Salesa Jenny: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSalesa Jenny: Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 02 March 2016. Volume:711;Page:9349. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JENNY SALESA (Labour—Manukau East): Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker for this call on the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act Repeal Bill. The Blind Foundation was 125 years old last year. It has been through a number of changes since it was established as the Jubilee Institute for the Blind way back in 1890. The foundation is this country’s primary supporter for nearly 12000 people who are blind and those with low vision. It provides emotional and practical support with a view to enabling them to face their future with confidence. It allows people to take up the same opportunities and choices as everyone else.As the spokesperson for employment skills and training I understand the need for appropriate skills and training for employment for everyone. I also value those who like this foundation take on the important work of ensuring that differently abled people are equipped with the skills and training that they need to participate fully in society whether it be support in living independently or in getting around or help with technology or better ways of communication or indeed advice on staying in or looking for employment. I commend the foundation for the work that it has done and the work that it has done over the last 125 years. For it to get to the current stage of governance and strategic direction over that period of time is a feat indeed.The most recent of the foundation’s incarnations was in establishing the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002. That Act changed the governance structure and it allowed the adoption of a constitution that ensured that the foundation was led and governed by its members. It also allowed people to elect to their own offices. That Act also offered the foundation the option of registering as an incorporated society should the membership see that that was a beneficial course of action. As this House has heard it took that option up in 2012 meaning that the provisions of the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind Act 2002 are now spent. To keep the statute book clean the Act should now be repealed.As someone who is passionate about education and high standards of literacy throughout our society I wholeheartedly support the consequential amendment to the Copyright (General Matters) Regulations 1995 which is proposed in clause 4 of this bill. This amendment would ensure that the foundation is correctly described for the purposes of the Copyright Act. It allows it to continue with its important role in making and circulating Braille or audio copies and adaptations of published books and dramatic works to those with low vision and those who are blind without infringing copyright. This brings a richness to the daily life of the foundation’s members and it allows them to be on an equal footing with others in our community in education training or in simply enjoying the reading of a good book. Labour supports this bill. Thank you.