edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Hipkins Chris; Bishop ChrisBUSINESS STATEMENTHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Next week the Estimates debate will be concluded. Other legislation to be considered will include the first readings of the Coroners Amendment Bill and the Self-contained Motor Vehicles Legislation Bill and the committee stages of the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill the Plant Variety Rights Bill and the Screen Industry Workers Bill. There will be an extended sitting for members' business on the morning of Thursday 1 September in recognition of the fact that yesterday would otherwise have been a members' day.CHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's my regular question around item 20 on the Order Paper which is the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill which has now slipped to the very bottom of the Government business. I wonder if the Leader of the House has an update on when progress may be expected on that very important bill.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): Of course the Government has a very very busy legislative programme as the member is well aware and we will make progress on that legislation in the fullness of time.
Appointments — Deputy Speaker
McKee NicoleNICOLE McKEE (ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a privilege to stand before you for the first time as Speaker of the House and the MP addressing you. Congratulations.I stand on behalf of the ACT Party in support of the Leader of the House wishing to appoint Mr Greg O'Connor as Deputy Speaker. I too went through a bit of your past there Greg and I've got admit the number of official positions that you have held in here is quite impressive including being a chair and the huge number of select committees that you have sat on.I also note your background too as not only as a police senior sergeant officer but also your work in the Police Association—and that as an undercover police agent too which I know would have been particularly hard especially coming out the other side.That work that you do as a parent which quite often goes unnoticed because many of us are parents but we have to slog our way through that—that gives us a lot of experience in itself including the work that you've had to do with your son and the agencies both those from Government and those from the community that you've worked with to be able to get access to some of the services that you and your family have needed. On top of that there's your own health issues that you've had to deal with and you've beaten and come out the other side of and the work that you have done advocating in the health space has been very important as well.Greg I recall interviewing you when I was with the Council of Licensed Firearms Owners trying to show the licensed firearm owners that there is a human side to Mr Greg O'Connor. I really appreciated you taking that opportunity. Of course not all of the licensed firearm owners saw you exactly as I did back then but what I did appreciate was that you actually took the opportunity. You took the opportunity to speak to a group of people who are not that happy with some of the things that you were saying but you allowed them to see a little bit of insight about yourself. I think that actually goes to show the character of a person who needs to sit in that Chair is someone with so much experience. And with that your life experience that you bring to this role is lived experiences and that is exactly what we need to sit in the Chair as a Deputy to our new Speaker. ACT believes that this will be beneficial to this House. In saying that we support your appointment to that role.Motion agreed to.
Davidson MaramaHon MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green): E te Māngai o te Whare—it's such an honour to say that to you Mr Speaker for the first time proper in this House. The Greens would also like to welcome and mihi the new Deputy Speaker about to be put into that role Greg O'Connor. I was thinking too as my colleagues have just shared about the transferable skills that Mr O'Connor brings to that role highlighting as we all have the four decades as a police officer which I am hoping will have also given him the de-escalation skills that will be necessary to manage this unruly lot in here. Those are definitely going to come in handy. I wanted to acknowledge Mr O'Connor's family and community. These are always proud days and I always like to remember what it means for the people who are beside behind and with us in this House as well. So I think of them and their pride and I welcome that. I also saw throughout Mr O'Connor's political career that empathy and commitment to education and values that is similar to the Green Party's not the least of which Mr O'Connor shared in his maiden speech in Parliament in 2017. He spoke of the empathy for people—and it was during his time with the undercover police that others have spoken about—who haven't always been able to make the best choices in life. I quote: Our efforts to protect victims by diverting and steering people away from crime must involve realistic alternatives as well as punishment. You can't get back on to the straight and narrow if you never knew what straight and narrow looked like in the first place." We in the Green Party welcome this insight and experience to the role of Deputy Speaker which I think will make a great complement to your role Mr Speaker. Kia ora."
