Strange JamieJAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East): Thank you Madam Speaker. I appreciate the opportunity to contribute in this debate about the incredible animal called the dog domesticated from wolves an estimated 15000 years ago. Look it really is quite significant the role that dogs do play in our lives and so I think that it's certainly important that we take the time on a Wednesday afternoon to talk through that particularly in reference to this member's bill the Human Rights (Disability Assist Dogs Non-Discrimination) Amendment Bill. I'd like to acknowledge the sponsor of this bill Ricardo Menéndez March who will no doubt be watching from Auckland and I'd like to say congratulations to the member building on the work that former MP Mojo Mathers did. I'd like to congratulate the member for having the full support of the House which is often quite rare but well done to that member.I think this is a good example of the role that members' bills play in this House whereby there might be a piece of legislation which has either become outdated or may be an anomaly in the piece of legislation. I mean legislation is seldom perfect. Society is constantly changing and evolving and the member Ricardo Menéndez March has picked up on this small change which will have a significant impact as we've heard from previous speakers. It'll be interesting to hear the submissions on this bill. I expect as the previous speaker Anna Lorck said there will be quite a bit of interest in this bill from a wide range of New Zealanders. Also Anna expressed interest in having some dogs coming to the select committee which would possibly be an improvement on some of the language in the select committees but we'll certainly wait and see and I'll certainly welcome that as well. But look great to have that support across the House for this bill.I'd just like to touch briefly for the benefit of those members and those either watching or listening at home on a little bit of the history of assist dogs. As I said at the start dogs are incredible creatures with a huge propensity to undertake various tasks for humans. They've been called man's best friend. In fact in the 1700s guide dogs were first used in Europe particularly in Austria and after World War II dogs were employed to provide support to soldiers.Hon Simon Bridges: How much did they get paid?JAMIE STRANGE: Probably not a lot Mr Bridges. Mr Bridges is asking how much they got paid. Look it probably depended on which Government was in power at the time Mr Bridges.Hon Member: They would've got paid under us.JAMIE STRANGE: Yeah yeah and I'm sure they were. There was some sort of union for the dogs I would hope Mr Bridges. But getting back to the bill Madam Speaker—excuse me for that small distraction—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Grand idea. JAMIE STRANGE: —after World War I soldiers were supported. We move forward to today where we have assist dogs providing a number of important support roles for humans: hearing impairments epilepsy autism anxiety post-traumatic stress disorder and even as I've researched this afternoon helping people to do practical tasks whether it's opening doors or whether it's actually loading the washing. I actually just watched a video of a dog actually loading the washing. It was incredibly impressive. It was impressive and I think I could do with one in our house when our children don't always support with their tasks but I'm not sure I'd qualify along those lines. But it was an impressive video and I would encourage people to have a look. So we've heard about dogs in handbags and dogs loading the washing this afternoon.This bill highlights the difference between a guide dog and a disability support dog. So the guide dogs have been with us for quite a long time. In fact disability support dogs have too but there's been much more focus on the guide dog aspect rather than on the disability support dog aspect. So a guide dog is a dog that has been trained to lead a blind or partially sighted person whereas the disability support dog—which is what as we've heard from previous speakers this bill brings the change in the legislation to include—is a dog that is trained to perform specific tasks for people with disabilities. I mentioned some of those tasks before and look it's absolutely incredible what these dogs do in society. Excellent piece of legislation and I commend the bill to the House.