Bridges Simon: Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill — First Reading 
Bridges Simon: Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:661;Page:9706] 
SIMON BRIDGES (National—Tauranga) 
: 
 It is very positive to speak on the Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill because I am sure there will not be a party in this Parliament that fundamentally disagrees with it. I think we have a broad consensus in this Parliament for a seamless operating environment for businesses between Australia and New Zealand. We have a consensus for a closer relationship between our two countries—two countries but one market if you like is what we are working towards. As I said I think it makes this very positive. 
I want to talk in a generalised sense about the nuts and bolts of this bill then talk about what it represents. What it represents is quite significant. It represents closer relations and excellent relations between our Prime Ministers our justice Ministers and our officials right on down. I agreed with the Hon Lianne Dalziel and Minister Power when they said it shows how we on both sides of the Tasman can have real confidence in our judiciary. 
The Trans-Tasman Proceedings Bill implements a treaty between New Zealand and Australia. It has one aim: to make it easier to resolve civil legal disputes with connections on both sides of the Tasman. The bill which is highly complex and technical will apply to a broad range of civil disputes benefiting both businesses and individuals. We understand that it would be complex because over a long period of time many countries including our own have built up procedures that become quite different from other countries. To unravel that to systematise things and to rationalise things so that there is a seamless relationship between countries takes some doing. 
It will also allow for appearances by video link from one country to the other. Today we have already gone through a reading on another bill that provides for greater video link in our courts domestically. I think it is excellent that we are also doing this trans-Tasman so that businesses are spared the costs of interlocutory matters and adjournments and the like and having to fly the Tasman with all the consequences that go with that not only financial but also in terms of carbon miles and the like. 
The bill also allows the enforcement of regulatory regimes supporting trans-Tasman markets. As I have already said it is worth noting that this bill is where it is today because of a number of players most significantly at that high level between Prime Ministers where there is a warm working relationship and greater integration occurring at a regular and reasonably swift pace then down to the Ministers of Justice level where I know Minister Power has been working hard and often with his colleagues on the other side of the Tasman and in various states and at official level and downwards. 
A working-group was established that has drilled down if you like and made this bill possible in terms of getting into the detail. That group comprised senior officials from the relevant Government agencies in both Australia and New Zealand. I will not go through its recommendations one by one and line by line but they are of interest. One of their recommendations was that the proposed regime would allow initiating process and civil proceedings issued out of a court in Australia or New Zealand to be served in the other country with the same effect as if service had occurred in the country of issue. It seems to me that that is very significant because any litigation lawyer will say that just domestically trying to serve another party or group to a proceeding causes enough hassle as it is in terms of trying to find them along with the rigmarole one has to go through when that party cannot be found with substituted service and the like. We have rationalised that and made that seamless on both sides of the Tasman and I think that is very good. Again it goes towards cutting down business costs and compliance costs and pushing for one market so that a business in Palmerston Australia can do business with Palmerston North New Zealand as if we were one. 
Having talked about some of those nuts and bolts and some of the things this bill does I again reflect on the significance of this bill in a broader lens. It reflects the general commitment on both sides of the Tasman to enhance the operation of the single economic market. It reflects the warmth of relations and the absolute confidence we can have in first-class judiciaries on both sides of the Tasman and long may that continue.