Bishop ChrisCHRIS BISHOP (National): Mr Speaker thank you. Can I start by congratulating you sir on your appointment yesterday to the august office of Speaker and we look forward to working with you. The National Party in Opposition is very pleased to support the nomination of Greg O'Connor as Deputy Speaker. The Leader of the House has outlined the range of committees and roles that he's served on but he left out two very important roles: member of the parliamentary rugby team—with which Mr O'Connor has played since he became an MP the MP for Ōhāriu since 2017—but also a member of the parliamentary cricket team. And a very valuable member of that cricket team he is indeed. So those cross-party extracurricular activities I think will make sure that he does a good job as the Speaker because he's familiar with MPs from both sides of the proverbial aisle—Barbara Kuriger: He knows how to keep the score.CHRIS BISHOP: That's right. My colleague Barbara Kuriger says He knows how to keep the score." and that may well prove useful when it comes to deputising for you sir if he indeed gets that opportunity as the Deputy Speaker.The other thing I would add is that Mr O'Connor will bring to this role diligence civility but also experience and the Leader of the House has outlined the range of life experiences that Mr O'Connor has brought to Parliament—someone who came to Parliament a little bit later in life than others in this Chamber but who has brought to the House deep life experience both in a professional sense but also in a personal sense as well. And those skills will be very useful in the role as Deputy Speaker so we are very pleased to support the nomination of the Leader of the House."
Hipkins ChrisAPPOINTMENTSDeputy SpeakerHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I seek leave to move a motion without notice on the appointment of a Deputy Speaker.SPEAKER: Is there any objection for that course of action being followed? There is none.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS: I move That this House appoint Gregory Eamon O'Connor as Deputy Speaker. Mr Speaker following your election as Speaker yesterday there is a vacancy in the office of the Deputy Speaker and I am delighted to nominate Greg O'Connor as your successor in that role. Greg O'Connor has been the member for Ōhāriu since 2017. In those five years in addition to being a diligent electorate MP he's been the chairperson of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee deputy chairperson of the Finance and Expenditure Committee a member of the Justice Committee and the Social Services and Community Committee chairperson of the Parliamentary Service Commission's Health and Safety Committee and co-chairperson of the New Zealand - South and South East Asia Parliamentary Friendship Group. In these roles he's shown a willingness to work with members from all parties to achieve the best results possible. He came to Parliament with a more varied experience in life than many of us. He has a distinguished and exceptional record of service to New Zealand as a member of the New Zealand Police rising to the rank of senior sergeant. His police service included a lengthy period being deployed deep undercover. He described in his maiden speech the effect of and I quote [being] armed with a new identity—a black leather jacket a beard long hair and earrings" and he was responsible for putting some of New Zealand's most serious offenders behind bars. But he also developed an understanding of why they had adopted a life outside the law in the first place. In his maiden speech he said and I quote "You can't get back on to the straight and narrow if you never knew what straight and narrow looked like in the first place." Hold that thought Mr Speaker! He served for 21 years as the President of the New Zealand Police Association a role for which he was a highly effective advocate for our police. He also brings with him the experience of being a parent of Mike a son with high and complex needs and of being a survivor of advanced bowel cancer. Any of us who choose to challenge him in the role that the House is about to appoint him to might do well to think about what he has done and seen in his life and then reassess their opinion of how intimidating he thinks we might be.Greg O'Connor will be an outstanding Deputy Speaker. He is popular and respected across the House and I have no hesitation in commending his appointment.SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to."
Rurawhe AdrianAUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER OATHSPEAKER: I have received the following authorisation from Her Excellency the Governor-General for me to administer the oath or affirmation prescribed by law to be taken or made by members of the House. The authorisation reads:Pursuant to section 11 of the Constitution Act 1986 I The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro Governor-General of New Zealand hereby authoriseThe Right Honourable Adrian Rurawhe Speaker of the House of Representativesto administer to members of Parliament the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen required to be taken or made by every such member before that member shall be permitted to sit or vote in the House of Representatives.Jacinda Ardern Prime MinisterAuthorisedCindy Kiro Governor-General24 August 2022
Confirmation of Election of Speaker
Rurawhe AdrianCONFIRMATION OF ELECTION OF SPEAKERSPEAKER: I have to report that accompanied by members I waited upon Her Excellency the Governor-General at Government House on Wednesday 24 August when I addressed Her Excellency as follows:May it please Your Excellency.In obedience to Your Excellency's request the House of Representatives in the exercise of its undoubted rights and privileges has proceeded to the election of a Speaker and as the subject of its choice I now present myself to you and submit myself for Your Excellency's confirmation.To which Her Excellency replied as follows:Mr Speaker it is with much pleasure that I confirm the choice by the House of Representatives of you as its Speaker.I congratulate you on your election to this distinguished office marking as it does the appreciation of the House of Representatives of your impartiality and ability.I have further to report that I also addressed Her Excellency as follows:I humbly thank Your Excellency for your confirmation of the choice made by the House of Representatives of me to be its Speaker.I desire to repeat my respectful acknowledgment to the House of the high honour it has done me in electing me to be its Speaker.
