Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to MembersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeQuestions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members[Sitting date: 25 June 2013. Volume:691;Page:11176. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Questions to MinistersGovernment Communications Security Bureau—Law Society Submission on Legislative Reform1.KEVIN HAGUE (Green) on behalf ofDr RUSSEL NORMAN (Co-Leader—Green) to theMinister responsible for the GCSB: Does he agree with the New Zealand Law Society when it describes outcomes in the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment Bill as “unacceptable and inconsistent with the rule of law”; if not why not?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Minister responsible for the GCSB):No because the bill clarifies the longstanding practices of the Government Communications Security Bureau to assist other agencies as it has under successive Governments for over a decade. The bill also significantly strengthens the oversight regime for our intelligence agencies. As I have said several times before this is not a debate about whether a particular New Zealander will have intelligence gathered about them and their activities. That will happen with the appropriate safeguards and oversight. The debate is about which agency conducts that surveillance which of course must be done under lawful authority.Kevin Hague: Is he relaxed then that as the New Zealand Law Society highlights the bill will allow New Zealanders to be spied on more extensively and never be told in a manner that is—and I quote—“unacceptable and inconsistent with the rule of law.”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I have just answered that question in my answer to the primary question. I do not agree with the Law Society.Kevin Hague: Does he agree with the Law Society that the bill transforms the Government Communications Security Bureau from an agency focused on foreign threats to an agency focused on New Zealanders—and again I quote—“in a way not previously contemplated and that is inconsistent with the rights to freedom of expression and freedom from unreasonable search and seizure under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and with privacy interests recognised by New Zealand law.”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No. Other than actually strengthening the oversight regime and some work around support for private companies in relation to cyber-security nothing actually changes from what the Government Communications Security Bureau has been doing under the Labour Government with the legislation introduced by Labour in 2003 supported by Helen Clark and Michael Cullen and half the travellers sitting on the other side of the House.Kevin Hague: Does he stand then by his claim that this bill is simply a matter of clarification when in fact as the Law Society has spelt out the bill completely transforms the Government Communications Security Bureau and gives it expanded powers and functions?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I completely stand by my statement. It is worth recalling if we go back let us say to 2006 a period when Helen Clark was the Prime Minister. I am sure that if we looked through the records it is eminently possible that the Government Communications Security Bureau provided assistance to the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service the New Zealand Defence Force or the Police. That will be the situation when the law is changed and that is because there are currently difficulties of interpretation and we therefore ceased that assistance. I would also point out that that assistance is very important for New Zealanders and it provides security and safety for New Zealanders. Members who do not want to provide that security and safety for New Zealanders should make that clear to the New Zealand public next time there is a problem.Kevin Hague: Is it the Government’s intention as is currently in the bill to allow the Government Communications Security Bureau—and again I quote the Law Society—to “under a cloak of co-operation with some other specified agency perform any activities that it chooses.”?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: That just shows you what is wrong with the Law Society. It is not under a cloak; it is under a warrant.Kevin Hague: Is the Law Society incorrect when it says that safeguards provided in the bill are—again I quote—“entirely inadequate” to protect New Zealanders’ freedom of expression and freedom from invasive search?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I believe they are incorrect. I think it is also worth pointing out that if we look at the legislation these are the sorts of things that it is doing in terms of enhancing oversight of the intelligence agencies. We are changing and removing the requirement that the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security be a retired High Court judge. This will increase the pool of people who can do the job. Secondly we are making the Inspector-General’s office more proactive by increasing the requirements on the office and moving it a step forward from existing review-focused work programmes. Thirdly we will be increasing the resourcing and staffing of the Inspector-General’s office including creating a new role of Deputy Inspector-General—Kevin Hague: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think we have all read the explanatory note. I do not think we need—Mr SPEAKER: If the member is satisfied with the answer then has he further supplementary questions?Kevin Hague: Does the Minister have a genuinely open mind when it comes to the submission from the Law Society and will he ensure that the bill is amended so that it complies with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act and international human rights standards?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Of course we will be listening to submissions as they are presented to the Intelligence and Security Committee but of course if the majority of Parliament does not agree with them then no amendments will be made on the back of their recommendations.Economic Programme—Progress2.CHRIS AUCHINVOLE (National)to theMinister of Finance: What progress is the Government making in building a more competitive and productive economy and how is this helping New Zealand families?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Acting Minister of Finance): I am pleased to report we are making very good progress in building a more productive and competitive economy. For example last week Statistics New Zealand reported on gross domestic product for the March quarter. Despite the impact of the drought earlier this year the data confirmed that the economy grew 0.3 percent in the 3 months to March and 2.4 percent in the 12 months to March. It shows that the New Zealand economy is on the right track in line with Budget forecasts of economic growth more jobs rising wages and a return to fiscal surplus in 2014-15. It is good news for New Zealand families providing them with more security in a world that still faces a number of economic difficulties.Chris Auchinvole: How is the New Zealand economy performing compared with other developed countries?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Very well in fact. The 2.4 percent increase in GDP in the year to March compares favourably with many other developed countries. In the same period the US grew by 1.8 percent Canada by 1.4 percent Japan by 0.2 percent and the UK by 0.6 percent and the euro area’s economic activity contracted by 1.1 percent.Dr David Clark: Worst economic record in 50 years.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Do not be a parrot Clark. New Zealand’s economic growth was comparable to Australia’s 2.5 percent in the year to March. Although the drought did affect growth in the March quarter forecasters expect momentum to continue this year supported by rising consumer and business confidence and a lift in construction activity.Chris Auchinvole: How has the manufacturing sector contributed to the economy’s improving performance particularly given the declining indicators for manufacturing 5 years ago?