Hughes GarethGARETH HUGHES (Green): Kia ora Madam Speaker. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. I rise to oppose this legislation. I think the last member actually gave a good explanation of the different world views and visions and also a clear argument why we need public broadcasting. That member listed off a litany of overseas-based YouTubers with the inference I think that look we don't maybe even need public broadcasting in New Zealand because there are all these YouTubers out there like Joe Rogan. Now Joe Rogan's a good YouTuber but I think that—Kieran McAnulty: Who?GARETH HUGHES: Joe Rogan.Kieran McAnulty: Who's he?GARETH HUGHES: He's a YouTuber and a podcaster. Well the thing is that that member didn't list a single New Zealand YouTuber or podcaster. Now if we're going to see New Zealand stories actually told in our media—and I get the member's point that there's a whole bunch of different content platforms where we consume media—we've actually got to support it. That's why the Green Party can't support this legislation because we want to strengthen enhance and greater fund public broadcasting.I do want to acknowledge the member. It's a big moment in a member's career when a bill is finally pulled. I know it took me four years for my first bill to be pulled. It is a big moment.I want to acknowledge the member for putting a bill in about public broadcasting. It isn't the issue that always gets the headlines but it is a foundational issue for our society for our democracy and it's so important. It is what we turn to as a country as we count down to the anniversary of March 15. It is what we turn to with the COVID-19 pandemic. It's the source of information and we want to see better public broadcasting. It's just a pity it's not a bill that the Green Party can support at this point in time.If only it was a bill to increase funding for public broadcasting. If only it was a bill to enhance concert radio and other cultural entities we provide. If only it was a bill to support independent journalism. But it's not; it's simply a blunt instrument to require quarterly ratings information.Now this isn't going to address the challenges. There are a number of challenges facing the broadcasting sector from funding convergence and disruptive business models. However I think there are five key reasons why the Green Party sadly can't support Melissa Lee's member's bill at this point. I mean we point out as other members have the blindingly obvious that it already happens. NZ On Air already collects this information. It is an element in their funding decision—Kieran McAnulty: Red tape.GARETH HUGHES: —but our point is that it shouldn't be the pinnacle or the paramount reason that funding decisions are made. Otherwise you get you know Celebrity Treasure Island and not the quality public broadcasting which we so desperately need in this country.I'd point out other contributions that it might actually not be legally possible. I'd point out that focussing on this simply increases the costs and other members have yelled out about red tape and regulations. I would note the irony after the bonfire of regulations only a couple days ago. I don't know why we're increasing the administrative burden.I'd also point out that it increases cost and the point raised by Morgan Godfery: [Te Māngai Pāho] does not always purchase [this rating] information [already] so [this] Bill would create an additional cost" and "the quarterly reports could be used … [that Te Māngai Pāho's] low rating shows do not provide value for money." because what we know is that you're contrasting oranges and lemons. It's a total different thing and we do acknowledge that fear portrayed by Morgan Godfery.So when it comes to the key issues facing broadcasting and the sector in New Zealand this bill is sadly a little bit too little too late. You know for nine years we saw RNZ suffer under a funding freeze. I remember questioning Paul Thompson the CEO and he told me in select committee a few years back that they had even stopped putting in funding requests under the previous Government because he said "It was like hitting your head against a brick wall."I would point out that this Government has increased the funding—$15 million to NZ On Air and RNZ. In the member's defence you know it's hard to fix all the issues of convergence and disruption in a member's bill but we can't be supporting a piece of legislation which is actually going to make the status quo worse in our opinion. So we note the work undertaken by Minister Faafoi to review the sector the increased funding. The Green Party will always vote for bills which increase funding for public broadcasting that enhance the sector that grow it and that strengthen it. Sadly this isn't one of those bills."