Rurawhe AdrianTHURSDAY 25 AUGUST 2022The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSSPEAKER: Ihoā o ngā mano kua tuku whakamoemiti atu mātou mō ngā karakia kua waihotia mai ki runga i a mātou. Ka waiho i ō mātou pānga whaiaro katoa ki te taha ka mihi mātou ki te Kuīni me te inoi atu o te ārahitanga i roto i ō mātou whakaaroarohanga kia mōhio ai kia whakaiti ai tā mātou whakahaere i ngā take o te Whare nei mō te oranga te maungārongo me te aroha o Aotearoa. Āmene. [Lord God we give thanks for the prayers which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the Queen and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom and humility for the welfare peace and compassion of New Zealand. Amen.]
Thursday 31 August 2023 - Volume 771
Oral Questions
12. Question No. 12—TransportSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 12—Transport12. SIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga) to the Minister of Transport: How much money has been spent in the past six years on contractors and consultants for light rail in Auckland?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Transport): Sixty-six million dollars less than half a percent of the likely project cost. I note for the benefit of the member that none of the revenue raised by the Auckland regional fuel tax has funded this.Simeon Brown: Is it true that after $66 million has been spent on contractors and consultants for light rail in Auckland not one metre of track has been delivered and will Grant Robertson's supposed clampdown on consultants and contractors extend to the failed light rail ghost train in Auckland?Hon DAVID PARKER: It is true that as with the City Rail Link the planning and design of those projects proceeds before the building starts. The member doesn't seem to find that easy to accept. I would also say that if the member was really worried about compliance costs for projects he would've backed this Government's reform of the Resource Management Act because through the Infrastructure Commission we proved that in New Zealand consenting costs—not the design and engineering costs but consenting costs—for mid-size infrastructure in New Zealand averaged 5.5 percent of project cost compared with an average of between 0.5 percent and 5 percent in Europe. We fixed that problem through the resource management reforms and through the fast track which the prior Government didn't do in nine years and they now say they're going to repeal and go back to the Resource Management Act.Simeon Brown: How devastated is he that on the last day of this Parliament not one single metre of light rail track has been delivered despite Labour promising it would be built to Mount Roskill in 2021?Hon DAVID PARKER: I refer to my original answer—that the $66 million so far spent is less than half a percent of the likely project cost.Simeon Brown: Does he agree with the Prime Minister who told question time earlier today that light rail in Auckland is an intergenerational project" and if so in which generation will it start or be completed?Hon DAVID PARKER: I think it will be built during that member's lifetime.Simeon Brown: Which will be completed first: Auckland Light Rail to Mount Roskill by 2021 or 100000 KiwiBuild houses in 10 years?Hon DAVID PARKER: As has previously been said the record of this Government on housing—which has been enabled through among other things investment in roading—is unparalleled for many many decades in this country. It's a record that we're proud of and I'm surprised the member asked that question.SPEAKER: Korōria hallelujah! That concludes oral questions for the 53rd Parliament."
10. Question No. 10—EducationLEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour) to the Associate Minister of EducationQuestion No. 10—Education10. LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour) to the Associate Minister of Education: What changes is the Government making to early childhood education? Hon JO LUXTON (Associate Minister of Education): We are easing cost of living pressures for parents by extending 20 hours' free early childhood education (ECE) to twoyear-olds. Childcare is one of the biggest costs New Zealand families face so this change will make a big difference. We know that people are feeling the pressure right now and we are determined to do all we can to support New Zealand families through these tough times as we plan for the future. Lemauga Lydia Sosene: How many families will benefit? Hon JO LUXTON: The changes brought about by the Government at the Budget this year mean around 40000 two-year-olds will benefit from breaking down the cost barrier to early childhood education. It means that 79 percent of all children attending ECE will now get help with childcare compared to 60 percent when we became Government. Extending 20 hours' free to two-year-olds follows Labour's legacy of introducing 20 hours' free childcare to three- to five-year-olds in 2007 and it will continue to significantly reduce financial pressures on families at critical early years. Lemauga Lydia Sosene: How much will families save each fortnight?Hon JO LUXTON: Under our policy families with two-year-olds are expected to save $130 per week which is much more than what other parties are offering in this space. It builds on the progress that we have made over the last six years supporting hardworking families through increases to the childcare subsidy free healthy school lunches and free period products in schools and boosting Working for Families and Best Start. Lemauga Lydia Sosene: What other changes is the Government making to the early childhood education sector? Hon JO LUXTON: Today I am proud that we have confirmed a raft of early learning funding changes to boost teacher pay to address systemic issues in the ECE funding model and to support the home-based sector. I know from personal experience that those who work in the ECE sector must be recognised for the work they do with our littlest tamariki. We have delivered on our promise to make things fairer for ECE teachers by closing the pay parity gap this term of Parliament. On this side of the House we value teachers and the vital role they have in educating our young people to be the best that they can be.