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The manufacturing sector is in much better heart than it was 5 years ago. Since the beginning of 2009 the manufacturing sector has grown 9.2 percent as measured by GDP which means it has been growing faster than the economy as a whole. The BNZ - BusinessNZ Performance of Manufacturing Index is currently at 59.2 showing very strong expansion—in fact one of the highest readings in the world today. This is in contrast to 2008 when manufacturing shrank in 1 year by 12 percent and the performance of manufacturing index reached as low as 35.8. You could even argue that the manufacturing sector was in crisis back in 2008 under the previous Labour Government.Hon David Parker: Is it correct that manufacturing exports outside of the primary sector are down 17 percent since 2008 and 6 percent in the latest year for which there is a record?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: This is the constant attempt by Mr Parker to pare away at the manufacturing sector to try to find some bits that have not been successful. But in answer to him I do not have those exact numbers here but I can confirm to him that the construction sector did decline during the global financial crisis but manufacturing overall has been growing under this Government when it was shrinking under Labour.Grant Robertson: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. He has finished now but if Mr Joyce did not have the answer that would have been completely sufficient. He should have had it but he did not have it so—Mr SPEAKER: Order! It is not the member’s job to now start designing the answers he wants from the Minister.Chris Auchinvole: What do current improvements in the economy mean for New Zealand families?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am very pleased to report that the outlook for both the economy—Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. There seems to be a continuing trend from Government backbenchers to use both unnecessary points at the beginning of questions and in that particular case irony.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member Chris Auchinvole has every right to ask a supplementary question. He can ask his supplementary question again.Chris Auchinvole: What do current improvements in the economy mean for New Zealand families?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Notwithstanding the Opposition’s disinterest I am pleased to report that the outlook for both the economy and New Zealand families has improved considerably. For a start the economy is now growing. In 2008 it was deep in a domestic recession that had started before the global financial crisis. There are around 50000 more jobs in New Zealand than there were 2 years ago. The cost of living is low increasing by around 1 percent annually. In 2008 inflation was more than 5 percent. Floating mortgage rates are at 50-year lows and around half of what they were in 2008. The export sector and jobs in that sector are growing. Five years ago tradables—Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is a sufficiently long answer.Hon David Parker: In light of his answer to my last supplementary—Hon Gerry Brownlee: No you can’t ask a question like that.Hon David Parker: —question that he does not know—sorry?Hon Gerry Brownlee: Use the proper question language.Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon David Parker: Is that a point of order?Mr SPEAKER: It would be helpful—[Interruption ] Order! It would be helpful if interjections were not continued from the front bench of the National Party.Hon David Parker: Given that the Minister in response to my last primary question said that he did not know that manufacturing exports outside of the primary sector were down 17 percent why is it that the Minister of Finance has not been advised by the Minister for Economic Development who has been in that portfolio for a number of years that manufactured exports outside of primary exports are down 17 percent in real terms since 2008 and 6 percent in the last year?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I am reliably informed that the Minister for Economic Development has been in the role for about a year and a bit but it may feel like some years to those in Opposition. But I can confirm for the member that the volume of non-food manufactured exports—which may or may not be the exact same definition as hehas—actually did drop 5.8 percent in 2008. Since that time it has grown by 14.6 percent.Government Communications Security Bureau—Legislative Reform3.DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition)to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes.David Shearer: Does he stand by his statement on the Government Communications Security Bureau legislation that “I don’t actually agree it is expanding their powers”; if so how does he explain section 8 in the bill which allows him to authorise the bureau to use its powers in relation to any Government agency without consulting Parliament?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In relation to the first part of the question yes.David Shearer: How does he explain section 8 in the bill which allows him to authorise the bureau to use its powers in relation to any Government agency without consulting Parliament when he says that the bill does not expand its powers?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: In my view it does not expand powers. The Government Communications Security Bureau has always had the ability to provide agencies support and that will continue provided it is on a warranted basis.David Shearer: How is he balancing New Zealand’s security and privacy with a bill that allows the Government Communications Security Bureau to access data held by any Government agency including the Inland Revenue Department the Ministry of Health or any district health board in the country?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am not going to go through all of the records that the bureau might be able to access but the reality is that it has to do that under a warranted basis. It does that providing assistance to another agency. If it was not doing it itself that other agency would have to do that. I would point out to the member that that has been the longstanding practice as established under law by Helen Clark and if that member was really taking his responsibilities seriously he would be voting for the law.David Shearer: Does section 15A in the bill allowing him to grant interception warrants—“(5) This section applies despite anything in any other Act.”—mean that this legislation overrides for example the Crimes Act?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I am not going to offer a legal view because that is not my responsibility. But what I can say is yes I do have the ability to sign a warrant and that is under that well-established practice as any other Minister responsible for the GCSB has had.David Shearer: Does he think consulting with a Minister of Foreign Affairs provides sufficient checks and balances to ensure that the extended powers in the bill are not improperly used?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: The member is quite wrong. The powers are not expanded or extended. The oversight is extended. But what the legislation is attempting to do is to ensure that the very poorly drafted legislation that was brought in by a Labour Government in 2003 where it operated it providing assistance right through that whole period of time is actually now clarified. I say to that member if he does not want to keep New Zealanders safe if he does not want to ensure that we have bare information about the security of New Zealanders well keep going the way you are son but you will not become—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Do not bring me into the debate. [Interruption ] Order!David Shearer: Is he prepared to put the bill on hold pending a short sharp independent inquiry of our intelligence agencies that would secure broad parliamentary support?