Young Jonathan: Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Young Jonathan: Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 09 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:2129. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) 
: 
 I am very pleased to stand in support of the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill. I would think that I like many members of our communities believe that making donations to charities is something of the Kiwi way of life. In fact the MasterCard survey which every 2 years surveys nations around the world in terms of the generosity of different societies ranks New Zealand fairly highly as a generous society.  
We have seen over the last 4 to 5 years the collapse of finance companies and the way that has deterred people from investing in those companies because they have been burnt. This Government over the last 3 years has been working strongly and in a very focused way on bringing transparency and accountability to the financial services industry in order to promote once again New Zealanders being active in that area.  
Likewise in this particular area when it comes to donating to charities transparency is very important. People have heard at different times the amount of funds that have been used for the support of the third-party fund-raiser—not so much the charity but the third-party fund-raiser—and the proportion of the donation that has gone to them has in fact been the cause for this bill to arise in the House. Many New Zealanders when they know those figures feel quite concerned to the point where people stop donating to charities because they feel that the money they are donating is not getting to the cause they have given for. So for the sake of bona fide registered charities in our country this bill will serve you. And for the sake of people who believe they are making donations to community efforts organisations or NGOs—churches youth groups or whatever it might be—knowing that there is accountability and transparency is going to give them the assurance that when they do donate their money is going to a good cause.  
I like many people in our country receive phone calls from different organisations and from people who— 
Hon Simon Bridges 
: I bet Andrew Little’s not calling you much lately. 
JONATHAN YOUNG 
: No he is not calling me much lately. 
Andrew Little 
: Too busy in New Plymouth. 
JONATHAN YOUNG 
: Thank you. I am a very busy MP. My opponent across the way is making reference to the busyness I am engaged in in New Plymouth and of course he learnt about that last November.  
Anyway in regard to all of this we do receive solicitation on the telephone from different organisations needing funds. Every single one I understand of the organisations that have called me are using third-party fund-raisers. Many many years ago I gave my phone number to an organisation. I received a phone call and of course I made a donation. I think that from that database I have probably been called by about 30 other different organisations. We have in this country what some people call an alms race—a-l-m-s. There is a lot of competition in our society for the donated dollar—the alms race. The donated dollar is highly competed for in this country. So when it comes to pieces of legislation for the people out there in charitable organisations or organisations that are doing good for our community they may think this is just one more hurdle to stop people donating. But I say to you that it is the contrary: what this bill will do in creating accountability and transparency is sort the sheep from the goats. Those bona fide organisations—[ 
Bell rung 
]—Mr Chair—that are worthy of support— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I have not called the member. I call the honourable member Jonathan Young. 
JONATHAN YOUNG 
: Thank you Mr Chair. Those organisations that are worthy of support will submit themselves to the robustness of this regime. We understand going through the select committee process that there is a lot of complexity around this and we know that submitters came and said it was actually going to turn people away from donating as it would make it too difficult. Other people said: “No actually this is good.” We realise that amongst this whole sector the charitable organisations sector of our country this is an important point. In fact Consumer New Zealand in 2009 was pushing for this. There has been some thinking by different groups of people over the last few years. We realise there is some complexity to that. At the Commerce Committee in discussion with the proposer the sponsor of the bill the Hon Amy Adams who is here this evening we came to an agreement that by regulation all the fine details can be worked out so that in consultation with the sector we can find a way to make this work so that it is win-win.  
Our intention is not to stymie or stifle the donated funds from the public into these organisations. Our intention is actually to improve the quality of the return of those donated funds. So we I believe are going to see—as it progresses and becomes law and as in due course regulations come out—a robustness around our charitable organisations. We are going to find some satisfaction amongst the donors in our country in that they know that when they donate it is going to reputable groups of people who are prepared to have accountability and transparency and who have nothing that they are not prepared to have come under the scrutiny of the Government or the Charities Commission as it might be. We will see that there will be a very robust and significant community of people who are working not only with the donated funds but amongst their own volunteer group seeing these sorts of organisations prosper and continue to succeed. It is my great pleasure to continue to support what I believe to be a very good piece of legislation. Thank you.