Swarbrick ChlöeCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green): E Te Māngai tēnā koe. Tēnā koutou e Te Whare. It's a pleasure to rise on behalf of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand and speak on the Arms Legislation Bill having just read the select committee report. I unfortunately wasn't able to sit on the Finance and Expenditure Committee hearings for this legislation but I was involved with members across the House in the urgent and timely response that we had after the terrorist attack on 15 March where we heard from a huge range of the general public and those who were immediately impacted and stakeholders from the gun sector and otherwise about the reforms that were proposed in tranche one. I want to extend the Green Party's thanks to those from across the House who've engaged in this process so constructively particularly to the honourable Minister Stuart Nash for his work in leading this.What we are happiest with in this Arms Legislation Bill tranche two of these reforms is the online registry. It is of course a privilege to own a gun in this country. We aren't the likes of America where it is enshrined in a constitution. In much the same way I think that many New Zealanders would think that it isn't necessarily a right to own and utilise or operate a vehicle that same approach I think we should be applying to guns.So it is the case that what we're proposing here in the Arms Legislation Bill is a register that has some similarities with a motor vehicles register as operated by the New Zealand Transport Agency. I would note that there's been a number of those who have seemed to oppose it because of the seeming cost or administrative burden or otherwise that they're talking about but as far as I'm concerned if you were to follow the input from those who have experience within police organisations—in fact those who were in Parliament in the 1990s around the response that we had to Aramoana and the tragedy therein and those who responded to the 1997 Thorp report. At this point in time it's approximated that we have around 1.5 million guns in New Zealand but it's impossible to know because we don't have a gun registry. If we were in 1997 in response to the Thorp report as was recommended to have implemented the gun registry we might have a grasp on that.So I just really want to reach across the aisle and speak to the point that was raised by my colleague Chris Penk who stated that limited data is of limited value. Look we agree with that but in that same vein of thought it is really important to recognise that the more time that we allow for the accumulation of that data the greater value it offers for solving crimes for pre-empting and stopping crimes from happening in the first place and had we done this over 20 years ago then we may be in a much better position than we are now with the unknown 1.5 million - odd guns out there at present.It's really important as well to speak to the changes that have been put forward around licensing and also around the fit and proper person criteria. I find it quite interesting that the Opposition seems to oppose the notion of there being checks and balances or rather the notification of people who have mental ill health. I would state that the Greens are often the ones who are speaking about the stigmatisation of those with mental ill health but on this point in particular I find the inconsistency fascinating in that the National Party seems to be unhappy with the notification of something like mental ill health but is really happy to talk about people's connections to the likes of organised gangs or otherwise. Surely we should be applying the same tests to the both of them—surely we should be applying the same tests to the both of them.I also want to speak to what has been raised by a number of members throughout the process that we have gone through and I want to actually applaud the Opposition for their work constructively with the Government on passing the first tranche of gun regulation and changes. I also really want to applaud the frontbencher for the Nats the Hon Judith Collins who at the point in time post - 15 March said and I quote Bugger off!" to the gun lobby and said at that point in time that she thought if my understanding is correct that a gun register is essential. So I am really interested to hear what that former Minister has to say.I also think that it is—Hon Member: And Chris Bishop?CHLÖE SWARBRICK: Yeah it is going to be really interesting to hear from other members such as Chris Bishop about his position because it seems to have ebbed and flowed. I do wonder who has been in his ear and I'd love to hear his rationale for now falling in behind the rank and file of the National Party.It's also the case that this legislation as proposed and as has gone through the Finance and Expenditure Committee creates new offences and penalties. This is something that the Greens take really seriously when we're talking about creating those new offences and penalties: that on balance when it comes to the real challenge of making sure that our communities are safer and that we are regulating effectively that we have struck that balance here.There are a few bits and pieces that we look forward to continuing work with with our Government partners and hope that there is continued constructive engagement from the Opposition. I'm looking forward to the committee of the whole House stage and to eventually passing this bill in its full and final form creating that registry that should have been created well over 20 years ago and putting a few things right. The Green Party is proud to support this bill."