6. Question No. 6—TransportDAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) to the Minister of TransportQuestion No. 6—Transport6. DAN ROSEWARNE (Labour) to the Minister of Transport: How is the Community Connect package benefiting New Zealanders?Hon DAVID PARKER (Minister of Transport): The Community Connect package is helping ease cost of living pressures on families by providing free fares on buses trains and ferries for children aged five to 12 and half-price discounts for all passengers aged 13 to 24 from 1 July. This has meant cheaper public transport fares for many hundreds of thousands of Kiwis and it's not just public transport users benefiting from this great initiative. Access to public transport means less congestion on our roads for all road users. Cancelling the programme would increase bus fares and the cost of living add to traffic congestion and increase road building costs.Anahila Kanongata'a: How many Aucklanders benefit from Community Connect?Hon DAVID PARKER: There are 427577 Aucklanders eligible for the Community Connect public transport discounts; 281000 of these are young people. At a time of cost of living pressures substantial savings on public transport make a big difference to hundreds of thousands of Auckland families whilst reducing congestion. Increasing public transport usage in Auckland is a critical objective for this Government and for the Mayor of Auckland.Dan Rosewarne: How much would a family with two primary school - aged children save under Community Connect?Hon DAVID PARKER: Making public transport free for children makes it easier to get kids to school and helps with family budgets. Free fares for under-13s can save $30 per week for a family with two primary school - aged children. These are real savings and actual back-pocket boosts to New Zealand families that are at risk if that setting was ever to change.Rachel Boyack: How would doubling public transport prices for young people lowincome and disabled New Zealanders while cutting funding by $1.5 billion improve access to public transport?Hon DAVID PARKER: Well it's pretty obvious that a mean-spirited action like that would not improve access to public transport at all; it would have the opposite effect. It would be a slap in the face for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who benefit from the current settings and it would raise their cost of living significantly. It would also increase congestion making congestion worse in our cities which of course no one wants—except it seems the Opposition.
4. Question No. 4—HousingSHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister of HousingQuestion No. 4—Housing4. SHANAN HALBERT (Labour—Northcote) to the Minister of Housing: What reports has she seen regarding foreign buyers in the housing market? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): I have seen some concerning reports regarding the proposed removal of the foreign-buyer ban for houses over $2 million enabling more speculation in the housing market. We know that increased speculation will increase house prices and that's why we introduced legislation within our first hundred days in office to ban foreign buyers of existing houses in New Zealand. This Government believes that New Zealanders should not be outbid by wealthy foreign buyers. Shanan Halbert: What proportion of foreign buyers bought houses for over $2 million prior to the 2018 ban? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS: Before this Government's foreign-buyer ban in 2018 an average of 4120 homes were sold every year to foreign buyers. Homes over $2 million were only 5 percent of the market. In contrast reports I have seen assume that nearly half of those homes would be sold for over $2 million in order to pay for some proposed tax cuts. I can advise that on this side of the House we are not banking on an influx of overseas-based speculators in the housing market to fund tax cuts for millionaires. Once again the evidence shows that National's tax take does not add up. SPEAKER: Order! You went too far. You were OK up until you mentioned a party's name. I don't think we'll have any more supplementaries on this question and I will give one supplementary to the National Party if there is one. Hon Peeni Henare: Well they need it. SPEAKER: Oh by golly don't make me send you out on the last day—no more chances.
