Cullen Michael: Appointments — OmbudsmanText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeCullen Michael: Appointments — Ombudsman[Sitting date: 11 October 2007. Volume:642;Page:12308. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House): I moveThat pursuant to sections 3 and 5 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 this House recommends His Excellency the Governor-General appoint David Graham McGee CNZM QC of Wellington as an Ombudsman for a term commencing on 19 November 2007.I would like to place on the record our appreciation of Mr McGee’s 22 years of service as Clerk of the House of Representatives. The Office of the Ombudsmen in New Zealand has a long history by international standards. With the passage of the Parliamentary Commissioner (Ombudsman) Act 1962 New Zealand became only the fourth country in the world to establish an Ombudsman position and the first country outside of northern Europe to do so. The office provides an avenue of redress for NewZealanders who feel that Government agencies have made unfair or inappropriate decisions. In providing this avenue the office has a healthy impact on the ways that agencies make decisions in the first place.In establishing the position 45 years ago Parliament was underlining the importance of openness and transparency to the health of our democracy and to the sound functioning of our Government. This has contributed not only to New Zealand’s sustained reputation as one of the most transparent and corruption-free nations in the world but also to the health of other Commonwealth democracies that have used our model as the basis for their own ombudsmen positions. Today approximately 200 ombudsmen are serving in 100 or more jurisdictions and territories.In recommending the appointment of an individual as Ombudsman this House has a responsibility to ensure that any candidate is able to appreciate the history and importance of the office and to put into practice the values upon which it was created. In recommending the appointment of the Clerk of the House Dave McGee this House is without question fulfilling that responsibility.Mr McGee arrived in New Zealand in 1972 as a ten pound immigrant from England. Following work in the old Legislative Department he became a Clerk-Assistant in 1976 and Deputy Clerk in 1984. The following year 1985 brought two important milestones in his career. The first milestone was the publication of his bookParliamentary Practice in New Zealand which was immediately—and in its subsequent editions it remains—the standard reference work on the operation of our Parliament. The second milestone was his appointment as Clerk of the House following the retirement of the long-serving Charles Littlejohn.The longevity of Mr McGee’s service as Clerk is a mark of distinction in and of itself but it is his contribution in guiding this House through a period of significant change that is his most important achievement. The creation of the Parliamentary Service; major changes of the Standing Orders which he helped to draft; and a reorganisation of select committees occurred within the first weeks of his tenure. These changes had significant implications for the Office of the Clerk requiring a refocusing of the role away from many of its administrative functions and on to its constitutional responsibilities.The most significant changes however came with the electoral reforms of the 1990s. As a member of the Electoral Referendum Panel Mr McGee played an important role in making sure the public could make an informed choice about whether to change our electoral system and about how we might change it. Following the decision to adopt MMP the Clerk had a major role to play in advising members on how the procedures of the House needed to change. This included a further—and indeed a very substantial—reform of the Standing Orders formal recognition of political parties in the House and further changes to the operation of select committees.It was without question the greatest period of change in this House’s history and our largely smooth transition through it is in no small part a credit to Mr McGee’s guidance. What distinguished his service through that period of significant change however was not the zeal of amoderniser but the traditionalism of someone with a great respect for the institution of Parliament and its history. He has understood that Parliament must change with the times but must not lose sight of the traditions that have served the House well in its over 150 years’ history and of course reaching back further into the history of Westminster.In recognition of Mr McGee’s service he has already been made a Queen’s Counsel and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He is recognised as a leading expert on parliamentary practice throughout the Commonwealth. It is fitting as he moves on from the role of the Clerk that this House recommends his appointment to aposition where his considerable skills and knowledge and his respect for our democratic institutions can be put to good use.On a personal note it has been a great pleasure to work closely with Dave over many many years especially in my role as Leader of the House and indeed previously as senior Government whip. We have not always agreed on every point. Sadly for tribal and genetic reasons he remains a supporter of Sunderland whereas I remain for the same reasons a supporter of Spurs but his intellectual strength and integrity have always had my respect. When we have not agreed I have tried not to lose sight of the challenges of his very difficult role.New Zealanders as we have seen just this week are not always fond of the referees in our society and sometimes with very good reason. Many forward passes and occasional fouls occur in this House that are not actually seen by the referees. There is no question that in helping the Speaker to referee the House on a daily basis his speed in writing notes and passing them is something to behold. The role of the Clerk is one of the most difficult officiating positions in Parliament. Sustaining his trademark calm and thoughtful demeanour in the middle of question time—indeed on occasions he is almost the only person to maintain a calm and thoughtful demeanour during question time—for over two decades has been no small achievement.It will be a sad day for this House to see Mr McGee move on from the role of Clerk. Only a very few of us in this Chamber have served with another Clerk of the House. None of us has served in this House as long as he has. I thank him for his service. I wish him well in his new role as Ombudsman; I suspect we will have occasional differences of opinion in that role as well. New Zealanders are fortunate that his talents will continue to be put to good use in the service of the New Zealand public over the next 5 years.