Ngaro AlfredHon ALFRED NGARO (National): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I stand to take a call in this third reading of the Social Workers Registration Legislation Bill and initially I want to indicate that we are supporting it—as we have supported this bill to its third reading as we have throughout the select committee stage through the second reading the committee of the whole House and now we're here at the third reading. And we played politics at the second reading and also at the committee stage around our opposition to the scopes of practice only because of the process which took place. I'm not going to choose to do that today; I don't think today in this third reading is a day in which we should do that. We've had our debates in this House. We've made our views known.The Minister has indicated—and she is correct—that it's been 16 years in the making. From the time at which the registration was first indicated and legislated there's been a period of time. People wanted to see and perceive how that voluntary process would take place. After a period of time it was believed that actually there are two things which are the objectives of this bill. The first is to provide a pathway to professionalism to ensure that the appropriate skills that deal with the complexity of issues that many of our social workers face in our communities will ensure that that level will be adequate and appropriate for what's needed for the care and concern and the responsibilities and duties of social workers in our communities. The second is to also protect the public. We know that there have been incidents. Like in all areas or sectors where there is a need in the care sector there are times in which we need to protect the public from forms of malpractice—poor practice—that do happen and are a reality as well. So those are the two elements: pathways to professionalism but also protection of the public as well.I want first of all in my remarks to acknowledge the Social Workers Registration Board; acknowledge the outgoing chairperson Shayne Walker for his work for his commitment over a period of time in championing not only this but also too some of the other policy developments as a form of a regulator for the sector as well; and also acknowledge the rest of the board and their commitment to this process as well. I want to acknowledge all of those who have submitted over a period of time and especially those just recently through this bill who came along. I want to thank them for their submissions but also too for their interactions through email through conversations over telephones face to face in which they talked about the need for us to ensure that there was both the scope but also too the ability to provide those pathways of professionalism as well. I do note that they too still have ongoing concerns. I do take as the Minister has said that there is a transition period of two years and over that period of time there is the hope that the sector will continue to engage to ensure that actually there's an opportunity to address some of those issues.One issue in particular that again I want to mention—the Tangata Whenua Takawaenga o Aotearoa of the Aotearoa Social Workers Association. They too continue to ensure that actually there is an acknowledgment for kaupapa Māori. I know the Minister last night in her remarks talked about the fact that actually there is mention of the Tiriti o Waitangi inside the legislation. Again if we are going to do better I hope that in that two-year transition period there is an opportunity to ensure that practices that are appropriate for indigenous for Māori also too are included in that global definition but are anchored in what we know to be true and right for that which is for Aotearoa for New Zealand as well.I do want to acknowledge the Minister for championing this through and though we've had our battles over the debates we talked a little bit about the practice and I think at the end of the day we all want the same thing. So Minister I want to commend you for championing this through to get to the point where all of us in this House will agree that it's about time that we have a form and a process that allows for mandatory registration of social workers into our community as well.Secondly I want to acknowledge also the other Ministers. The Minister did say in her speech that it has been 16 years. There's been a lot of interchange. There's been the introduction of—whether it be through private members' bills inquiries over the period of time to get to where we are today here. I want to acknowledge all of those who have been part of that—previous Ministers the Hon Anne Tolley and others who've been part of that process.In my final remarks I want to acknowledge all the social workers who are out there in our communities. Previously prior to coming to the House of Parliament I used to be a member of the Care and Protection Resource Panel. Also too in running an NGO we had social workers and community workers working over a long period of time and providing a service of care to our community. So I know the challenges that they face. I hope that through this legislation and through the commitment and support of this House this will go some way to providing an ability to be able not only to protect the public but also too to provide that professionalism that is the intent of this bill. So I again indicate our support on this side of the House. I commend this bill to the House.