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I now see that the Leader of the Opposition who realises he is on the wrong side of this debate is trying to find a way out with what he is now calling a short sharp inquiry. That is not the way he was describing it a wee while ago. The member knows we have had a thorough review of the Government Communications Security Bureau—absolutely thorough—[Interruption ] Well they have not been able to find one single point that they actually disagree with with the review—not one point. The member knows that because we have had that discussion. It is the SIS that he has been asking about and the Inspector-General has had a thorough review of that.David Shearer: If he believes it is so urgent to put this bill through in its current form when the situation about illegal spying was known last August why did he not just simply act sooner?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Well firstly the member is quite wrong. There is no proven fact of illegal spying with the one exception of Kim Dotcom. What is correct is that the law has difficulties of interpretation. It is the law passed by Labour in 2003. It is the law administered by Labour in exactly the same way that I have since I have been Prime Minister. The member knows because he sits on the Intelligence and Security Committee and the member knows because he gets briefings from the Government Communications Security Bureau and the SIS that actually the work that they do provides security to New Zealanders and the reason he is not supporting it is that his little pal sitting next—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! That is quite a sufficient answer.Better Public Services Targets—Online Interaction with Government4.KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National)to theMinister of Internal Affairs: What are the Government’s plans for providing more services online?Hon CHRIS TREMAIN (Minister of Internal Affairs):Yesterday the Prime Minister and I launched the Government ICT Strategy and Action Plan to 2017. One of the key initiatives in this new plan aims for all new transactional services to be offered online by 2017. Online options are faster easier and cheaper to use and will be the default option into the future. This relates to our Better Public Services result 10 which aims for 70 percent of New Zealanders’ most common transactions with Government to be completed online by 2017. The services that will increasingly move online include passport renewals and tax payments amongst a range of other initiatives.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: How will New Zealanders’ private information be protected as more services move online?Hon CHRIS TREMAIN: New Zealanders’ information will be better protected with oversight from the Government Chief Information Officer who will report to Ministers on any security risks. The Government Chief Information Officer will also implement improved privacy and security standards and controls across the public sector. The Government Chief Information Officer has already reviewed all kiosk and internet-based information and communications technology systems following issues with Ministry of Social Development kiosks last year. All Government departments have been required to take action to tighten up their services and ensure that New Zealanders’ information is being protected.Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi: What evidence has he seen that New Zealanders are demanding online services?Hon CHRIS TREMAIN: We are seeing a huge demand for online services already with 68 percent of people applying for financial assistance from the Ministry of Social Development now doing that online which is up from 48 percent when the targets were set last year. About 35 percent of adult passport renewals were being done online within 6 months of this service launching. It is clear that there are huge demands for theseservices and this plan the Government ICT Strategy and Action Plan to 2017 takes this country forward.Hon Trevor Mallard: Does he have confidence in his Government Chief Information Officer given his performance in relation to the oversight of Novopay where he chose not to look at the problems because no one asked him to?Hon CHRIS TREMAIN: I have total confidence in the Government Chief Information Officer. He did not have a mandate at that particular point in time for the oversight of Novopay. He now has that mandate and I am confident he will do a great job.MediaWorks—Licence Payment Arrangement Receivership and Outstanding Taxes5.Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First)to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Was he aware before the Government’s delayed licence fee deal with MediaWorks was approved that MediaWorks had a substantial and escalating tax bill that was not being met?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No.Rt Hon Winston Peters: When he was told as it is reported inHansard of 27 September 2012 that the company was as the market said going belly up and tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money was going to be lost what did he do about it?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: It is not for me to wade into a publicly owned company and seek to restructure it. What the Government did do was when there was the issue of licences that had to be paid for up front and it was obvious that MediaWorks amongst a number of players at the time might have had difficulty in actually meeting that cash flow it looked to spread those payments over a period of time. It did so by ensuring there was security over those licences and it did so also ensuring there was an above-market interest rate. That was actually done to protect—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That has got nothing to do with my question. I am talking about—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I will hear the point of order in silence.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am talking about a growing then escalating tax bill which got to $22 million at the time of receivership. That is what I am talking about.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The supplementary question as I remember asked when he was told such and such in the House at some time in September what he did about it. The Prime Minister said that he did not do anything but then he went through a number of things his Government did and he was still answering that question when the member rose to his feet to interrupt him. The member has further supplementary questions if he wants to use them.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is MediaWorks being allowed to go into what has been described as a “ ‘technical’ receivership” to dodge its tax debt of $22 million when that is not available to other taxpayers in this country be they a company or individuals even though they may be mates of Mr Steven Joyce?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly it is very important to understand that there is a clear separation between the responsibilities held by the Inland Revenue Department and Ministers of the Crown. The member knows as a very longstanding member of Parliament that it would be quite wrong of me to engage myself as Prime Minister in the tax affairs of MediaWorks and if I did so the member would be on his feet in this House saying things. The second point I would make is that it is not for me either to understand fully the financial circumstances that the receivers face at MediaWorks. But I can say this one general point—and it may well apply; I have not looked deeply intoMediaWorks—and it is this: it is highly likely that this particular case when it comes to this particular tax liability is an unsecured creditor. It is also highly likely that the secured creditors that are the banks which are owed a considerable amount of money and have now put the company into liquidation even if they did not do this particular form the unsecured creditors would not have their liability met. So whatever way it happens it is highly likely that in fact the tax bill would not be met by MediaWorks because the company is fundamentally broke.