Hayes John: Sports Anti-Doping Bill — In Committee 
Hayes John: Sports Anti-Doping Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:634;Page:6140] 
JOHN HAYES (National—Wairarapa) 
: 
 Mr Chairman— 
Darren Hughes 
: The athletic prowess himself. 
JOHN HAYES 
: The member for Otaki might laugh but I have been out every morning for weeks doing my 30 minutes Push Play. I say to that youthful member of this House who probably cannot remember back to the 1960s that at that time when I was young—[ 
Interruption 
]—yes I say to Ms Dalziel; about the same time as she was young—our parents had to demand that we come in from being outside. Today under this politically correct cringing administration we have trouble getting our kids to go outside. They are glued to the Internet they are glued to television— 
Martin Gallagher 
: It’s all Darren’s fault. 
JOHN HAYES 
: It is—the bikie boy from Otaki. Because we are dealing with a leftist administration I suggest that we could find useful because we are supporting this bill together the words of Nelson Mandela who extolled the virtues of sport in the following way: “Sport is very important for building character”—the member might pass that on to the Prime Minister—“because when you’re involved in sport your individual character comes out your determination your ability to be part of the team and the acceptance of the collective effort is extremely important in developing your country as well as patriotism.” It is in this context that I want to reflect for half a minute on the issue of role models because they are extremely important to the development of our community. 
Over the last 20 years I have seen the development of commercial sport with people earning very very significant amounts of money. When they have finished with their sport having earned quite a lot of money they seem to move on to the entertainment industry where they earn more significant amounts of money. But there is a common denominator—drugs. I think the people who have found themselves tangled up in this way are very poor role models and that is why I welcome and my party welcomes this bill and supports the Labour Government in promoting it. I think that is a very important issue. 
As I said at an earlier stage of this bill sport is a thriving and vital part of our economy. We see it here in Wellington in the impact of sporting events at the Cake Tin. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: The what? I thought the member came from the Wellington region. It’s not called that in the Wairarapa. 
JOHN HAYES 
: The Cake Tin yes. The member’s Wainuiomata ratepayers contributed as did mine in the Wairarapa. I think sport also helps project the nation on the international stage and I particularly welcome the activities of our yachtsmen who are competing in and preparing for the America’s Cup campaign. I think sport plays a significant role potentially in our international relations. 
The habits developed in childhood remain with us for life. Coming back to what I said at the beginning I think there are many reasons for the diminishing rate of participation in sport among children. A glimpse inside the average suburban home in the Wairarapa provides the clues: television computer games and the Internet. Our communities now—and I am talking particularly of the Wairarapa—have far more two-income families and single-parent families for whom getting children to and from sport is very difficult. I think we need as a community to address these issues. 
Let me refer now to the bill and in particular to Subpart 3 “Rules” in Part 2. Clause 16(4) states: “Before making a rule under this section the board must give national sporting organisations athletes and the Privacy Commissioner”—God help us—“a reasonable opportunity to comment on the proposed rule.” Having the Privacy Commissioner involved is an example of political correctness. Then I refer to clause 17 and in particular to subclause (1) which states: “The following written material may be incorporated by reference in the rules: (a) standards requirements or recommended practices of the World Anti-Doping Agency:”. That is fair enough. Then that is repeated: “(b) the World Anti-Doping Agency’s International Standards:”. It strikes me that that is superfluous and unnecessary. Paragraph (c) states: “the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Models of Best Practice.” This is very poorly drafted legislation. 
Let me go on. Clause 18 “Effect of amendments to or replacement of material incorporated by reference in rules” states—work this lot out—“An amendment to or replacement of material incorporated by reference in the rules (the principal rules) has effect as part of the principal rules only if rules made after the making of the principal rules state that the particular amendment or replacement has that effect.” What is the Minister for Sport and Recreation up to here? This is gobbledegook—absolute nonsense with no meaning at all. And he is asking us to support it? For goodness’ sake he should get his drafting sorted out. 
Let us move on to clause 20 “Effect of expiry of material incorporated by reference” which states: “Material incorporated by reference in the rules that expires or is revoked or ceases to have effect ceases to have legal effect as part of the rules only if rules made under section 16 state that the material ceases to have legal effect.” I say to the people of this country that they are paying millions of dollars for bureaucrats to write this gibberish this absolute and utter nonsense. It hurts me to have to get up here and support this bill because I disapprove of this absolute nonsense that the Minister is promoting to us and to the people of New Zealand. 
Next I refer the Minister to clause 33 “Term of office of members of Tribunal” which states: “Except as provided in section 34 a member of the Tribunal holds office for a term not exceeding 5 years.” Well what is wrong with 3 years? We should keep it near to a parliamentary term because in that way we can keep a balance in appointment processes. 
Next is the real hole in the Minister’s legislation clause 43 “Privileges and immunities” which states: “(1) Witnesses appearing before the Tribunal have the same privileges and immunities as witnesses have in proceedings in a District Court. (2) Every counsel agent or other person appearing before the Tribunal has the same privileges and immunities as counsel have in proceedings in a District Court.” If I were from another country such as China which exports dope and drugs and in particular sport-enhancing drugs I think I would put all my athletes on diplomatic passports because straight away the whole lot of them would be exempt from the Minister’s rules.