Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Third Reading 
Bakshi Kanwaljit Singh: Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:668;Page:15342] 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National) 
: 
 We are on the verge of passing the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill on the completion of its third reading. This bill will provide temporary legislation to enable the timely grant of consents and regulatory approvals if they are required during the Rugby World Cup. The Rugby World Cup Authority will be established which will have the power to grant approvals for activities and events related to the Rugby World Cup. The bill will also establish the Rugby World Cup liquor licensing scheme. 
It is very important for New Zealand to be able to host the Rugby World Cup successfully as it will attract more than 80000 rugby fans from overseas who will see New Zealand as an opportunity for investment in their businesses. This bill is a step forward towards hosting the Rugby World Cup successfully. The tournament will be held for 6 weeks in different destinations across New Zealand and it will not only attract rugby fans from overseas but also encourage tens of thousands of Kiwi rugby fans to travel around our country to view the matches. That will generate business not only in the local economy but also for local hotels motels restaurants bars and retail outlets. The success of this event will bring tourists to New Zealand in the future and show that a nation of 4 million people can host an event of this scale. 
Some speakers have highlighted a clause that suggests that the Minister will override any decision by the Rugby World Cup Authority. That is not correct. The Minister can make an urgent decision on an urgent application in consultation with at least two other Ministers and only during the period from 1 July 2011 until the conclusion of the tournament. That provision will be exercised only in the case of urgency. The regulatory approval process will be able to cater for extraordinary requirements due to the long time required for the present approval process. It is important to mention that this bill will support existing regulatory requirements and will provide only a faster alternative to the current process. 
The Rugby World Cup will not make it easier to obtain liquor licences; it will simply fast track the process to grant a licence. There will be an important provision in granting a licence to ensure that food is served during the period of opening hours and that free water is available to guests— 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Dr The Rt Hon Speaker Smith has made some comments about reading speeches in the House and proposals to change that. I know there is some debate about that but when a speech is read for the second time in the House as is occurring now with a member rereading the third reading speech that has already been given by the Minister I think that goes beyond what is appropriate in Parliament. 
Hon Gerry Brownlee 
: Perhaps the member raising the point of order is making a good point. If we are to be hard on repetition then I hope we will be hard on repetition throughout the considerable Committee stages we will be dealing with for the rest of this day. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Rick Barker) 
: I look forward to the day when I have enlivened uplifting visionary speeches from every member of this House but I am afraid that is not going to happen overnight. The point the member makes about reading a speech has been made in this House before; the House has changed the Standing Orders to enable members to read speeches. If the member does not like that I suggest that he take the matter to the Standing Orders Committee and have that right taken away. 
KANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI 
: All of the processes conferred on the Rugby World Cup Authority and the Minister will terminate at the end of the tournament. 
I wish good luck to the Rugby World Cup Authority and to the All Blacks. I hope they win the tournament and make us proud. I thank all the officials who have assisted us during the select committee process to bring this bill to the House. I commend the Rugby World Cup 2011 (Empowering) Bill to the House.