Brown Peter: Smoke-free Environments Amendment Bill — Procedure Referral to Health Committee Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
Brown Peter: Smoke-free Environments Amendment Bill — Procedure Referral to Health Committee Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee 
[Volume:610;Page:7957] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I would like to confine my contribution to the commencement date of this bill. It is complex. If this bill goes through as it is one part comes in on one date another part comes in on another date and yet another part comes in on yet another date. 
I have a Supplementary Order Paper in my name suggesting that this bill because it is controversial because it is delicate and because it is sensitive should go to the public of New Zealand. In my mind this House stuffed up on the Prostitution Reform Bill. The letters that we get daily tell me that this House got it all wrong though members might think with pride they have done something worthwhile. This House only a fortnight ago stuffed up big time on the Death with Dignity Bill. Parliament denied the incurably ill and the sick any time to put their case formally to a select committee. That was all we were asking that day. The letters I have got the emails the faxes and the telephone calls tell me New Zealanders really resent that we did not even give them time to put a formal case expressing their concerns. 
Let us not get a hat trick let us not stuff up for the third time but let us ask the public what they really want. Let us get the bill in order as best we possibly can then put it out for public referendum. And we should make sure it is binding so that the House cannot do what it did with the 99 MPs question and the crime question that were on the ballot paper the election before last. Let us have a binding referendum and ask New Zealanders whether they want this sort of legislation. Do they want to stop old retired soldiers from going into Returned Services Association clubs and having a beer and a smoke whilst they watch the All Blacks beat South Africa or indeed watch the All Blacks thrash the Australians or—God forbid—have to watch the All Blacks lose to Australia? They might then need two cigarettes or even a cigar goodness me and a couple of Scotches to go with it. Do we resent New Zealand— 
Pita Paraone 
: Or losing to England! 
PETER BROWN 
: That would be even worse. It has been known. I have to say before anybody says something on that side of the Chamber I was disappointed as much as that member over there. 
But seriously this bill really is going to hurt the retired soldiers who go and have a fag in their Returned Services Association clubs. It is going to hurt their feelings. It is going to restrict them immeasurably. These guys have earned the right to go into the Returned Services Association clubs and have a smoke. Fathers who do not want to smoke at home with their young children want to go to a bar and have a cigarette away from their families. I appeal to my colleagues here who want to give it some thought that this bill is about restricting smoking and it is better to restrict smoking in the home where the youngsters are than restrict it in the bar. 
There is no argument that the air should be fresh and we are totally supportive of the Hon Peter Dunne’s Supplementary Order Paper that advocates changing the air frequently and properly. We totally support it because it is really a safe air bill and technology can do that. But we should not be imposing this on every New Zealander. 
I urge members over there to think seriously about adopting my Supplementary Order Paper which states that this bill should be subject to a binding referendum. Steve Chadwick was the member who told us not so long ago that 75 percent of New Zealanders do not smoke so members could expect that New Zealanders would say that yes they want this bill. There is nothing to lose; let them have their choice. This bill is not going to come in immediately so we have time to have a referendum. We have time to say to New Zealanders that this is the best we can do in the House this is what we want to do and this is why we are doing it—we want to restrict smoking—“Tell us whether you want it to be our law. You tell us whether you agree with this sort of legislation.” Then we can have a free clear conscience. But simply to impose this on everybody because we have a bee in our bonnet that this is the way to go and we know better than every New Zealander out there is totally wrong. There are some major flaws in this bill. 
Darren Hughes 
: Name six. 
PETER BROWN 
: I have not got enough time left in my speech unless the member will agree to give me an extension.