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why is the Prime Minister acting on behalf of six foreign-owned banks behind MediaWorks by claiming that he cannot—Hon Steven Joyce: Don’t be a clown. Silly old clown.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Can I ask this question without Steven Joyce—Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! It would certainly be helpful if there were no interjections from this side of the House. Would the member just ask his question.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think that when you were on your feet you were referred to as an old clown by the Minister for Economic Development.Mr SPEAKER: I did not hear it and it is not useful for the order of this House for the member to raise that as a point of order. Would the Rt Hon Winston Peters please continue with his supplementary question.Rt Hon Winston Peters: He meant a bald crown talking about himself. But look—Mr SPEAKER: Order! If the member wants to ask his question—Rt Hon Winston Peters: I am entitled to ask the question. Your job is to—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member is entitled to ask his question but he is not entitled to start it in the way he started that question.Rt Hon Winston Peters: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Is it the ruling of this House that you can actually get a question out without constant interruptions from the front bench of the National Party or is that allowed—including insults as well?Mr SPEAKER: I am trying to assist the member. I have told the front bench of the National Party they are not to interject. The member then rose and started with a comment that was unnecessary to his question. I said that was out of order. I am trying to help the member to have the opportunity to ask his question if he wants to do so. [Interruption ] Order!Rt Hon Winston Peters: Did you hear that interjection?Mr SPEAKER: No I did not. If the member wants to ask his question he should do so otherwise we are moving to the next question.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. When Paula Bennett interjected you looked at her and called her to order. You cannot say that you did not hear her.Mr SPEAKER: It is a matter of which interjection he is referring to. [Interruption ] Order! If the member—for the last time—wants to ask his question he will rise to his feet and ask the question. There will be absolute silence from this side otherwise a member will leave the Chamber. If the question is not asked then we are moving to the next question.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why did the Prime Minister and his Government not move to put this outfit into statutory receivership thereby enabling the recovery of a tax bill of now $22 million which was agreed by MediaWorks when it signed off with the Inland Revenue Department in the Alesco case—why is he allowing it to get out of this by using a technical receivership that is not available to the balance of New Zealand companies?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Firstly I do not have any technical advice—or any advice I should say—about ultimately whether the company could have been put into statutory receivership. At no point was I asked to do that. Secondly there is nothing specific or unique as I understand it to the way that MediaWorks is acting in relation to its receivership. That is not specific to that company—any company could technically do that. Thirdly like I said to the member earlier it really depends on how much debt is owed in terms of secured creditors whether the Inland Revenue Department would have received anything.Economy—Reports6.Hon DAVID PARKER (Labour)to theMinister of Finance: Does he agree with ANZ regarding the New Zealand economy that “Our concern is that the domestic-centric mix of growth is not sustainable from the standpoint of New Zealand’s external imbalances”; if not why not?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Acting Minister of Finance):I agree with a number of statements in the ANZ’s review of GDP in the first quarter for example when it says that lead indicators suggest solid growth in the second half of the year. I agree with it when it says that base momentum is lifting. And I agree with it when it notes a build-up in manufacturing inventories added to GDP. However I do not agree with the particular passage the member quotes. Household savings are in fact up. The Government remains on track to surplus and to begin paying off debt and forecasts have to be considered in view of the large one-off effect of the Canterbury rebuild on domestic activity. And on that basis I disagree with its assertion.Hon David Parker: Why does he expect the public to believe that the recovery is broad-based and the benefits are being shared by all when 40 percent of working New Zealanders did not get a pay rise at all in the last year yet the cost of living—be it electricity prices petrol taxes health or education costs—keeps going up and up?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Well the member makes an interesting point but I am not sure that it squares with the facts because the reality is that the cost of living is actually the lowest it has been in 9 years. It has gone up about 1 percent in the last year. Interest rates which are of course one of the biggest household costs are as low as they have been for 40-odd years—in fact 50 years I think. That means on balance that most households although they would all like to be further ahead—and of course we all would—are in fact slightly better off in the last 12 months than they would have been the year before.Hon David Parker: Does he understand that New Zealanders are feeling disappointed with his management of the economy given that most of the modest economic gains have gone to the few percentage at the top while everyone else has stayed still or—Hon Dr Nick Smith: Not true.Hon David Parker: —it is—gone backwards?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: I suppose the lie of that statement is probably the polling numbers that suggest that New Zealanders in fact are supporting the economic direction of this Government. The reality is that it has been tough the world over in terms of people getting ahead but in the New Zealand context with low interest rates low mortgage rates a low cost of living increase and a Government that is running the economy carefully and successfully we are actually doing better than most parts of the world.Paul Goldsmith: How does New Zealand’s external balances compare with what the Government inherited in 2008?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: Statistics New Zealand last week announced that the current account deficit in the first quarter was 4.8 percent of GDP and was actually down a bit and compares with the current account deficit in the final quarter of 2008 where it peaked at 8.8 percent of GDP. That was the worst quarter in the last 25 years and came at the end of a 4-year period in which the current account deficit averaged over 8 percent. So what we are seeing is a steady rebalancing of the New Zealand economy and that is reflected in our external balances.Human Rights—Legislative Decision-making and Constitutional Safeguards7.JAN LOGIE (Green)to theAttorney-General: Does he agree with the New Zealand Law Society that “The rule of law lies at the very foundation of a free and democratic society and is essential for the protection of human rights”; if not why not?Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (Attorney-General):Yes although I would observe that it is the rule of law not the rule of lawyers and it is certainly not the rule of the mob which is the Green Party’s preferred approach.Jan Logie: Does he also then agree with the Law Society’s view that “a number of recent legislative measures are fundamentally in conflict with the rule of law”?Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: No I do not.Jan Logie: Does he stand by that response given that the Law Society identified that this Government has passed five laws that remove the courts’ constitutional role of judicial review three laws that the give the executive—i.e. his Cabinet—unjustified powers three laws that have serious human rights concerns and five laws that he himself gave negative New Zealand Bill of Rights Act reports to?Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: No I do not agree with the Law Society. Moreover I say for example in relation to section 7 reports that I provide those reports as the law officer of the Crown and then they are made available to Parliament so that it can debate the issues. The Law Society has got the wrong end of the stick when it goes on about section 7 reports because it does not understand the procedure set out and adopted by this Parliament for many years.Jan Logie: How was his last performance appraisal with the Prime Minister given that the first role of the Attorney-General in the Cabinet Manual is “maintaining the rule of law” and the Law Society has identified he is not doing that and is therefore clearly failing to protect New Zealanders’ human rights?Mr SPEAKER: I call the Hon Chris Finlayson in so far as he sees a ministerial responsibility.Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: Well I have my priorities meeting with the Prime Minister tonight and I expect that my report card will be what it was last time—outstanding? Outstanding.Migrant Workers—Protection from Exploitation8.DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East)to theMinister of Immigration: How is the Government planning to further combat the exploitation of migrant workers?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE (Minister of Immigration):This week I announced plans to introduce tough new changes to the Immigration Act in order to make it clear that unlawful and exploitative behaviour will not be tolerated in New Zealand. The new offence will see exploitative employers of temporary migrants face up to 7 years in jail and fines of $100000 and be liable for deportation. By breaking the law unscrupulous employers not only prey on vulnerable staff but also gain an unfair competitive advantage over the majority of good law-abiding employers. The Government is taking the issue very seriously.Dr Jian Yang: What needs to happen to encourage exploited migrant workers to speak out and come forward?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Migrants need to be able to speak out against exploitative employers without fear that they themselves will be penalised or even deported. That is why I have issued new instructions to officials asking them to shift the focus on to employers and away from the employee who comes forward with a complaint. I have asked that those who come forward be able to reapply for a new visa should they need it without the fact that they may have been in breach of their previous visa conditions counting against them. It is important that this message gets out in our migrant communities. That is why I have also asked officials to work closely with our migrant organisations and community leaders to build a communications plan through various channels to get that message across.Dr Jian Yang: How will Government agencies be following up on allegations from migrants who come forward?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Immigration New Zealand agents and the labour inspectorate will work together to investigate and take action as necessary. As we begin to lift the lid on exploitation and get a clearer picture of the size of the problem we will distribute resources as necessary.Sue Moroney: Answer his question. You’re actually avoiding his question. He wants to know how it’s going to happen.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: Well if the member would be quiet I will answer the question. We will distribute resources as necessary to ensure that these new initiatives are properly supported. I am working closely with my colleague the Hon Simon Bridges who is in charge of the labour side of things. From an immigration perspective—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! Would the Minister please finish his answer.Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: —I am exploring future funding options around Immigration New Zealand’s enforcement capability.Darien Fenton: Does he expect Immigration New Zealand to do more with less when it comes to investigating and prosecuting cases of migrant worker exploitation as he told the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee a couple of weeks ago given there is no increase in the 2013-14 and out-years Budget for inspection and enforcement?Hon MICHAEL WOODHOUSE: I will clarify what I said to the select committee and it was this: “The last thing I would say is about resources. I make no apology as the Government doesn’t for asking our public servants to do more with the same.” I then went on to discuss the fact that with those same resources we have managed to reduce the overstayer rate by about a third from what it was under Labour and increase the number of voluntary departures from New Zealand by illegal overstayers by 50 percent. I think that is a very good outcome by our compliance team. I expect the same in the area of exploitation.Solid Energy—Communications Consultants9.Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour)to theMinister for State Owned Enterprises: Does he stand by all his statements regarding Solid Energy?Hon TONY RYALL (Minister for State Owned Enterprises):Yes within the context that they were given. I also stand by my statement that praise was heaped on Don Elder and Mr Palmer not long ago. Actually it was in April last year: “You are performing well.”—a statement by one Hon Clayton Cosgrove at a select committee.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Does he stand by his statement that “I wouldn’t expect to see it happen again.” regarding Solid Energy’s spending of $48000 on communication consultants Saunders Unsworth?Hon TONY RYALL: Yes.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Has he made it clear to Solid Energy that it should cease hiring consultants who are specifically contracted to come up with strategies to evade and undermine parliamentary scrutiny and public oversight of company activities?Hon TONY RYALL: I have made clear to the chairman of Solid Energy that I thought the spending of $48000 for the purposes described in respect of Saunders Unsworth was really a responsibility that he would have to take but I did not expect to see such expenditure again.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Can he confirm that he and his ministerial staff were fully aware of the activities of Solid Energy senior management and Saunders Unsworth in their attempts and efforts to evade and obstruct media and parliamentary scrutiny of the State-owned enterprise’s activities?Hon TONY RYALL: Yes of course my office was copied in on a number of emails—a small number of emails. But I have got to say that my office is copied in to a lot of things including—Hon Clayton Cosgrove: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. He has answered the question. I seek leave to table—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: First of all I want to deal with whether the member is saying that he is happy with the answer and does not need any further information—Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Ecstatic. Ecstatic.Mr SPEAKER: Then he is now seeking leave to table what?Hon Clayton Cosgrove: I seek leave to table an email from Vicki Blyth Communications Manager at Solid Energy of 11 March 2013 which is copied in to the Minister’s office to one Mark Unsworth illustrating the point made in my question.Mr SPEAKER: Leave is sought to table that email. Is there any objection? There is none.