Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Standards and Accreditation Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Standards and Accreditation Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 19 May 2015. Volume:705;Page:3420. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National): I feel privileged to be given this opportunity to speak during the second reading of the Standards and Accreditation Bill. I would like to start by commending the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs the Hon Paul Goldsmith for sponsoring this bill and Melissa Lee the chair of the Commerce Committee as well as the other members of the committee for their contribution in this process.Time and again National has laid stress on creating safer communities for New Zealanders and on making sure that the families feel financially secure and the economy is more competitive. One of the biggest signs of a healthy and productive economy is when the standards and the conformance system functions well and is able to meet the needs of consumers businesses and regulators. The bill we are debating replaces the Standards Act 1988 to ensure New Zealand’s new standards are modern sustainable and will fulfil the demands of consumers and businesses.The standards and the standardisation can make a real difference in the lives of everyone. It improves the effectiveness and the reliability of the goods that we use in our everyday life. In other words standards are agreed specifications for products services processes and performances that protect the health safety and the well-being of the public.If a product is marked as a standard it means that it meets the minimum safety requirements which is helpful for the safeguarding of our children and families. Standard solutions help in keeping our environment safe whilst at the same time it allows productivity to be increased whether we are at home or at work whether our kids are at the playground or whether our family members are using various health services.The Standards and Accreditation Bill was referred to the Commerce Committee. We received and considered 21 submissions from interested groups and individuals and heard 13 submissions in person. The Commerce Committee indeed recommended changes that provide a flexible approach to managing actual and perceived conflicts of interest for members of the standards development committees.The Standards and Accreditation Bill would firstly replace the Standards Council with the New Zealand Standards Approval Board rename the Testing Laboratory Registration Council as the Accreditation Council and make minor amendments to its institutional arrangements to reflect its functions more accurately. It will strengthen the current cost recovery model for standards. This will provide the NZ Standards Executive to set a fee for access to the standards and will allow it to recover the cost associated with developing approving maintaining and providing access to New Zealand Standards. Last but not least the bill allows the formation of standards development committees.Today’s newspaper highlighted the potential risk of an earthquake—a mega-quake—that would prove to be highly damaging to central New Zealand. We cannot fully predict what is going to happen next but we can certainly protect the country to some extent by minimising the impact of such a deadly disaster through the use of good standards.One of the key aspects of the bill is to establish a new independent statutory body to approve New Zealand standards which will comprise industry technical experts consumers’ representatives and regulators. Although it is a priority for this Government to build an economy based on investment and to be export-driven through our Business Growth Agenda the new model will ensure that the standards development is in sync with the Government’s priorities.Standardisation indeed plays a huge role in contributing to a more competitive productive economy. To promote the role of standardisation the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment is taking several initiatives to contribute to economic growth and innovation. The ministry will be doing more on the trade facilitation front including making strategic choices about the International Organisation for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission and about which New Zealand experts will participate in other standards-related activities—for example progressing the implementation of the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Mutual Recognition Arrangement with China.National is constantly working towards protecting the strong reputation of New Zealand standards by ensuring that it maintains its linkages with the international standards community including the international organisations for standardisation. By participating in international standards preparation New Zealand is able to ensure that New Zealand’s voice is heard.Standards New Zealand can identify areas where it should be active in ensuring that New Zealand industry the Government and consumers can provide input into standards being processed internationally. National has been keeping spending under control and is working hard to achieve a surplus and to reduce debt. We have been able to strengthen capital markets and progress our commitment towards a single economic market with Australia and we are on track to reduce our Crown debt to 20 percent of GDP by 2020. New Zealand—Dr David Clark: Capital debt is one of our biggest issues. Come on! How can the member say that with a straight face?KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI: If you want to see me come over here—I can see you.New Zealand is in good shape and we can continue to maintain New Zealand’s good reputation by improving the transparency of New Zealand’s company registration system lifting confidence in New Zealand’s financial market and progressing with changes to strengthen the development of New Zealand’s standards by passing this bill. The National Government is striving to make New Zealand a safer and more prosperous country and New Zealand is rated first equal in global anti-corruption by Transparency International and rated third by the World Bank for ease of doing business. We will continue to achieve more and endeavour to make all New Zealanders feel proud of this National-led Government. I commend this bill to the House.