Adjournment (continued)
Interventions — Making Images and Recordings of Proceedings
Seymour David; Rurawhe AdrianINTERVENTIONSMaking Images and Recordings of ProceedingsDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): Point of order Mr Speaker. I've just been told that Greenpeace has released a picture of the protest earlier that clearly appears to have been taken from a member's seat. Now to take that picture and share it would assist in the protest and therefore impede the House in its duties by encouraging people to enter as strangers and create disorder. That would prima facie make it a contempt. I just ask that you seek reassurance from members present now that they didn't do it and perhaps investigate who did.SPEAKER: As I said the other day there's a clear process for dealing with such matters if the member is correct and I will deal with it at the appropriate time.
Petitions Papers Select Committee Reports Bills for Introduction
McAnulty Kieran; Rurawhe AdrianSTANDING ORDERSHon KIERAN McANULTY (Deputy Leader of the House): Thank you Mr Speaker. In accordance with a Business Committee determination I move That the amendments to the Standing Orders set out in Part 2 of the report of the Standing Orders Committee on the Review of Standing Orders be adopted with effect from the day after the dissolution or expiration of the present Parliament.Mr Speaker first of all on behalf of Government members of the Standing Orders Committee I want to thank you for your chairing of the committee. As you do in this House you set a very good tone and I think it was demonstrated in the collaborative way that all members conducted themselves in the review of the Standing Orders. I can understand why public access is not allowed into this committee but it is shame because I think the public would come away with an example of members from each party in this House working collaboratively to make this Parliament work better. I also want to acknowledge the submitters for their thoughtful contributions. Some may see the rules of Parliament as a minor matter but they have a massive impact on the way our democracy functions.Members will see in the report that there are changes that will come into effect in the next Parliament. They cover improving the scrutiny of the executive. They cover increasing transparency. They cover improving the procedural requirements for entrenchment; recommending an inquiry into international treaties by the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee; making it clear that the Attorney-General may present a paper concerning the consistency with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act of a bill that has been or is proposed to be amended; and a number of procedural changes. We feel that these make an improvement to the Standing Orders and we hope that the House will support them.Since this is the last day of this term Mr Speaker I hope you will indulge me so that I can wish those who are retiring a wonderful time with their families and for those who are seeking to return an enjoyable campaign.SPEAKER: The question is that the motion be agreed to.
Rurawhe AdrianPETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: A petition has been delivered to the Clerk for presentation.CLERK: Petition of Millicent Dickenson requesting that the House subsidise New Zealand citizens taking a degree that leads to a mental health job.SPEAKER: That petition stands referred to the Petitions Committee. Ministers have delivered papers.CLERK: Government response to the report of the Petitions Committee on the petition of Amy Blaikie2023-24 statements of performance expectations for Drug Free New Zealand Sport New Zealand.SPEAKER: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. A select committee report has been delivered for presentation.CLERK: Report of the Social Services and Community Committee on the petitions of Rosalina Ngakopu and Brett Rawnsley. SPEAKER: The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of bills. CLERK: Digital Services Tax Bill introductionPae Ora (Healthy Futures) (Improving Mental Health Outcomes) Amendment Bill introductionElectoral (Equal Protection of Māori Seats) Amendment Bill introductionEmployment Relations (Trial Periods) Amendment Bill introduction.SPEAKER: Those bills are set down for first reading.
SpeechTHURSDAY 31 AUGUST 2023The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.KARAKIA/PRAYERSHon JACQUI DEAN (Assistant Speaker): Almighty God we give thanks for the blessings which have been bestowed on us. Laying aside all personal interests we acknowledge the King and pray for guidance in our deliberations that we may conduct the affairs of this House with wisdom justice mercy and humility for the welfare and peace of New Zealand. Amen.
Wednesday 30 August 2023 (continued on Thursday 31 August 2023) - Volume 771
Parole Amendment Bill — Third Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Parole Amendment Bill be now read a third time.Ayes 106New Zealand Labour 62; New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 13Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 9; Te Paati Māori 2; Kerekere; Whaitiri.Motion agreed to.Bill read a third time.
Parole Amendment Bill — In Committee
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That Parts 1 and 2 the Schedule and clauses 1 to 3 be agreed to.Ayes 106New Zealand Labour 62; New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 13Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 9; Te Paati Māori 2; Kerekere; Whaitiri.Parts 1 and 2 the Schedule and clauses 1 to 3 agreed to.Bill to be reported without amendment.
