Young Jonathan: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYoung Jonathan: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 12 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14553. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth): What is clear is that we have just heard a speech from the “Yeah Nah Leader” who back in 2001 said: “Yeah yeah let’s go. Let’s do it.” In 2013 it is: “Nah.” It is “Yes” in the House here: “We are going to do this and that. We are going to make sure that whatever regulation is put in place will not bind us in the future.” But in private sessions it is: “Nah don’t worry we won’t do anything to dynamite this deal.” So we have seen the “Yeah Nah Leader” talk about the position that is very clear to this Parliament and this country—what it thinks about this agreement.The other thing that I think is perhaps the most ludicrous statement that I have heard in the speeches in this House regarding this New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill is from the Green and Labour members who say that after $402 million worth of expenditure of which $315 million is capital cost followed by an estimated $90 million a year of increased expenditure only 18 new jobs will be added to the economy. If I was to write that economic prediction I would be ashamed of those sorts of figures. I have got to say if this is the number of jobs that the Greens and Labour parties expect from such significant economic activity heaven help us if they ever gain the Treasury benches.We need to understand that as we go forward with this bill when it is enacted we are going to see economic activity in a number of sectors in Auckland and around the country. It is going to affect travel accommodation tourism retailing arts and culture. All of these sectors are going to see an increase. We are going to see an increase in GDP in New Zealand and in Auckland additional new and larger conferences and events and additional tourism expenditure from high-yield international visitors. We are going to see additional jobs catalysing investment in other infrastructure and service industries in and around central Auckland. We are going to see the raising of New Zealand’s international reputation and competitiveness as a business events destination. We are going to enable more links between innovative New Zealanders and overseas experts. We are going to attract more investors to New Zealand adding to Auckland’s reputation as a global international city.During the select committee stage we heard responses from officials to a number of information requests. We learnt many things. We learnt that the Department of Internal Affairs has a team of inspectors who are located near the casino and have unrestricted access to it. They monitor data from the casino operations as well as being present in the casino itself. The department also undertakes periodic audits of Skycity’s adherence to the Auckland Casino Host Responsibility programme the problem gambler identification policy and the operating standards and procedures that sit below these policies.We heard reports from Dr Paul Delfabbro an associate professor at the school of psychology University of Adelaide who said that from an international perspective current New Zealand legislation would be considered quite rigorous in the extent to which it emphasises responsible gambling practices—in particular the requirement for providers of gambling services to have policies that mitigate potential harm as opposed to just actual harm which is not a feature that is observed in many other jurisdictions. As we went through the process we heard that New Zealand actually has very robust standards and very high standards internationally. Collectively he said the responsible gambling measures provided in both Australia and New Zealand are more rigorous than anything offered in the United States the United Kingdom and Asia. The only locations where responsible gambling provisions have progressed to similar levels are in some parts of Europe most notably in Holland and in Switzerland.I think that New Zealanders can be assured that Skycity Casino has one of the best Host Responsibility programmes in the world and leveraging off the agreement between Skycity and the Government this bill lifts the bar on harm-minimisation obligations. Not only do we see these higher levels of obligations and harm minimisation which will continue to address problem gambling sinking lids around this country will mean that we will continue to see a net reduction in pokies but we will have an international convention centre that will put Auckland on the map and generate economic activity and growth for Auckland and the regions beyond that city. I commend this bill to the House.