Brown Peter: Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Brown Peter: Identity (Citizenship and Travel Documents) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:625;Page:20128] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 The ACT member has made a point but from New Zealand First’s reading of the bill I think he has tended to overstate it quite considerably. But one concern that New Zealand First has and I do not think anybody thus far has raised it relates to clause 24 “Life of passport”. That concerns us quite considerably. This bill will halve the life of a passport. I think everybody in this House knows and I think every New Zealander knows that a passport lasts for 10 years. But this bill halves its life to 5 years. 
I understand that the new passport when it comes in will embrace new technology such as photographs of eyes and so on so that people will be identified very positively and there cannot be any mistake about it. But I think it is a burden on people to cut the life of a passport from 10 years to 5 years. New Zealand First is quite disappointed by that unless of course the Government intends to halve the fee. Maybe the Minister can explain to us what the fee will be when the life of a passport becomes 5 years instead of 10 years. He surely is not contemplating increasing the fee; I know that he is a man of honour and he would not dare increase the fee. We think that if he is going to halve the life of a passport he should halve the fee. 
A second concern I have and my colleague Craig McNair illustrated it considerably is that I cannot understand the Progressive Party voting against this. I will read only the headings of some of the new sections because the sections are too long to read out. New section 8A inserted by clause 27 is headed: “Cancellation of passport on grounds of national security”. That gives the Minister the ability to cancel a passport on the grounds of national security. The Progressive Party will vote against that as will the Greens but I think that the country expects the Greens to vote against it. New section 20A inserted by clause 31 is headed: “Cancellation of certificate of identity on grounds of national security”. That gives the Minister the right to: “… recall any certificate of identity issued to any person by or on behalf of the New Zealand Government”. The Government’s coalition partner the Progressive Party is going to vote against that. [ 
Interruption 
] I heard the Labour Minister say that it is terrible. They are selling this country short big time. 
But that is not all. New section 25A inserted by clause 35 is headed: “Cancellation of emergency travel document on grounds of national security”. That gives the Minister the right—and he has to put it in writing—to recall any emergency travel document. But the Progressives are going to vote against that. They do not believe in that. We know that the Greens would want to make this an open-door country to all and sundry. At least they are consistent. But I thought that the Progressives particularly Jim Anderton were much more aware of the problems this country is facing. I am amazed that the Progressive Party is going to vote against that. 
Here is another one. New section 27B inserted by clause 37 is headed: “Refusal to issue refugee travel document on grounds of national security”. That gives the Minister the ability to: “… refuse to issue a New Zealand refugee travel document to a person if the Minister believes on reasonable grounds …” and the provision goes on to outline the grounds that concern national security. The Progressives are going to vote against that. 
I ask Mr Robson where his loyalty to this country is. Where is his loyalty to New Zealand? He is going to vote against those very very important sections. Those sections are so important that New Zealand First is going to vote for this part even though we disagree with the clause dealing with the life of a passport. That overrides our concern on that clause by 1000 percent. I am actually appalled that members of Parliament in this country would vote against this sort of legislation. Frankly in this volatile world we need to tighten up. As Pansy Wong said right at the beginning of this debate this bill will make us the toughest of five nations. She is not still here is she? 
Pansy Wong 
: I am. 
PETER BROWN 
: I am delighted along with others in New Zealand First to be one of the toughest nations.