SpeechThird ReadingHon SHANE JONES (Minister of Forestry): E Te Māngai o Te Whare tēnā koutou ko ngā mokopuna—greetings to you and as I said in our Māori language the mokopuna. I move That the Forests (Regulation of Log Traders and Forestry Advisers) Amendment Bill be now read a third time.This particular bill in its development has been shepherded forward by the officials from Te Uru Rākau a division of the ministry of te ahu matua—primary produce—and I want to place on record my acknowledgment and my mihi as we say in our reo to vice-Minister otherwise known as manager Julie Collins and her team some of whom are in the House this evening.I want to traverse some of the key points of this bill and acknowledge the support that this bill has enjoyed initially from all parties in the House. It was attacked by the former member of Clutha-Southland and it was also criticised but voted for by the member of Bay of Plenty. Considerable changes have happened in the lives of those two men but now we are here where we are this evening.The purpose of the bill—the people of the forestry sector including the processing sector should derive a great deal of confidence that their industry is in a safe pair of hands this evening. Gone are the days where the processing sector will no longer be able to enjoy a place of pride. In fact in the event that electoral fortunes smile upon my good self I look forward to seeing the processing sector the planting sector the nursery sector and other elements of the forestry industry joining together and creating a credible peak industry body.If I learnt anything during the process of this bill I saw the costs of people not working together. Sadly they catastrophised various statements and they imagined the worst. I don't want to mention any of them by name because this speech will one day possibly be referred to—in the event that elements of the forestry sector prove to be recalcitrant it could very well feature one day in a court case. The purpose of the Act outlines the need for a consistent and reliable supply of timber. There are critics who say the bill doesn't go far enough and it doesn't enable the State to force our largely foreign-dominated sector to sell logs at a stipulated price. That was a step too far. The bill very simply creates an occupational licensing regime and firmly within the sights of this bill is that category of trader otherwise known as a log monger. The owners of small plots of trees were very happy to hear that this bill will register advisers. If it's good enough to have real estate advisers and agents registered if it's good enough to have the advisers of financial alchemy registered then it's certainly a good idea to have forestry advisers registered.It also requires in terms of developing regulations practice standards. Practice standards will give a guide as to what is an appropriate level of conduct. I want to go on record and acknowledge the co-leader James Shaw and the Minister of Conservation who during various discussions of a small group known as the forestry Minister's group reminded me that forestry has a major contribution to play in relation to biodiversity climate change and that one shouldn't just think about the rows and rows with great monotony—similar like the Kaingaroa Forest. There is an opportunity also to bear in mind the importance in terms of future investments in the forestry estate for biodiversity. It was not where I started I must confess. However that's the value of a functioning coalition Government on the matter of forestry. So having told the truth there I shall now move on.On the question—SPEAKER: Ha ha! That's not a good way of putting it.Hon SHANE JONES: —in relation to the need for the processing sector to enjoy a higher level of investment confidence this day is overdue. Not all log mongers historically have been rascals but far too many have enjoyed to the detriment of the good name of this industry laissez-faire powers. They've enjoyed the rights but they have been unwilling to absorb the obligations. Well tonight this legislation God willing when it passes and the regulations developed—obligations will be imposed on log mongers to not only look after the international purchasers but to address the concerns of the community of the employees and of the industry to ensure that this valuable endowment is made available not only for international purchasers but for domestic processes.I'm going to wind this speech up by reminding us that forestry has a tremendous role to play when we think about the bioeconomy when we think about a host of additional services and goods that can be derived from this sector. But no one will spend their precious capital if they are beset by doubt and uncertainty as to whether they'll ever get access to a reliable and reasonably large supply of raw material. This bill represents a step in that direction. Yes it does unsettle some of the people who have profited from the status quo but no industry in the post-COVID context should imagine that their stakes or their interests are static. The economy is dynamic. The economy is organically capable of quite simply healing itself because an economy is people and people are looking for opportunity where they are not going to be gamed but they have a fair and reasonable opportunity to grow their business the prospects of more jobs and the prospect of better enterprise outcomes. This bill which I've been completely privileged to bring to the House and shepherd through to this stage of a third reading is an overdue contribution to those outcomes. My party as a part of our coalition Government are absolutely overwhelmed with pride with this bill and I shall air its benefits widely over the next eight weeks. Thank you very much sir.