Bridges Simon: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBridges Simon: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11882. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Associate Minister of Justice) on behalf of theMinister of Justice:I move That the Human Rights Amendment Bill be now read a third time. This bill will enhance New Zealand’s ability to comply with our domestic and international human rights obligation. The bill makes changes to the structure and functions of the Human Rights Commission. The purpose of these changes is to strengthen the performance of the commission particularly by giving a greater flexibility to respond to emerging human rights issues including disability rights. I would like to recap what specific changes the bill makes and the key issues that have arisen during its passage through the House.First the bill replaces the current composition of three full-time and up to five part-time commissioners with four to five commissioners who can be full-time or part-time. The Act currently requires the three named commissioners to be full-time while all other commissioners must be part-time. This could exclude suitably qualified people from the positions of Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner or Race Relations Commissioner because they are not able to work full-time. It could also limit the ability of other commissioners to take a more active role. Removing that distinction will help make the commission more effective as it deals with a wide range of human rights issues.The second change the bill makes is to remove specific provisions related to the Race Relations Commissioner and Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner. The bill will still require that commissioners be appointed to lead the work of the commission in these areas and in disability rights. The bill adds disability rights to the list of mandatory portfolios in recognition of the commission’s role under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The commission is part of a group of organisations set up to monitor and report on the Government’s performance under the convention.Initially the bill removed the statutory titles of the commissioners. There was concern that removing the named positions would diminish the role of the commissioners. The Minister of Justice therefore proposed an amendment to clarify that a commissioner leading work in one of the three priority areas may use the appropriate title for that leadership role. These three areas are among those that receive the most discrimination complaints and it is important that the commission retains a focus on these areas for the foreseeable future.The third change the bill makes is to enable the Chief Human Rights Commissioner to designate commissioners to lead work in other human rights areas the commission considers to be a priority. This means the formal portfolios will not be restricted to the areas specified in the Act. In practice all commissioners have responsibility for several areas. The bill allows these roles to be recognised formally but without the need to amend the Act. The new priority areas are designated in accordance with the strategic direction of the commission which is set by all the commissioners acting collectively. Empowering the chief commissioner to create new roles while also retaining the existing roles in the Act gives the commission flexibility to respond to emerging human rights issues while also indicating those areas that Parliament considers to be of ongoing importance.There was a concern that requiring the chief commissioner to consult with the Minister when designating an area of work as a priority and when allocating that area of responsibility to a commissioner would reduce the independence of the commission. That is not the case. Requiring the chief commissioner to consult with the Minister is not a new requirement as this part of the bill essentially duplicates consultation provisions that are currently in the Act. The requirement to consult does not mean the Minister may direct the commission. It is a requirement to consult and nothing more which accords with best practice.Finally I want to thank the commission for its support during the development of the bill. The changes in this bill will help the commission to remain effective and will position it to respond to the human rights needs of everyone in New Zealand now and in the future. I commend this bill to the House.