Adams Paul: Civil Aviation Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Adams Paul: Civil Aviation Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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PAUL ADAMS (United Future) 
: 
 United Future also supports this bill. I will be brief because Maurice Williamson in his speech has probably just informed us all of everything we need to know. The bill is largely technical in nature and therefore it is quite uncontroversial. It will in effect serve to enhance the safety and economic efficiency of airline travel within New Zealand. The bill gives legislative effect to the Australia - New Zealand Mutual Recognition Agreement. It will enable Australian airlines to operate in New Zealand under the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority’s certification and safety oversight while a complementary measure will be passed in the Australian Parliament with regard to New Zealand’s airlines—or so we hope. That will serve to reduce regulatory barriers to aviation activity in Australia— 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: They will probably renege. 
PAUL ADAMS 
: They will probably renege—and therefore will cut operating costs for New Zealand and Australian airlines which I think everyone would welcome. So air travellers win and the airline companies win. Both countries have similar and very robust safety regulating regimes so this measure does not give rise to any safety concerns. 
I think that sometimes we can take airline travel for granted and it has been a very safe and stable means of travel. But as one who has travelled quite extensively on airlines I can say that I have also been present when there have been seriously unruly passengers on board. With all of our concerns now about people who have incorrect motives for being on airlines—such as terrorists—I welcome these regulations that bring in restraints. The pilots in command must be able to control the passengers they have on their airlines. Just because we are so used to planes flying safely through the air we forget they can also be lethal weapons. 
Another part of this bill implements new security measures and is in part a response to the increasing security concerns of airlines passengers and Governments in the wake of the September 11 attacks. The legislation allows for the prosecution of passengers who are unruly on New Zealand aircraft or on other aircraft flying in New Zealand that come from outside New Zealand’s territory. Unruly actions are those—excluding actual hijacking—that may be considered dangerous such as making threats using insulting behaviour towards crew interfering with the aircraft operating cellphones when told not to being blatantly drunk swearing or being abusive smoking carrying dangerous goods and not obeying seating or seat belt instructions. A series of strong penalties is also included. 
This bill brings New Zealand’s aviation security laws into line with Australian Canadian and British law and eliminates certain sovereignty-related complications that in the past have made prosecuting foreigners for offences outside New Zealand’s territory difficult. The safety of passengers on airlines travelling both within New Zealand and internationally should be the top priority and United Future is satisfied that this Civil Aviation Amendment Bill goes a long way towards helping to ensure that. We also approve of the streamlining of provisions relating to liability for a delay in a domestic air service that is within the airline’s control such as the delay or cancellation of a flight at the last minute due to a lack of bookings. Airline customers pay enough for air travel without being subject to unwarranted delays and the extra costs those can bring with them in terms of lost productivity or simply of stress. We commend this bill to the House.