Dunne Peter: Volunteers Employment Protection Amendment Bill Defence Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
Dunne Peter: Volunteers Employment Protection Amendment Bill Defence Amendment Bill (No 2) — Third Readings 
[Volume:616;Page:11968] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I join with other members who have spoken in this debate to express support for the Volunteers Employment Protection Amendment Bill that is shortly to become an Act. I will also express some appreciation to three individuals who have contributed so much to its passage. I acknowledge the contribution of Dr Mapp who was the sponsor of the bill and who has been a tireless advocate of it throughout its time before the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee. He has worked with officials and others to bring the bill to the position in which it is today. 
I also acknowledge the work of Brigadier Tim Brewer who has taken a long interest in this measure and has been a very effective and conscientious adviser to the select committee. He has worked with the Minister and with Dr Mapp and I am sure he can be forgiven a real sense of pride and achievement as we pass this bill into law this evening. 
The third person I want to acknowledge is my immediate predecessor as chair of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee Graham Kelly. Other members have made reference already to his commitment and I know of his sterling interest in this measure. In fact the last conversation that I had with him prior to his departure for Canada was effectively a harangue from him to me to make sure that this bill was progressed swiftly and passed into law. I do not think that he will be listening in this evening. If he was able to pick up New Zealand on radio I think he would be tuned into the cricket but be that as it may Graham Kelly will certainly be very pleased to know that this measure is passing this evening. 
Other members have made reference to the relevance of this measure given the East Timor deployment and the circumstances that arose out of that but more particularly to the likely ongoing range of deployments by New Zealand defence forces that will always include a significant territorial component in the future. 
There is an argument about the numbers and effectiveness of the Territorial Force. I believe that the passage of this legislation will provide some of the incentive that is needed to help reinvigorate the Territorial Force to inspire greater numbers to become involved. As members have mentioned the financial penalty involved in serving one’s country is a very high one. The rewards even at the higher rate of salary that the Minister indicated in the House this evening are not great. We rely immensely on the dedication and commitment of people in hugely difficult circumstances. We think nothing of deploying people to inhospitable environments for many months at a time where their safety is at great risk. We reward them in the sense of some modest financial reimbursement and occasional medals and other honorifics when they return but frankly we do not do enough to recognise that their contribution and hardship are making an effective contribution to our security and freedom. There is an overwhelming case for strengthening the capacity of our Territorial Force and for encouraging more people to become involved. 
An important part of providing that encouragement will be the passage of this legislation this evening. I am delighted that in a rare moment this House will pass this bill without dissent. That seldom happens and in fact what is common these days is for the ACT party to oppose things simply to make sure that they do not pass without dissent. The fact that even ACT supports this measure this evening is a tribute to how serious it is how important it is and how necessary it is. Without further ado I indicate support for the bill and I intend to— 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Tell us about Y2K. We haven’t heard a Y2K speech for a long time. 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: That is very interesting. The member wants me to tell him about Y2K and laments the fact that he has not heard a speech from me on that subject for a very long time. He may not have noticed that Y2K occurred 4 and a bit years ago which is why I have not spoken on the issue. The member’s bill was alive at that time. All I can say to him is that in the time that I have been the chair of that committee he will know the interest that I have had in progressing the matter. I am pleased that we are at the stage tonight when the bill will be passed and I think our service people will be all the more grateful for it.