Salesa JennySMOKE-FREE ENVIRONMENTS (PROHIBITING SMOKING IN MOTOR VEHICLES CARRYING CHILDREN) AMENDMENT BILLThird ReadingHon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): I move That the Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. Talofa lava and happy Samoan Language Week. I'd like to thank the members in Parliament Government officials NGOs and all members of the public who made submissions and advocated and played a role in getting the bill to this stage. I especially want to thank Brendon Baker Nidha Khan Kirsty Shepherd Sally Stewart and the rest of the tobacco control team at the Ministry of Health for their tireless work on this bill. I'd also like to acknowledge and thank the Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield who's been a leader and an advocate and a strong person in terms of tobacco control and public health for many many years.Our collective desire and commitment to protecting our children tamariki and rangatahi have been a critical driving force behind this bill. I know this bill has taken a while. In fact it's been a decade since the Māori Affairs Committee recommended that the Government should investigate banning smoking in vehicles carrying children. Today it is good to know that we are finally going to pass this important piece of legislation.This Government has been clear that children's wellbeing must be at the front and centre of our policy agenda. With this bill I can stand here and proudly say that we are on our way to making New Zealand the best place in the world to be a child. At its core the Smoke-free Environments (Prohibiting Smoking in Motor Vehicles Carrying Children) Amendment Bill protects our tamariki our children and our rangatahi from the dangers of second-hand smoke. It amends the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 and makes it an offence to smoke in a motor vehicle carrying anyone under the age of 18.The Health Promotion Agency will be running an education campaign to inform people about the changes being made to the law prior to the enactment of the bill. While this bill gives police the ability to issue an infringement fee of $50 when the bill comes into effect in 18 months' time it is important to note that enforcement efforts will only focus on public education and changing social norms. Police will use their discretion over whether or not to issue an infringement fee give a warning or provide information and referrals to the local stop-smoking services.During the select committee process members of the public raised concerns about the exemption that makes it permissible for adults to smoke in a vehicle with a child if the vehicle is stationary and used as a dwelling. They contended that all tamariki and children regardless of their current living situation deserve equal protection under the legislation. This Government reflected on these concerns and agreed that the exemption was too broad. This bill will now only exempt motor vehicles that have been manufactured for use on occasion as a permanent dwelling for example caravans or motorhomes while they are stationary on a road and used as a dwelling. Any other motor vehicle—for example a car that is in use as a dwelling—will not be included in this exemption.To conclude I'd like to thank everyone that has played a role in getting the bill to this stage. This includes the Health Committee and everyone who has submitted on this bill especially our tamariki and young people who came to make submissions. Your stories concerns and suggestions made a valuable contribution to the committee's consideration of this bill.The public has been waiting for this bill for a decade and people want action as soon as possible. I'm very pleased to be able to stand here today and say that I strongly commend this bill to the House. Thank you Mr Speaker.