Parole Amendment Bill — Second Reading
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Parole Amendment Bill be now read a second time.Ayes 106New Zealand Labour 62; New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 13Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 9; Te Paati Māori 2; Kerekere; Whaitiri.Motion agreed to.Bill read a second time.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): According to a determination of the Business Committee the bill is set down for committee stage immediately. I declare the House in committee for consideration of the bill.
VoteA party vote was called for on the question That the Parole Amendment Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 106New Zealand Labour 62; New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10. Noes 13Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 9; Te Paati Māori 2; Kerekere; Whaitiri.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.DEPUTY SPEAKER: According to a determination of the Business Committee the Parole Amendment Bill is set down for second reading immediately.
Parole Amendment Bill — First Reading
O'Connor GregA party vote was called for on the question That the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill be now read a first time.Ayes 75New Zealand Labour 62; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 9; Te Paati Māori 2; Kerekere; Whaitiri.Noes 44New Zealand National 34; ACT New Zealand 10.Motion agreed to.Bill read a first time.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The question is That the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill be considered by the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee.Motion agreed to.Bill referred to the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee.DEPUTY SPEAKER: The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. today. Can I thank all those involved in the legislative calendar this year to get to this stage. You know who you are and you all know that we couldn't be here without the help of you all so thank you very much.The House adjourned at 12.24 p.m. (Thursday)
Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill — First Reading
Boyack RachelRACHEL BOYACK (Labour—Nelson): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise to take the final call on the first reading of this bill the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill and what will probably be the final legislation that we pass in this House in this term of Parliament. Can I just put my thanks on record for this term of Parliament for all of those who make this place tick for us as MPs: the security staff the messengers the Clerk's staff the wonderful people who bring us glasses of water and make sure we're fed—all of those people. Can I just place my thank you to you all.It is a pleasure to take a call on the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. I've recently just seen an exact example of why this bill is needed in my own electorate. One of our high-profile and very experienced journalists Tracy Neal—who has previously worked for the Nelson Mail for Radio New Zealand as a regional reporter and now works for New Zealand Media and Entertainment and in a public interest journalism space—recently had a story that gets shared across multiple platforms. So it's often shared on the New Zealand Herald and in our local community newspaper the Nelson Weekly.She put up a post on Instagram recently where the exact story—all of the images all of the writing—had been completely ripped off and put on a Canadian news outlet with a different journalist's name. There wasn't even a single change to any of the headlines or any of the text inside the story. For our fantastic journalists in this country who get up every day to tell the stories of New Zealanders here in New Zealand and across the world when this type of thing happens it's utterly infuriating. It's plagiarism. It's undermining her good work.What this bill does is give media outlets the ability to actually tackle these kinds of issues. I note that whenever we raise words like collective bargaining" the National Party has an immediate response to that and their immediate response is to oppose. But what we know is that when we provide mechanisms for organisations from within the same industry to work together to get fairer deals—fairer outcomes for that industry—actually that allows them to do just that.So this is an excellent bill. I look forward to it progressing through the House in the next term of Parliament under a Labour Government and I commend it to the House."
SpeechANNA LORCK (Labour—Tukituki): Thank you Mr Speaker and I rise to give my final contribution in this 53rd Parliament in the House. Perhaps people may not know this but I come from old-school journalism where I happen to own and publish a magazine that is 11 years old called The Profit which writes stories—well my husband Damon Harvey writes the stories—for promoting business. In the old-school way this magazine is paid for through advertising and is given away to readers who can pick it up in Hawke's Bay. Now some of those stories end up on digital platforms and as a small-business owner currently there is no way to earn any income from those stories and the hard work that goes into them and the hard work of the businesses that feature in them.I think this is one of the things I find perplexing when I hear from the National Party that as a promoter or champion of small business they can't see the benefit in actually considering that this bill can actually enable business. It happens time and time again in this House where it's actually the Labour Party that supports and helps grow small business. And when we talk about local issues that are driven out of local regions out of local news media out of regional newspapers this bill the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill will help to support them and that's why I'm commending it to the House. Thank you Mr Speaker.
