Walker HamishHAMISH WALKER (National—Clutha-Southland): Madam Chair thank you for this call. I just want to ask the Minister Kris Faafoi a couple of questions regarding this bill and also to pick up on a couple of his previous comments. I was very disappointed to hear the Minister speak listening to some of his answers. It's very disappointing that he's injured his leg and he won't be playing in the Parliamentary Rugby Team because with that golden mouth he would be able to convince the referee to turn back on his decision. He'd be able to screw the scrum and get away with it.I just want to pick up on a note one of his officials just handed him a couple of minutes ago and I just wanted to know Minister if this bill was prepared under the previous Government or under this Government. I have reason to believe the note from the official may suggest that it's actually prepared under the previous Government. And the only reason why they're using this legislation is because this Government can't think of anything themselves.I just want to acknowledge the amazing work of the customs officials and the police especially those customs officials and Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) officials working this morning at Auckland Airport between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. Unfortunately they didn't have a dog to work with them through the incompetence of the Minister of Agriculture. And I just want to acknowledge the previous work of the Minister Nathan Guy who increased the number of biosecurity dogs from 40 to 60.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I just remind the member there's no dogs in this bill.HAMISH WALKER: Sorry Madam Chair. Just with this bill I have got a couple of questions for the Minister: (1) Minister—if this bill goes far enough in terms of the penalties. We know that there's got to be strict criteria when using these search options. Currently the customs officials have to establish clear procedures over offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act and this has got limited powers and I just want to ask the Minister if he would consider extending those powers loosening them up a bit because a month ago under urgency the Government rushed through basically powerless authority for warrantless searches for MPI officials on farmers' properties. These MPI officials now have more power than police officers. How is that fair? And just looking at this piece of legislation the Maritime Powers Extension Bill I just wonder if we can put more power on to these customs officials considering the fact that MPI officials have more power now than police. And if they just want to get their sort of priorities right that would make sense.I just want to also talk about a couple of the other changes and the range of circumstances when officers can board ships including when they apply in a range of circumstances including if an individual is on a ship in international waters and is in control of the controlled drug or equipment or material and the individual or individuals intend to import the item into New Zealand. Another circumstance available is when an individual on a ship in international waters is involved in other ways or smuggling these items out of New Zealand.Another question for the Minister—obviously there's a high cost for these people bringing drugs into New Zealand. They have to have quite a large capital outlay to buy a vessel to get the drugs from oversees into New Zealand and I believe that the vessel can be forfeited a bit like illegal fishing. If you're caught fishing on one of our beautiful lakes or rivers the Act works really well at the moment. It deters some people from fishing illegally. If they are caught by MPI officials they have to give up their fishing gear. I was just wondering if the Minister would consider whether they can go not after just the vessel but be able to seize further assets a bit like the measures which National put in place five or six years ago which are collecting a large amount of revenue.We know the financial impact from drugs is about $1.8 billion a year. This is a huge huge cost to our society—not just financial but the impact it's having on our families and communities. Criminal networks do not care about the devastating effect they are having on our country. They are motivated by greed and the relatively high prices. In return the risk for reward is quite high. So I commend this bill to the House. I would like to hear from the Minister and hopefully he will reconsider his decision around the parliamentary game Saturday week.