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: Has the Minister been advised that Saunders Unsworth has briefed companies and stakeholders about him as Minister claiming that in relation to his handling of the Solid Energy debacle he has been “incompetent”?Hon TONY RYALL: I would not want to comment on any hypothetical allegations from that member but I would—Hon Clayton Cosgrove: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. [Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! I apologise to the Minister.Hon Clayton Cosgrove: I am satisfied with the answer.Mr SPEAKER: I do not even think that the answer has been fully given. We are going to get to the stage when—[Interruption ] Order! We are going to get into difficulty here if a member asks a question and then does not like the answer and so immediately stands up and says that they are satisfied. But on this occasion if the member is satisfied with the answer I intend to move forward. [Interruption ] Order! No we are moving forward.Genetically Modified Organisms—Regulation of Release10.STEFFAN BROWNING (Green)to theMinister for the Environment: Will she be changing the law to restrict councils’ ability to regulate the release of genetically modified organisms in their regions; if so what are the proposed changes?Hon AMY ADAMS (Minister for the Environment):The regulation of the release of genetically modified organisms is and has for more than 15 years been regulated at a national level by the Environmental Protection Authority under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act. I am concerned at indications that some councils are seeking to rewrite what is a nationally set regulatory framework and accordingly it is my intention to progress an amendment to the Resource Management Act to clarify the respective functions and roles of the Environmental Protection Authority and local government in this regard. Communities can be confident that the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act provides a robust system of controls and a very high bar for the entry of GMOs into New Zealand.Steffan Browning: Why has the Government’s position changed since Nick Smith wrote to the councils in 2010 saying that it would not change the law to put in place protections but that “this does not preclude a council from restricting or preventing the use of GMOs in their region”? Why has it changed?Hon AMY ADAMS: Actually the position of the Government and the ministry has been consistent in this regard for some years and I would refer the member to Crown Law advice that the ministry has put on its website from 2003 and 2004 repeating its consistent position that it is not a good idea for councils to be regulating GMOs under their plans and that there are serious legal uncertainties as to how well that would work—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order!Steffan Browning: I seek leave to table a letter from Nick Smith to the Inter-council Working Party on GMO Risk Evaluation and Management Options. It is dated 5 August 2010 and it shows—Mr SPEAKER: That is enough information. Leave is sought to table that letter. Is there any objection? There is not. It can be tabled.Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.Steffan Browning: Given that the Northland and Auckland councils’ decisions to put in place protections are based on 10 years of investigation and evaluation about how to protect their ratepayers how can she justify threatening to swoop in and override their rights and responsibilities just because it suits the GE agenda of this Government?Hon AMY ADAMS: Well I can assure that member that local councils are local councils. They operate under the national framework. There has never been the ability for them to rewrite national rules that they do not like. If councils have concerns about the way the GM regulation in New Zealand works they should raise those with the Environmental Protection Authority and attempt to address the regulation on a national basis. They should not set up their own independent states where they write their own rules and ignore the national framework.Roading Auckland—Pūhoi to Wellsford Route11.MIKE SABIN (National—Northland)to theMinister of Transport: How is the Government working with the Auckland Council to progress the Puhoi to Wellsford Road of National Significance?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Minister of Transport):The Auckland Council has recommended that the road progress through a fast-tracked consenting process and that the Government’s Environmental Protection Authority hold hearings through a board of inquiry and issue a decision within 9 months of notifying applications. I commend the Auckland Council’s regional development and operations committee for its foresight and look forward to improving this vital traffic and economic link to the north.Mike Sabin: What has been the response to the decision to fast track the Pūhoi to Wellsford road of national significance?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: I have seen numerous reports praising the decision to fast track the consenting process. One referred to the Pūhoi to Warkworth and on to Wellsford road of national significance as the umbilical cord to the north. Another said the project “cannot come soon enough” and that the critics of this essential piece of roading infrastructure are doing no more than engaging in rhetoric. I note the spokesmen for both the Greens and Labour have been silent on this matter.Mike Sabin: When does the Government expect to begin the Environmental Protection Authority process?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: The New Zealand Transport Agency advised me that it expects to lodge applications for the Pūhoi to Warkworth section of this project with the Environmental Protection Authority in August of this year. It will go through a 9 month hearing process. We aim to be construction ready by mid-2014.Government Communications Security Bureau Review of Compliance—Investigation into Leak and Ministerial InvolvementGRANT ROBERTSON (Deputy Leader—Labour):My question is to the Prime Minister: does he stand by all the answers given—Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think we have heard enough of that question now.Mr SPEAKER: That is not the least bit helpful to the order of this House.12.GRANT ROBERTSON (Deputy Leader—Labour)to thePrime Minister: Does he stand by all the answers given on his behalf to Oral Question No 3 on 13 June 2013?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister):Yes.Grant Robertson: Why then did he say on 30 May about Mr Dunne “I accept him absolutely at his word … I’ve got no reason to doubt that.” when he had been told on 29 May by his chief of staff that Mr Dunne was not complying with the Henry inquiry?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because I believed that in the fullness of time he would comply.Grant Robertson: Why did he tell the media on 30 May that he did not need to seek further assurances from Mr Dunne about the leaking of the report when he had been informed the day before that Mr Dunne was not complying with the inquiry?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because it is important to understand that I was not running the inquiry. As I said the whole way through I would wait for the report. I was advised on 29 May that there was email correspondence between Mr Dunne and Andrea Vance. I was also told that he was not fully compliant with the inquiry but parties were hopeful that he would.Grant Robertson: Why did he tell Radio Live on 4 June about the Henry report “I’m as much in the dark as anybody else. I haven’t seen a draft of the report. I haven’t had any updates on it.” when in fact he had had updates on it and that Peter Dunne was not complying and when he had regular updates on it between 29 May and 5 June?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Because that is absolutely correct. I did not get a draft copy of the report. I did not have an update on the report.Grant Robertson: You did.