McAnulty KieranKIERAN McANULTY (Labour): Thank you Madam Assistant Speaker. I'd just like to start on behalf of the Labour Party by offering our sincere condolences to Mark Patterson the New Zealand First MP who would've spoken on this bill as a member of the Primary Production Committee whose father passed away last evening. We'd just like to offer those condolences in the House.Unlike some speakers on this bill I'd like to actually give this bill and this issue the respect that it deserves. We've heard from the previous speakers today criticising urgency criticising the fact that the Labour Party actually wanted to talk about this bill last night. We took this issue seriously unlike those on the other side of the House who had the opportunity last night in the committee stage to discuss factors of this bill that they may have been concerned about discuss the issues that they have talked about today—albeit briefly—directly with the Minister and actually look at getting those specific questions answered. Did they? Did they a jot. They all sat down and did absolutely nothing and now they sit there today and criticise us for filibustering. Nonsense. This is a Government that takes this issue seriously and wants to actually have a say. We want to discuss this bill. We want to make sure that the New Zealand public understands that this Government has this nation's interest at heart and actually has the primary industries' interest at heart and we're not ashamed to stand up and talk about it.So let's actually look at why this bill is in place. This bill is in place for a very simple reason. It is to ensure the competition within the dairy industry—competition that is vital. It is a very short bill that will ensure this but it is important none the less. Now a point was made yesterday that the National Party if you looked at its founding principles believes in competitive markets yet here they are today and yesterday making somewhat of a mockery of the process refusing to talk about the key aspect of this bill which is to preserve competition within the dairy industry. It is about the integrity the structural stability of the dairy industry beyond May 2018.The threat to the industry if we were to allow the expiration provisions to come into place in May would've undermined the competition of the industry. This is a view that was put forward by the commission in regard to this in a very big report. They said that it would undermine the structural stability of the dairy industry. Now we did have an opportunity—or almost had the opportunity anyway—in this House to discuss this bill in March last year when something very similar was put up for debate but then left to one side. So I do find it difficult to take the argument from the previous Government which actually had the chance to put forward the bill had the chance to put it forward to select committee had the chance to actually give this issue the respect that it deserved—Hon Ruth Dyson: But what happened? What happened?KIERAN McANULTY: —but it didn't happen. They left it to one side either because they wanted to avoid the discussion or because they fluffed about. What a bunch of fluffers.The fact is that by doing so we are now in a position where we had no choice but to actually get this done. And I was at an event last night an event here in Parliament attended by two groups from the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay regions—farm leaders leaders in agribusiness—who wanted an opportunity with the Minister to discuss the future of primary industries in this country and they were grateful to be able to have that opportunity. What a sad state when they were—what—only 20 metres away from this debating Chamber and in this House the National Party did not want to talk about it. And yet here we are with the chair of the Primary Production Committee the Hon David Bennett having the opportunity to put forward the Opposition's argument—the very first speaker from the National Party today—and all he talked about was nonsense around a threat to democracy and the taking away he accused this Government of an opportunity for MPs to put forward their views. I come back to the point that last night they didn't want to do that and here they are not wanting to take their full calls today.But this Government is proud to do it particularly for an industry that is so important for this country with 50000 people employed in New Zealand in the dairy industry and with regions like my own Wairarapa—a considerable contribution to the local GDP and the communities that support the industry. Take Pahīatua for example. With the dairy industry making through Fonterra a considerable investment in Pahīatua it has ensured that that town and the surrounding areas will have a sustainable future in terms of employment for our young people and that should be acknowledged. That in itself—even though this bill is relevant to the South Island—demonstrates why it's so important that we do not take this lightly. By bringing this bill into play and extending out the expiry provisions what we are doing is giving the industry a bit of time so that it can work with us in the Labour-led Government and actually look at the industry as a whole. Now reviewing things on a regular basis is a healthy process and that is what this Government through the Primary Production Committee through the leadership of the Hon Damien O'Connor has committed to the industry to do. It does face some challenges be it through artificial milk or growth in competition overseas. The dairy industry through the leadership of this Government will be in good stead in only a year or two's time and so I am proud to stand here on behalf of the Labour Government and put forward our case for why this bill should be supported. We commend this bill to the House.Bill read a third time.