public transport services in a region. The power used to be there in the law. It was inadvertently repealed. This is a pretty useful and straightforward insertion of that enabling power back into the legislation and at least several metropolitan councils around the country will be very grateful for this provision in this bill. I invite the Minister to make any comment that she would like to about her thinking in including this provision in the bill."