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I was aware initially that there was non-compliance. I was also told later on that he was going to be fully complying with the inquiry. That proved to be incorrect as well.Grant Robertson: In light of that answer and the amended answer given on his behalf that he had “several conversations” with his chief of staff about the Henry reportbetween 29 May and 5 June did those conversations include an update on whether Mr Dunne was cooperating with the inquiry?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: Yes. On 29 May my chief of staff advised me that there had been email correspondence between Mr Dunne and Andrea Vance and that Mr Dunne’s office had advised my chief of staff that he was not fully complying with the inquiry. On 30 May I was advised that progress was being made and it was likely that he would be complying and on 4 June I was advised that although some compliance had taken place not all of it had taken place.Grant Robertson: Why has the Prime Minister misled the New Zealand public about what he knew about Peter Dunne’s compliance and why does he continue to bend the truth on occasion after occasion?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I know the member is desperate to put his hand up for the leadership bid that is going on in the Labour Party but I have not misled anybody.Questions to MembersGambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill—Impact1.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour)to theMember in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Is it his intention to proceed with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill; if so does he believe its effect will be a reduction in problem gambling?TE URUROA FLAVELL (Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill):Tēnā koe. Hei āwhina i a koe he paku wāhanga ka whakawhitiwhiti i Te Reo Māori i te reo Pākehā. Ki te mema ka mihi ki a ia mō te āhuatanga o te pātai. Hei whakautu i tana pātai āe. Ko tōna tikanga ka heria haerehia tēnei o ngā kaupapa i runga i tōna huarahi. I hangaia e te Pāti Māori hei kōkiri i ngā take huhua pānui nei ki te āta titiro ki te hōhonutanga o ngā mamaetanga ngā uauatanga kua tau mai ki runga i te iwi Māori ka mutu ki te hunga e noho nei te rawakore. Nā reira ka kitea mai ai pea te hua ā ngā tau kai mua i te aroaro. Nō reira he paku wāhanga o te titiro whānui tonu ki ngā mahi hei karo i te āhuatanga o te ngau o te petipeti ki ngā hunga rawakore.[Thank you. To assist you small segments will be interpreted from Māori to English. To the member I acknowledge him in respect of the nature of the question. To answer his question yes its purpose being that this bill will be taken around on its way. The Māori Party created it as a means of debating the many issues reading this and examining in depth the pains and difficulties that are placed upon the Māori people and eventually upon these living in poverty. So the benefit will be seen perhaps in years to come. Therefore a small part of this really would be looking broadly at situations that will avoid the nature of the effect that gambling will have upon those in poverty. ]Hon Shane Jones: Does he expect gambling will be reduced or increased when operators are allowed to shift their machines to more lucrative venues without restriction?Mr SPEAKER: I am just concerned whether that question has anything to do with this particular bill. The supplementary question must be very tight. It must be related to the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I sat on the select committee and this bill certainly does address the transfer of machines from one venue to another and it changes the rules.Mr SPEAKER: On the assurance from the Hon Trevor Mallard I will certainly allow the question.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is a question about the content of the bill not the process of the select committee nor is it about the intention of the mover of the bill. The rules around questions to members are quite tight.Mr SPEAKER: On the basis of the point of order I have heard from Trevor Mallard I have determined that the question can be asked. If it is helpful to the member he can re-ask his supplementary question.Hon Shane Jones: Does he expect gambling will be reduced or increased when operators are allowed to shift their machines to more lucrative venues without restriction?TE URUROA FLAVELL: Kāre au i te tino mōhio. Kei runga i te āhuatanga o te pire o ngā mahi kai mua i te aroaro. I tēnei wā he kōrero noa ake tērā. Ko wai ka mōhio? Ēngari me pēnei rawa te kōrero. Tērā pea i roto i ngā whiriwhiringa i waenganui i a māua ko te Minita Tremain ko te tikanga ia ka kōkirihia tērā take ā ngā tau kai mua i te aroaro.[I do not really know. It depends upon the nature of the bill and the work that has to be done ahead. At this stage that is mere speculation. Who is to know? But I must really stress this. Perhaps in the negotiations between the Minister and me that issue will be addressed in the years ahead as it should be. ]Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill—Impact2.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour)to theMember in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: How can he proceed with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill when the Problem Gambling Foundation says it will have little if any effect on problem gambling?TE URUROA FLAVELL (Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill):Kai te aroha atu ki te rōpū nei ki te Problem Gambling Foundation. Kei te kaha nei rātau ki te kōkiri ki te whakatikatika i ngā raruraru kua pā mai ki te hunga e rongo nei i te ngau o tēnei o ngā mamae. Ēhara i te mea kei te whakaae atu ki tā rātau e kī nei i te mea mēnā ka whakakotahi nei i tōku pire ki tērā o te Minita ā ka tae mai ki roto i te Whare Pāremata ā ngā marama kei mua i te aroaro. Ko tāku e kī nei āe ka eke ki te taumata e pīrangitia ana ēngari me titiro whānui tōnu. Koina te pai o te noho o tōku pire ki te taha o tērā o te Minita ka kite mai ai i ngā hua.[I empathise with this organisation the Problem Gambling Foundation. It is really working hard to address and to rectify the problems that have affected the ones who have experienced this pain. It is not as though I am agreeing to what it is saying because if I combine my bill with that belonging to the Minister it will arrive in the House in the months ahead. What I am saying here is yes it will make it to the desired threshold but we must really look broadly. That is why my bill sits comfortably alongside the Minister’s bill. It will see the benefits. ]Hon Shane Jones: Has the member considered an amendment to alter the bill’s title to the “Consumption of Dead Rodents (Harm Reduction) Bill”?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a satisfactory supplementary question.Hon Shane Jones: I’m prepared to say it in Māori.Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member can move to question No. 3 if he so desires.Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill—Impact of Amendments3.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour)to theMember in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Does his Gambling (Gambling HarmReduction) Amendment Bill as amended at select committee fulfil his original intentions of the bill he introduced?TE URUROA FLAVELL (Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill):Pēnei i ētahi o ngā mema o te Whare Pāremata mēnā ka noho i tērā taha o te taiapa he uaua kia eke ngā pire katoa ki runga i te taumata e tika ana. Mā te kōrero mā te wānanga mā te tō mai i tētahi wāhanga mā te whakatakoto mai i tētahi wāhanga ka ea. I tēnei wā kāre i tino eke ēngari kei reira tonu tētahi painga. Mēnā ko te painga ka puta ki ngā hapori Māori ki ngā mea e noho nei i te wāhi rawakore koinā te mutunga mai o te pai.