Davidson MaramaMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green): The Greens are supporting this Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill because we would all like to live in a world without violence and without hatred. The Green Party has stood for nonviolence and protection of human rights since the very beginning days of our movement. These are and always have been core values for us and we take very seriously the difficult question of how the Government should respond to violent radicalisation of all kinds. In the context of the 15 March attacks we are particularly aware of the rising threat of global white supremacist violence. It is in this context that I rise to speak to the Terrorism Suppression (Control Orders) Bill.This bill will introduce a new system of civil control orders for those who have engaged in terrorism activities overseas on their return to New Zealand. I fully acknowledge that the Green Party has reservations about introducing civil control orders because of the extent to which these curb rights and freedoms without requiring a criminal standard of proof. Lawyers academics journalists and human rights advocates have all raised questions about the need for this bill and the degree of procedural safeguards. I particularly want to thank all those who despite a short time frame pulled together careful analysis that helped the select committee improve the bill. This is why we need a strong and independent civil society: it is of invaluable assistance in creating good law which all of us here in this House are concerned about.So it's no secret that the Green Party originally planned to oppose this legislation; however we have the power and the responsibility in Government to improve things as much as we can wherever we can. I want to acknowledge Minister Little and all the Labour members of the select committee for working constructively with my colleague Golriz Ghahraman to enhance procedural protections in this bill. For anyone who still says we should have let Labour sort this out with National I urge people to read the select committee report and look to the changes National would have added. To their eternal shame National is not getting up here today presenting a liberal defence of due process before the courts. Nope. Instead they're getting up and arguing for a Draconian regime that would be truly appalling.The Green Party is proud to have prevented that outcome. We are proud that we took this law in the other direction adding additional protections. The National Party have been playing politics with national security in the worst possible way demonstrating a shocking disregard for human rights. We could not in good conscience leave such an important issue to the demands of an increasingly authoritarian National Party. National blocked changes at select committee that were called for by organisations such as the New Zealand Law Society the Human Rights Commission the Law Commission the Privacy Commissioner and the Chief Justice. We will still be making these changes through a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) Minister Little has lodged today.Thanks to the advocacy of the Green Party in Government we will be introducing a review clause requiring independent consideration after two years of the operation of this law including consideration of whether this legislation is needed. This is particularly important given the shortened select committee time frame for the consideration of the bill. This is just one example of the changes the National Party blocked at select committee in an egregious display of bad-faith politics. This SOP will also be introducing a guarantee of access to legal aid. This protection will ensure fair process and access to justice so that all New Zealanders have confidence that people subject to this regime are able to properly test the evidence against them through a specialist lawyer. Once again this was blocked at select committee by National.Through the SOP we will also improve the provisions for security-cleared lawyers to be used when evidence is restricted for national security reasons enhance the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act protections and made a suite of other procedural improvements—all blocked by National at select committee. Most importantly Mr Speaker—Mr Speakers [Change of presiding officer]—we have prevented National—SPEAKER: Mr Speaker.MARAMA DAVIDSON: —Mr Speaker—from taking this legislation down a very dark pathway. Not only did they block improvements they sought changes that would have been unconscionable in a free and democratic society. They wanted 14-year-olds to be included in this legislation. They wanted indefinite control orders. This could have led to children being slapped with life-long restrictions. They also tried to use this bill to authorise 72-hour airport detention. These changes are so far removed from what is necessary to protect safety that they can only be seen as a dog whistle to hardliners. We are not in Government to let National get their way on issues as important as these.I'm very proud we've stopped that from happening and secured significant additional protections for the right to justice. Our New Zealand Bill of Rights Act requires that any limits on rights and freedoms must only be subject to reasonable limits. We take seriously the responsibility to ensure our laws meet this standard. This should be true for all political parties in this House. It is a sad day when one of our major political parties completely ignores the importance of human rights for the sake of political convenience. I'm proud that the Greens have been able to engage constructively to improve due process and New Zealand Bill of Rights Act protections.Finally I would like to once more thank the people who did submit on this bill despite the very tight time frame. They've worked hard to improve the bill and I think they've succeeded. Thank you Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Before I call the Hon Gerry Brownlee Marama Davidson I came in late during that speech but during the time I was in the chair I observed that you read your speech; you should not.