Sosene Lemauga LydiaLEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour): Fakaalofa lahi atu Madam Speaker. I rise to make a contribution to the third reading of this bill and I would like to congratulate my colleague Stephanie Lewis for bringing this and shepherding it into the House. I'm really pleased to be able to do so because I was not a member of the select committee or involved in the previous readings. But I would like to acknowledge the members of the Primary Production Committee specifically for their collegiality and the constructive feedback that has been provided by the process but also to the officials for their guidance to the select committee process and those who took the time to submit to the bill because of its importance. I'm really proud to make a contribution to this bill in the third reading and to highlight as to in my view the purpose the why and the amendments of the bill that focuses on and the Government's support and focus for biosecurity and biodiversity. In the bill it does talk specifically about crafts coming to New Zealand bringing travellers and that the borders have opened up to allow Kiwis New Zealanders to travel back and forth. So whilst there is some information what the bill does do is it provides a very clear framework of what to do for individuals for people travelling to the border and utilising new technologies such as apps and not just focusing on written information. Because the borders are now open the risk is increased in terms of protecting biosecurity and biodiversity within Aotearoa. Because whilst we do want people to travel back and forth to Aotearoa we're not so sure about the understanding and the clarity—and listening to the bill previously it is important that the language that is used is actually understood by those coming in and out whatever their background age and ethnicity.What the bill does is it provides the stricter clarity of the liability of operators and more certainty around the information. The current biosecurity information that is already provided to passengers—you come through the system that the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has and I do want to acknowledge the officials but the bill does seek to further strengthen our protection from any threats that we could be open to. I do want to remind the House that just recently we did have the fruit fly that really threatened produce in New Zealand and mainly in Auckland in particular parts of I think it was Devonport and the CBD but the funding that was provided to strengthen and take immediate action for those communities was well over $10 million.The proposed amendments that are recommended and introduced in this bill do require commercial craft en route to New Zealand. I actually want to talk about the risks or the uncertainty. I actually was involved in two live cases as a staffer in Auckland where there were two grandmothers that travelled to two different countries and didn't fully understand (a) because of their age; (b) because of their Pacific background; and (c) because they were travelling with a family member. What they had forgotten to declare was one piece of fruit each and because one in particular had dementia they got stung quite badly. The scenario that was described was coming through MPI officials through Auckland International Airport at 4 a.m. from Qatar which was really challenging for the caregiver. I talk about that scenario because sometimes we assume that when people read important information about our laws don't fully understand and there was quite a breakdown of communication between the traveller and the family member. Then getting to our borders whilst they were empathetic the officials had a job to do. So I describe that scenario because it's quite easy to assume post-COVID that people coming into New Zealand understand our laws when actually plain clear language and even visual aids will help provide that information to travellers. In the bill as it is introduced it talks about the commencement date and we are aware that the ministry and industry representatives are really serious particularly because our primary sector is really helping with exports as we in a post-COVID environment continue to support that. And the Government is really serious and in this bill provides the contribution in asking in putting the onus back on not just people coming on those crafts but the travellers need to understand the biosecurity and the threats to our biodiversity.Just in terms of the protection of the strengthening through this bill for Aotearoa at our borders and travel gates it's a common-sense bill. We want to take the guesswork for officials because further to the scenario described earlier just very quickly there was quite a breakdown of communication even with the officials at MPI at the border where one was quite lenient to the two travellers and the family members and one actually wanted to operate the law. We need that certainty. We need to take the guesswork and the risks so that our people at the borders don't just assume that they fully understand the compliance that must protect at the borders.So the bill guarantees the protection of our natural environment for those that are travelling and it also will ensure what travellers must do—not should do but must do—in strengthening the amendment in this bill and for the protection at the border. I do want to go back and congratulate Stephanie and the Primary Production Committee and congratulate everyone that's been involved. I commend this bill to the House.