[Like some members of the House if they sit on that side of the fence it is difficult for all bills to reach the desired threshold. It is by conversing discussing dragging forth a provision or making one that it will be taken into account. At this stage it has not quite made it but a benefit is still there. If it makes it to the Māori communities to the ones living in poverty so be it. It cannot get any better than that. ]Hon Shane Jones: Given the hopeless nature of the current bill what support is he expecting and will he receive anything supportive from Dr Sharples?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That question does not relate to the primary question.Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill—Impact4.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour)to theMember in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: How can he proceed with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill given that the Salvation Army says that the Government’s rewrite of his bill means that the aim of his original bill has been largely cancelled out?TE URUROA FLAVELL (Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill):Kua oti kē i a au te whakamārama i te āhuatanga o taku whakautu ki tērā pātai. Ēngari me pēnei pea te kōrero. Mēnā e aro nui nei tērā mema ka mutu te Pāti Reipa ki tēnei mea o te whakakore i te petipeti kaua e haere ki te Skycity ki te mātakitaki i te whutupaoro.[I have already explained the nature of my response to that question. Perhaps I should put it this way. If that member and the Labour Party at the end of it all really heeded this thing in respect of abolishing gambling do not go to Skycity to watch the rugby. ]Mr SPEAKER: Question No. 5 the Hon Shane Jones.Hon Shane Jones: Supplementary question.Mr SPEAKER: Supplementary question the Hon Shane Jones.Hon Shane Jones: Me pēhea rānei te mema e whakamārama atu ki te hunga e noho mai rā i roto te Ikaroa-Rāwhiti ko te hua o roto i tēnei pire he koretake rawa atu?[How will the member explain to those living in the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti electorate that the outcome in this bill is absolutely ineffective? ]Mr SPEAKER: If the member wishes to answer—yes.TE URUROA FLAVELL: Kāre au i te tino mōhio mēnā e tika ana te whakamārama o te kaiwhakapākehā ēngari kai te pai waiho tērā ki reira. I roto i ngā whiriwhiringa mō tēnei pire i kitea mai ētahi hua o roto i ngā kōrero. Tuatahi ko te hunga e rāwekeweke nei e tinihanga nei i roto i te tukunga o te moni ki tēnā ki tēnā kua katia tērā āhuatanga. Mō te āhuatanga o ngā mīhini e karo nei i te ngote mai o te moni kei reira tonu tētahi whiriwhiringa. Ēhara i te mea kia pēnei i tōku ake pire—ēngari o roto i ngā whiriwhiringa e kī ana te reo Pākehā ko ngā “regulations”. Kei reira tonu te painga.[I do not really know whether the interpreter’s interpretation in English was appropriate or not but that is fine. Let us leave that there. In the consultations on this bill some outcomes were uncovered in the talks. Firstly in respect of those who fiddled and took liberties with the distribution of funds to that group and that organisation that situation has been stopped. In respect of machines avoiding money being siphoned off a consideration is still there. It is not as though and like my own bill—but in the negotiations there are things in there called “regulations” in the English language. The benefit is still there. ]Mr SPEAKER: Question No. 5 the Hon Shane Jones.Hon Shane Jones: Not a supplementary question?Mr SPEAKER: The member has had a supplementary question.Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill—Impact5.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour)to theMember in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Why did he agree to continue with the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill when at select committee all of its main provisions were either removed or weakened?TE URUROA FLAVELL (Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill):Ko taua pātai anō. Kātahi anō ia ka pātai ia ka pātai i Te Reo Māori. He aha te take kei te whakatuarua i te pātai?[It is that same question again. He has just asked that in the Māori language. Why is he repeating it? ]Hon Shane Jones: Supplementary question.Mr SPEAKER: Supplementary question the Hon Shane Jones.Hon Trevor Mallard: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Is saying that a member is just repeating a question again when it is a primary question actually an answer?Mr SPEAKER: On this occasion it is. I think the member could have taken quite a lot of time to repeat earlier answers but that would adequately have covered it. I have called a supplementary question if the honourable member wants to deliver it.Hon Shane Jones: Given the member’s pride in being at the table how does this bill show Māori there is value at being at the table?TE URUROA FLAVELL: Mr Speaker—[Interruption ]Mr SPEAKER: Order! [Interruption ] Order! Would the Hon Tau Henare please quieten down so I can hear the answer to his question before I forget the question.TE URUROA FLAVELL: He member’s bill tāku pīre. I tērā wiki e ai ki ngā kōrero e 74 ngā members’ bills i tae mai ki roto i tēnei Whare ko te tikanga i roto i te Tari o te Clerk. Ka mutu i roto i ngā whiriwhiringa ka tīmata mai ai i roto i ngā kōrero mō ngā wild animals tae atu ki ngā wheel clamping. Koinei ngā kaupapa i roto i tērā o ngā komiti. Nō reira kāore au i rongo i tētahi pire e pā ana ki tēnei mate e ngau nei i Te Ao Māori me te kī a tērā mema. Mēnā kei te ngākaunui tērā mema me tana rōpū ki tēnei mea e ngau nei i te momo pōhara he aha te take kāore tētahi paku pire i runga i te Pepa Whakarārangi Take Pāremata e hāngai ana ki tēnei kaupapa?[My bill is a member’s bill. According to what has been stated 74 members’ bills arrived in this House last week but technically speaking in the Office of the Clerk. Furthermore within the considerations it started with accounts about wild animals and including wheel clamping. These in fact were the proposals in that other committee. Therefore I did not hear one bill pertaining to this ailment that gnaws away at Māoridom according to that member. If that member and his party are being kindly disposed towards this thing that chews away at this form of poverty why is there not a small bill on the Order Paper from them that relates to this matter? ]Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill—Impact6.Hon SHANE JONES (Labour)to theMember in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill: Why has he agreed to the Government’s amendments to his Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill when as the Salvation Army’s social policy spokesperson Major Campbell Roberts says the Government’s latest proposals have nothing to do with minimising the damage done to communities by gambling?TE URUROA FLAVELL (Member in charge of the Gambling (Gambling Harm Reduction) Amendment Bill):Mēnā ka āta titiro koe ki te pātai ēhara tērā i te pātai. Ēhara tērā i te pātai—[Interruption ] Ā ka pai kai reira te pātai.[If you examine the question that is not one. That is not a question— [Interruption] Oh good there is the question. ]Hon Tau Henare: Turned over a new leaf.TE URUROA FLAVELL: Āe turned over a new leaf. Kai te pēnei taku whakautu ki te mema i mua kei te aroha atu ki te Salvation Army. Kaha nei rātau ki te mahi ki te karo i ēnei āhuatanga. Ēngari kia kaua tātau e pōhēhē ka mutu mai i roto i tōku pire. Mēnā ka ngākaunui mai tērā mema tāpirihia atu ētahi kōrero ā te wā ka eke mai ki roto i te Whare Pāremata. Kātahi ka kitea mai ai mēnā e ōrite ana te hiahia ki te whakamāmā i te āhuatanga o te ngau o te petipeti ki Te Ao Māori ki te hunga rawakore.[The tenor of my response to the member previously was that I empathise with the Salvation Army. It works hard to avoid situations like these. But we should not be deluded by the fact that my bill will put an end to it. If that member is keen add some comments to the bill when it arrives into the House of Parliament. It will be seen then whether the desire to ease the gnawing effect of gambling on Māoridom on the poor ones is the same. ]Hon Shane Jones: Is this bill in either Māori or English a bitter pill or a dead rat?Mr SPEAKER: Order! That is not a question that is in any way related to the primary question.