Tremain Chris: Parliamentary Service (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill — First Reading 
Tremain Chris: Parliamentary Service (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:654;Page:3081] 
CHRIS TREMAIN (National—Napier) 
: 
 I rise to take a call on the Parliamentary Service (Continuation of Interim Meaning of Funding for Parliamentary Purposes) Bill. With the Speaker’s leave I would like to take the opportunity in this speech to allude to some of the events that occurred in my electorate last week. Before I get there I start by touching on the bill. It provides until 31 December 2010 an interim meaning of the term “funding entitlements for parliamentary purposes” for the Parliamentary Service Act 2000. 
As the Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said it is a short bill that provides an interim definition for the term “funding entitlements for parliamentary purposes” for the purpose of clarifying the principal duties of the Parliamentary Service. A number of principal duties are defined in the Parliamentary Service Act. Section 7 alludes specifically to those principal duties. We see in section 7(a) that the duties include providing “administrative support services to the House of Representatives and to members of Parliament;” and section 7(b) continues: “to administer in accordance with directions given by the Speaker the payment of funding entitlements for parliamentary purposes.” 
It is at this point that I wish to focus on the parliamentary purpose of travel that is provided for in this bill. That is one of the funding streams that is allowed as a parliamentary purpose. It provides for the needs of constituent MPs who would not be able to serve their role without that parliamentary purpose being defined. You see one of the primary roles of a constituent MP is to support one’s community. Being able to get home quickly in times of tragedy is very important. This bill provides a means for that to take place. No more pertinent an example of this can be given than the events that occurred in Napier last week. I promised my community that at the first opportunity I had to speak in this House I would somehow find a way even before the general debate to stand and acknowledge the people who were involved in that event. Given that I will be attending the funeral of Senior Constable Len Snee tomorrow I take that opportunity now. 
Words cannot describe the tragedy that took place last Thursday morning in Napier. The senseless loss of Senior Constable Len Snee is inexcusable and unfathomable. He was a local man whom many of us including myself knew. He was a hard-working police officer who got things done. He was a family man a sportsman and a community man. He was the type of guy whom we all respected and looked up to. My thoughts my family’s prayers and the thoughts of the entire Hawke’s Bay and Napier community are with you Vicki your awesome boys and your extended family. Our thoughts are also with the families of Senior Constable Bruce Miller and Senior Constable Grant Diver together with neighbour Leonard Holmwood. Their bravery and courage was simply outstanding. We cannot thank them enough for what they did last Thursday morning. We are all thinking of them and praying that they recover from this ordeal as quickly as possible. It has been said before but if there is anything that our community can do for those constables or that civilian then we are here for them and their families. 
Our police are now mourning a mate and they deserve our thanks for the excellent work done in bringing this dangerous situation to a close. Superintendent Sam Hoyle and Napier Commander Kevin Kalff led their teams strongly in a time of extreme crisis. As I walked around the various cordons and through the police station it was clear that there was a steely resolve to get the job done despite the fact that three of their best had fallen. Incidents such as this demonstrate the bravery and operational expertise that makes our police force exceptional. 
Faced with an incredibly dangerous situation and loss of life our community responded pulled together and supported those who were displaced or who had suffered. I thank on behalf of the community Barbara Arnott and her civil defence team ably led by Dennis Morgan. To arrive home early on Thursday night from Parliament and see the level of organisation that was already in place was remarkable. Their actions meant that Napier residents knew someone was in charge and that kept people calm. Although many others deserve to be thanked I cannot finish without acknowledging the work of the Salvation Army which from the word go had its mobile kitchen set up in Thackeray Street and which fed literally hundreds of people throughout the course of this crisis. I will close this part of my speech by again saying that the thoughts and the support of the entire community are with the families of those who have suffered in this terrible tragedy. 
This bill allows members to get the job done that they were elected to do. Allowing members to go home to support their community at times of tragedy is a key part of the bill. On that point I say that I support this bill entirely. Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. 
Bill read a first time.