Salesa JennyHon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Building and Construction): Thank you so much Madam Speaker. Kia ora e Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori and I'd like to first of all acknowledge and thank the Hon Shane Jones for all of his work in making sure that this bill has reached the House. As I say here tonight I heard from the Opposition talking about how this is their policy and how this apparently is their work. But the Opposition were in Government for nine very long years and even if it was their policy they did not implement this New Zealand Infrastructure Commission within that time. What I've read in terms of the select committee report is that industry have been saying for a very very long time that this is an idea having an infrastructure commission is something that we should implement. What I'd like her to say is that we on this side of the House have listened. We've heard industry. This bill will deliver to the sector what they have been asking for for a very long time which is to have an infrastructure commission. So this bill will establish Te Waihanga—the infrastructure commission—and it will provide independent expert advice on infrastructure. It is really important to have these functions because right now we are looking at a lot of infrastructure deficit. We only have to look at our roads and especially if you live and work in Auckland just how congested the roads are. If we had had an infrastructure commission like this a number of years ago and if there had been a strategy a vision and a plan we shouldn't actually be where we are in terms of our roads.If we're also to look at housing there are a lot of places where we should actually be building a lot of houses but we know that before houses can be built in certain places they need the infrastructure first. So again this is why this infrastructure commission is so vital. I'm glad that there is agreement that this work is needed and that we should have the plan and the structure that this infrastructure commission will do in terms of a strategy. But this is something that should have been done and this is of course through successive Governments. It is not just the previous Government that hasn't had this vision to implement this infrastructure commission. But I'm glad the Hon Shane Jones has taken it on and is moving forward with this infrastructure commission.I'd also like to thank the Finance and Expenditure Committee the chair of the select committee Deborah Russell for her work as well as all of the hardworking select committee members. I'd also like to thank the previous chair of the select committee Michael Wood who began this work. Michael Wood: Good speech.Hon JENNY SALESA: Ha ha! Thank you. But I also would like to say what some of the select committee submissions have actually said. Infrastructure New Zealand for instance they said We are pleased with the degree of scope provided to the Commission to provide advice on the full range of issues and opportunities facing New Zealand infrastructure over the long term." Infrastructure New Zealand supports this commission and the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission/Te Waihanga Bill. We also have Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) giving their full support to this legislation. LGNZ I quote "recognises and appreciates Government raising this issue as a priority and looks forward to further engagement on infrastructure planning and provision."Another example is from Beca Ltd. When they made their submission this is some of the things that they said: "The Bill clearly outlines how the infrastructure commission will bring strategic focus to New Zealand's key future challenges and opportunities as well as provide leadership in prioritising infrastructure and services that improve the wellbeing of all New Zealanders." I really look forward to the work that this commission will do. One of the things that it actually also will do is first of all they're looking at strategy and planning and then they'll be looking at delivery. The other thing that this commission will do is it will also be listening to the Minister in terms of directions from the Minister. They will publish their long-term capital infrastructure plan and we will then have the opportunity to look at what the commission is doing have our comments on it and this is something that is sorely needed by Aotearoa New Zealand. I really commend the Hon Shane Jones and the select committee and this Government for their work on this. Thank you Madam Speaker."