SpeechNAISI CHEN (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to be able to take a call on the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. What an absolutely exciting bill.Mr Speaker if you would indulge me: when I was born or when I first had memory we had a black and white TV. Then we moved on to the colour TV then there was the plasma and the flat screen. And now in my household I don't have a TV; I don't even have a landline phone number. So as technology progresses—and probably the only time I ever listen to the radio is through apps streamed on my phone—as Parliament we need to help media progress with the technology and with the ages. This is exactly what this bill is doing.Platforms make money through advertisements which pay for the clicks they get on to their different apps or different social media platforms. The way that people come and the time that we spend—and some of us in this House today have been scrolling our phones because we have to have interesting content that keeps us on these platforms. That content—a lot of that might be our weird and wonderful TikTok or whatever videos that members of this House have generated but a large part of it is the news and probably a lot of it generated by this House as well. So for the platforms to pay our media the right amount in terms of the content they create and the traction that they draw on to these platforms so that we as users as well stay on that platform I think is getting the fair deal for New Zealand to support journalism in this country to support our democracy to make sure the right information gets out there and to support New Zealanders to make the right choice. That's why I commend this bill to the House and look forward in our select committee to be listening to submissions.
SpeechDAN ROSEWARNE (Labour): Kia ora Mr Speaker. It's my pleasure to take a call on the first reading of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill. As has been discussed in the House earlier declining news media revenues will have a detrimental impact on New Zealand's democracy and the ability to keep New Zealanders informed of local issues.The media landscape has changed and without the ability to monetise their content online New Zealand news publishers will continue to see declining revenues and an inability to retain journalists. This will lead to news content that does not go through the usual fact-checking process. I tend to look at these issues through a security lens and my concern is that without this bill people will move to online news platforms that don't have the traditional checks and balances to verify news content. Our recently released National Security Strategy actually highlights the challenges that we face because of the changing media landscape.We all agree that a free and independent news media is critical to our democracy in Aotearoa and we need a vibrant media system that contains many voices that can provide local news to all New Zealanders. In a world where we are seeing many actors at play that seek to divide us it's more important than ever to make sure that we support our future financial security for news media organisations—which will allow them to concentrate on producing content that can counter mis- and disinformation online.So this is an important bill. It's a timely bill for the media landscape that we're facing and I absolutely commend it to the house.
SpeechTĀMATI COFFEY (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. I really hope that this actually does go through even if there is a change of Government. I'm standing on this side saying that I really hope there isn't because this is really important.I used to work in a newsroom and I believe in the quality of journalists and their integrity and what they bring to the table. I also know that they work really really hard to put that content together. What this is is nothing to fear. This is a fair process that needs to happen because for a long time those big organisations have been cutting and pasting really good quality journalism to their own platforms. What this does is it gives an opportunity for journalistic integrity and quality journalism to be recognised and fairly compensated in that process. And to date it really hasn't been.So I thank the Minister for bringing the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill forward. I know that there are news platforms out there that have been seeking compensation like this for a while or if not just direct compensation actually just the ability to be able to get around the table and bargain with some of these Goliaths as my colleague Ingrid Leary talked about before.It's really important that we do this because journalism is getting harder and harder and the purpose of the bill—let me read it because I think it's really important to remember why we're doing this: The purpose of this Act is to support sustainable production of New Zealand news content by ensuring that operators of digital platforms make a fair contribution to the cost of producing news content that is made available by their digital platform." That's it. That's why we're here. That's why we're bringing this discussion to the table. On this side of the House in the Labour Government we've always talked about fair pay; a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. That's exactly what this bill is doing. I commend it."
Leary IngridINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri): What the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill does is it will empower better journalism through enabling resourcing—better resourcing of journalism and that is because at the moment the playing field is really David and Goliath. There does need to be a backstop of required bargaining because we know that in David and Goliath situations it's very easy for the Goliath to walk away and not be involved—which is exactly what these big digital companies would probably prefer to do.When I was a journalist for many many years it was a different environment. There wasn't digital news and there wasn't the pressure of immediacy and competition with getting the word out as quickly. There weren't the news cycles; there weren't the deadline pressures. I would never shoot the messenger—I think the journalists mainly do a good job but they are under a considerable amount of pressure. What happens when the sector is under-resourced as it currently is is that the why gets dropped. So we see the what where how and who but the why part of what has led to particular policies or situations gets left behind and that makes our democracy really vulnerable in terms of the oversight job that the media does as the fourth estate. I'm thinking about these wicked problems that we face such as climate change misinformation inequality—we see a lot of focus on politics and personalities or on events but very little on the why. In fact Jonathan Milne in Newsroom this morning was saying that good journalism requires an investigation of the why and the policies.So that's what this bill is attempting to do. It's requiring the parties who have the weight in the digital space to come in and negotiate in good faith so that the sector can get its fair dues so that journalists can do their job well and do them better and I hope that going forward we do see a bigger focus on the why.
