Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Ryall Tony: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:646;Page:15578] 
7.  
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: Has he taken note of reports that the Commonwealth Press Union’s media freedom committee is alarmed about the powers that the Director-General of Health would have under the Public Health Bill? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Yes and I note that the bill is currently before the Health Committee and I am respectful of that process. The member is a member of that committee so I expect that the member is helping to run that show. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Is the Minister aware that clause 83 of the Public Health Bill provides that codes and regulation can be imposed on “the ways in which specified goods substances or services are advertised sponsored or marketed (whether directly or indirectly):” and can he see why the media freedom committee is concerned that such far-reaching powers could lead to restrictions on journalists reporting on food alcohol and other societal issues? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: To take the answers in order: yes; no; and it is very important to realise that the Government has no plans to introduce regulation around non-communicable diseases. At the same time we have an obesity epidemic with 180000 New Zealanders affected. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I remind members who shift their seats to the front bench that they will please remove themselves to their normal seats if they wish to interject. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: If the Government has no plans to regulate then why is it giving itself the powers to do so? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: This legislation has not been revised in a number of decades and it is not likely to be revised again for decades more. It would be irresponsible not to provide an appropriate future-proofing provision in the bill to take account of the No. 1 health pandemic facing this country. 
Lesley Soper 
: Has the Minister seen any reports from other submitters who presented submissions to the Health Committee yesterday on the Public Health Bill? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: Yes. I am advised that there are more submissions supporting the non-communicable disease provisions than there are ones opposing them. For example even McDonald’s told the committee yesterday that it already self-regulates and advertises only healthy food during children’s television viewing hours. The New Zealand Medical Association is delighted with the non-communicable disease provisions. The resident medical officers of health—my best friends—would prefer tougher regulation on advertising to children than what is proposed and the Cancer Society says it is essential that a proactive approach is taken. 
Sue Kedgley 
: Why does he think that there is a deliberate campaign of exaggerated attacks and scaremongering on two small clauses of the 384-page Public Health Bill and is it not time that all of us including those who presently profit from the promotion and advertising of unhealthy food to children set aside our vested interests and put the health of our nation’s children first? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: I would prefer to put it that there are some unfounded fears such as those expressed by a representative of the Newspaper Publishers Association at a meeting in my office who suggested that the bill was a device to allow the Labour Government to regulate editorials. That proposition was received with general mirth when I asked why if that was the intent Labour had not moved somewhat earlier in that regard. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Why in the event that the Director-General of Health could not get agreement from all sectors of the media does not clause 374(x) allow the Government to enact a code by regulation whether or not affected parties agree? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: Two points: firstly it may come as a surprise to both that member and the media that in fact the media do not make policy in New Zealand but more important the bill’s current provisions provide that even in the case of a proposed binding set of guidelines there are no penalties for the first 3 years and a full consultation process would be required to make them binding. One commentator has said that the bill “could hardly be less Draconian” in that regard. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Is it the Government’s intention to regulate how the media report on food alcohol and other lifestyle issues; if it is not is the Government willing to remove those clauses and provide protections for freedom of speech? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: No. As the member is currently a member of the Health Committee that is running that show he would no doubt prefer that I was fully respectful of the select committee process of which he is a part—reportedly. 
Katrina Shanks 
: Why is the Minister more focused on telling New Zealanders which restaurant reviews they can read in the newspapers than on the maternity workforce crisis when over 4000 expectant mothers are unable to find a community midwife and when 15 out of 21 district health boards are reporting they have a midwife shortage? 
Hon DAVID CUNLIFFE 
: What this Government is concerned about is the obesity and diabetes epidemic that is about to break like a wave over this country. Nearly 200000 New Zealanders are already affected and 60 percent—I repeat: 60 percent—of Pasifika New Zealanders are either seriously overweight or obese. Something will have to be done.