Macindoe Tim: Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) — First Reading 
Macindoe Tim: Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) — First Reading 
[Volume:674;Page:19972] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 It is fairly rare for members of this House to have an opportunity to consider in close detail work similar in nature to that undertaken each week by the Regulations Review Committee and I imagine that this debate may make our colleagues very glad of that fact. I doubt whether many New Zealanders will remain glued to their radios or TVs to hear the first reading of the Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill (No 3) through to its conclusion. My long-suffering and incredibly loyal mother may prove to be one exception to that statement but even she I imagine will find herself switching channels back to Television One after the dinner adjournment as her devotion to  
Coronation Street 
 overcomes the questionable allure of this bill. But as the deputy chair of the Regulations Review Committee I am pleased to have this opportunity to reinforce the comments of the Minister the Hon Kate Wilkinson and the Regulations Review Committee chair Charles Chauvel who have preceded me and to say this is an important measure and the consequences of not giving it due consideration and seeing it enacted could be far-reaching and damaging for several affected industries. 
As the explanatory note states “This Bill’s purpose is to prevent the lapse”—either through expiry or deemed revocation—“of certain subordinate legislation that by virtue of the Acts under which it is made lapses at a stated time unless earlier confirmed or validated by Act of Parliament.” It is for that reason that Parliament is required to consider and pass this bill each year. Traditionally Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) bills receive the support of all members of this House as they are uncontroversial in nature. In fact that comment is equally true of the workings of the Regulations Review Committee as a whole. That is one reason by convention that the committee is chaired by a non-Government member of the House and I acknowledge the considered and constructive approach currently demonstrated in that position by Charles Chauvel. As a committee we work in a cooperative fashion and rarely divide along party lines reflecting the fact that our function is the scrutiny of parliamentary process rather than the consideration of policy matters. 
In this instance 13 orders and regulations listed in the bill need to be confirmed or confirmed and validated and they are made under seven different Acts. These provisions were outlined by the Hon Kate Wilkinson and Charles Chauvel so I will not repeat them. Although this is a routine and technical measure it is an important one to ensure that the subordinate orders and regulations do not lapse which will be their fate if these items are not confirmed or validated because each of the empowering Acts provides that the subordinate legislation will be deemed to be revoked on specified dates unless confirmed or validated by Act of Parliament before those specified dates—in other words the sunset clauses referred to a moment ago by Mr Chauvel. I can sense the excitement building right around this Chamber particularly from my colleague the member for Hamilton East and indeed right around the country and I therefore say “Let’s bring it on.” I have great pleasure in commending this measure to the House.