SpeechDr LIZ CRAIG (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. I'm happy to rise to speak to the third reading of the Parole Amendment Bill. As has been traversed extensively across the House this is a simple but a very important bill that enables Corrections to continue to manage high-risk offenders on extended supervision orders in a way that not only provides them with wraparound support but also ensures public safety.Using that single provider to deliver both programmes and also residential conditions has been a longstanding practice and I'm very happy to support the changes being made. I commend this bill to the House.
Sosene Lemauga LydiaLEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour): I am pleased to speak to the third reading of the Parole Amendment Bill and ultimately no more confusion. This bill fixes the anomaly of current legislation and I want to thank all of our parliamentarians who have made contributions this morning and especially for your support. I want to thank our Minister Kelvin Davis for his leadership. In my short contribution: when a person who meets the calibre of high-risk offenders moves into your local community you take notice. And just some years ago Corrections made that call—and I want to shout-out to Corrections—that a high-risk offender was moved a few doors down from one of our local primary schools. At that time parents were alerted; the school community was alerted and elected leaders and they came together. I want to shout out to Corrections for listening to our community because they then made the decision to move that specific person to a more suitable location because that person needed help. This bill will uphold protection of our most vulnerable citizens—our children—protection of our communities and on balance public safety. So specifically for our corrections officers I want to thank them for their work. I strongly support this bill. I commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Poto Williams): I understand this is a split call. Mark Mitchell five minutes.
SpeechTONI SEVERIN (ACT): Thank you Madam Speaker for allowing me to speak on the Parole Amendment Bill. ACT is supporting this bill. The thing is that we have to weigh up the victims the public safety and also those that are affected by the change that is effected by this bill. As we stated earlier we do realise that yes it does a correction to the bills of rights for these parolees. However there is a two-year review system being built in so that they are not just stuck there.Also as I mentioned earlier this is a good system where these parolees are in a service that looks after them. They are getting attention during the daytime and rehabilitation programmes. And as the Minister earlier expressed many of these probably are able to go out into the community under supervision for walks for grocery shopping so that's a huge part of them also feeling that they are part of our community.However we agree that this needed to be put through and I appreciate the Minister also informing us why it has been put through in such a rush so that this does not cause too many problems within the legal system.Once again I would like to thank all those that are involved within Corrections' rehabilitation programmes that—day in day out—are looking after these people that need this extra care. We're talking about 27 people that are high offenders within the sexual and violent tendencies—and most of all this is why we are here today in this Parliament. It is to make sure that public safety is paramount. If we can help in some way for those whose future this bill will affect as well as those that are currently under it we will be very happy if that can be the case. But also we do know that there are many people out there that are just not able to be helped. We have to make sure that we have a good system that these people are looked after and most of all the victims and hopefully that there will be no more further victims of these people. I commend this bill to the House.
Boyack RachelRACHEL BOYACK (Labour—Nelson): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise to take a short call on the Parole Amendment Bill. Just following on from the previous speaker Chris Penk I just want to note that most members of this House are supporting this bill today.This bill has a real focus on rehabilitation which is an important component of our justice system ensuring that those people who are able to be rehabilitated—which I would say is most people in the justice system—are able to get the support they need to do that.What this bill specifically does is correct an issue within the Parole Act where those who are on extended supervision orders aren't able to live with the rehabilitation provider and so it limits the ability for that rehabilitation to occur.I think most of us in this House and most New Zealanders would agree that ensuring people who are undergoing a rehabilitation programme can access the right wraparound support they need in order to do that is critical to the effectiveness of rehabilitation.So this bill does correct a wee error that occurred so it needs to come through the House. I commend it to the House.
SpeechNAISI CHEN (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. Following the debate this morning I know that we in here in the House have traversed a whole range of views. As the National member who has just resumed his seat Paul Goldsmith has just mentioned: we have weighed up all the different factors. But ultimately I think we look back at our purpose of why we are here: to uphold the maintenance of public safety and the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders—so making sure that the offenders get the wraparound services that they need but at the same time protecting them from the community and making sure that they have the right programmes and those are enforceable on parole. So that's why I think this is a good bill and I do thank all the members in this House who have debated this bill rigorously today. So that's why I commend this bill to the House.