Sio William: Geneva Conventions (Third Protocol—Red Crystal Emblem) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sio William: Geneva Conventions (Third Protocol—Red Crystal Emblem) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 28 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3528. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Mangere) 
: 
 I am happy to take a short call on the Geneva Conventions (Third Protocol—Red Crystal Emblem) Amendment Bill and to just simply say as my colleague the Hon Phil Goff has said that Labour supports this bill and why would we not? This bill simply introduces another symbol that will be recognised worldwide alongside the Red Cross the Red Crescent and the Star of David. Hopefully it will provide some confidence in those parts of the world where we need to provide protection and support in times of war to people who need that protection. 
I would just like to comment also that the Red Cross is a symbol that is very very familiar in this part of the region. I do not know how familiar the Red Crescent is and I do not know how familiar this particular symbol will be in the Pacific region. I would be interested during the select committee process to receive evidence from organisations like Israeli organisations Turkish - New Zealand organisations and groups like the Palestinian and the Pakistani organisations here in New Zealand. They will have experience and better information that will help New Zealanders understand just how important it is that New Zealand plays a strong leadership role throughout this region. We took such a role when we introduced a nuclear-free zone throughout this region. And I think we have also got to play a greater role in the international arena because you cannot get away from globalisation. It is the way things are today. 
I am aware that the Minister of Health said in his opening statement that this bill was not a matter of urgency. That really begs the question as to why—because once upon a time this bill was No. 48 on the Order Paper—we are suddenly debating it today when I suspect that there are more important issues that we should be debating. We have got our own symbols like the “not for sale” symbol in terms of what this Government has recently done or the baby with the big eyes symbol which is the parental leave symbol we are promoting. 
Hon Simon Bridges 
: I was going to say don’t talk about Chris Hipkins like that. 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO 
: No it is not Chris Hipkins. It probably is Mr Simon Bridges. 
But I have to say given we are supporting this bill that New Zealanders listening in to this particular debate will be wondering why on earth this Parliament under this Government is spending time debating something that should be a given. We should be supporting it. Why on earth are we not debating what this National Government is going to do about the 160000 people who are unemployed? What is this National Government going to do about stemming the flow of New Zealanders who are leaving our shores to try to find a better life and a better standard of living in Australia? [ 
Interruption 
] Yes I can see you doing that. Look I am standing between this House and dinner. My mum taught me that once you smell pork you have got to keep it short. So I simply say that we support this convention and say to that Government that it should know better. It should be debating more important things that are affecting people’s lives right at this very moment.