Lees-Galloway Iain: Hamilton City Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Bill — In Committee 
Lees-Galloway Iain: Hamilton City Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:670;Page:17088] 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Labour—Palmerston North) 
: 
 The commencement clause contained in the Hamilton City Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Bill states: “This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.” That seems quite appropriate to me because it is about as fast as a bill can come into force. We certainly would not want to delay this bill unnecessarily because it is a good bill. The member in the chair is signalling to me that he would like me to sit down. I suggest to the member in the chair that he— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: The member cannot bring the Chair into the debate. 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY 
: I was referring to the member in the chair David Bennett— 
The CHAIRPERSON (Eric Roy) 
: OK. 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY 
: —the member in whose name this bill stands who was signalling that he would like me to take my seat. He might want to reflect on why the Opposition has taken so much interest in this bill and in fact is taking so much interest in all the bills before the House this week. He might want to reflect on that tonight in particular and this week as well. 
I come back to the commencement clause. The member would not want to put off this bill any more than is necessary because it is a bill that ensures that a public asset stays in the public domain—remains in public ownership. We have seen many other attempts by this Government to dispose of public assets so a commencement date whereby this bill comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives Royal assent—the fastest possible way for it to come into power—is excellent and entirely appropriate. This bill is not a Government bill. It is a Hamilton City Council local bill. The council is working on behalf of its people and making sure that this legislation comes into force quickly because it ensures the public ownership of a public asset at a time when we have so many attempts going on around us to have public assets shifted into private ownership. 
The other thing the bill does is bring certainty to the people of Hamilton in relation to the ownership of a public asset and we need to see that happen quickly as well. There is so much uncertainty for people at the moment with costs going up GST going up the unfortunate effects of the earthquake in Christchurch and the fact that so much uncertainty has been generated around what that means for the public at large. Certainty around this legislation brings some certainty to the people of Hamilton as to exactly what the future is for Parana Park. That is a very important aspect of the commencement clause and the commencement date which of course will occur in 2011 which is unusual for a bill whose title clause states: “This Act is the Hamilton city Council (Parana Park) Land Vesting Act 2010.” I accept the submission from the member in the chair that that date should be reasonably easy to amend. 
Sue Moroney 
: A Supplementary Order Paper would do it. 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY 
: We would gladly debate a Supplementary Order Paper from the member in the chair to tidy up that little anomaly in the title and that would sort out any question marks around the commencement date because it will look a little odd if an Act that has “2010” in its title comes into force in 2011. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: It’s very muddled. 
IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY 
: It does seem muddled but this is a muddled Government and I think it is just part of its programme to be a little confused and a little muddled. We really want to see this commencement date tidied. We do not want any questions marks over it so that when it does receive the Royal assent it can be quickly actioned and the people of Hamilton can have certainty in relation to what this bill means for them and for the piece of land in Hamilton known as Parana Park.