Ross Jami-Lee: Crown Entities Reform Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Ross Jami-Lee: Crown Entities Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 22 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2254. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) 
: 
 I see from the speech from Mr Lees-Galloway that Labour is on to its tired old hobby horse again of opposing a convention centre for Auckland. The more that Labour members stand up and tell people that they are opposed to more jobs for Aucklanders and that they are opposed to more economic development for Aucklanders the better because the public needs to hear what they stand for which is opposing jobs. I just want to take a short call on this Crown Entities Reform Bill— 
Andrew Little 
: You’ll have to do better than that.  
JAMI-LEE ROSS 
: How was the process server last night Andrew? How did that go? I just want to take a short call on this bill. This bill amalgamates the functions of a number of existing agencies to improve financial efficiency and effectiveness which are goals that we stand behind most certainly. The bill is to help to increase the future viability of those existing agencies. It is unashamedly part of the Government’s overall programme of improving State sector performance as a whole. This National-led Government does not believe in growing the Public Service; it believes in growing services to the public. That means more front-line service delivery and more efficient back-office services.  
We have heard tonight that there is some concern from other parties about this bill. It seems that most parts of the bill have been supported by other parties except the issue around the Charities Commission. I just want to briefly touch on the issue of the Charities Commission because from what I am hearing it sounds as though the issue with the Charities Commission is around the independence of the role of the commission and whether or not that independence will continue through with the new organisation and the board that is being established. I think it is worthwhile pointing out a portion of the Government Administration Committee’s report on this bill. I just want to read it briefly. It says: “We note that Part 3 of the bill contains a number of provisions designed to support the independence of the charities registration function. Clause 45 of the bill as introduced would insert a new section 8(4) into the Charities Act 2005 requiring each board member to act independently in exercising their professional judgement”.  
Denis O’Rourke 
: Oh fine words. 
JAMI-LEE ROSS 
: Members can pooh-pooh that if they want to. They can complain and moan about that if they want to but it is very clear. If members are concerned about the independence of the board which would be administering functions of the charities-related legislation they only have to read new section 8. I will read it—I will read it. It says: “In performing or exercising his or her functions duties or powers each member of the Board—(a) must act independently in exercising his or her professional judgment; and (b) is not subject to the direction of the Minister.” I suggest that members have a read of the bill because it is quite clearly in the bill. The independence that members are looking for will be statutorily required by the board and I say that that should satisfy many of the concerns that members have.  
Overall this is a good piece of legislation. It goes a long way towards implementing National’s goal of delivering better public services within tight financial constraints which is one of our four key priorities and I ask the House to support this Government.