Macindoe Tim: Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Macindoe Tim: Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 25 September 2012. Volume:684;Page:5604. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I am very happy to support this bill the Lawyers and Conveyancers Amendment Bill at its second reading. I agree that it is good to see this measure back before the House. It was first considered by the last Parliament and then as has been noted it was referred to the Justice and Electoral Committee which at that time was chaired by the Hon Chester Borrows. It received detailed consideration and the hearing of submissions and it has been returned to the House after a very thorough process. As I am now the chairman of the Justice and Electoral Committee—and Mr Chauvel has noted that there have been a number of changes and I was not on the committee in the previous Parliament—I do therefore acknowledge the work not only of the Hon Chester Borrows but also of all members of the committee in the previous Parliament. I thank them for the very careful attention to detail that is reflected in the report that was produced for the House. 
I think it is disappointing to hear that the Labour Party remains opposed to the bill given that it sees so much of value in it. Indeed when I look at its minority opinion in the select committee’s report I see that it indicates that the Labour Party said that the bill “contains some sensible changes.” and so it does. But still as we have just heard the Labour Party will nevertheless vote against them. I believe that that decision will be regretted by the many members of the legal profession who submitted in favour of this bill and who raised valid and significant concerns about the changes that the previous Labour Government introduced without a mandate it has to be said and without any evident public support at the time it introduced its Lawyers and Conveyancers Act of 2006. 
The title of Queen’s Counsel has a very long and proud history. It is widely recognised not just in New Zealand but internationally as indicating that the person upon whom the title has been bestowed is a lawyer of considerable experience and ability. That cannot be said of Labour’s replacement title of Senior Counsel which may suggest experience but says nothing of quality. It is right that the profession should have its traditional badge of honour restored for it is an honourable profession steeped in tradition and administers the Queen’s justice. Mr Chauvel was disparaging about that a few moments ago but I want to say to Mr Chauvel that we should be proud of that aspect of our culture rather than always seeking to belittle and overturn anything that reflects the heritage that many of our ancestors brought to these shores from Britain. 
Labour MPs and some others seem to think that traditions such as the title of Queen’s Counsel or a royal honour reek of colonialism and are therefore something to be consigned to history. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: Those limey colonisers. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: My view and that of many other New Zealanders is that our justice system like our political system is world leading because it originated in Westminster. So let us celebrate that fact rather than scoff at it. 
Phil Twyford 
: Let’s bring back feudalism. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: It is a gift and a guarantee of quality of which all New Zealanders may be proud. Mr Twyford called out “Let’s bring back feudalism.” What a fascinating concept but what an intriguing insight that is to the mind-set of the Labour Party. 
As I have just said I am very proud of our heritage. Mr Horomia interjected a few moments ago—something about Maori colonisation or something. To my mind we are a richer society for the fact that we blend our Maori ancestry and our British ancestry and the many other cultures that come here in a way that has enriched us all. Let us celebrate all of it and not be disparaging about the aspect that the majority in this country are still descended from. 
I want to conclude by saying that the Minister of Justice has indicated that the Government has accepted the recommendations of the previous Justice and Electoral Committee in its report and the bill now reflects the changes the committee proposed. We will have a chance obviously to discuss those proposed amendments during the Committee stage of the bill as it progresses through the House along with the Supplementary Order Paper that the Minister has foreshadowed she will be introducing at that point. 
At this stage I want to say that the Government warmly welcomes the return of this measure to this House and I look forward to contributing further to the detailed discussion of it during the Committee stage.