Grigg NicolaNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Thank you Madam Speaker. Like my other colleagues I rise in support of this United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement Legislation Bill as we near the final point in what has been a very long journey very ably begun by the National Government. When Labour was still on the picket lines decrying the supposed evils of free and equal trade National was pushing this thing through.It has been and is as has been observed by other speakers in this Chamber this evening one of the best free-trade agreements (FTAs) that has been struck in our history and I would say particularly pleasing for the agricultural sector which I am so very proud to represent.Simon O'Connor: What about onion growers?NICOLA GRIGG: Simon O'Connor my colleague is also wanting to call out the onion growers of which I have a brother-in-law who is one so I do hope he is pleased by this too.But the work on this agreement started under the John Key Government in 2017 where we put the work in to commit to a framework for a fully comprehensive ambitious free-trade agreement obviously in preparation for Britain's exit from the EU. It is good to see this evening that Labour have finally come back from the picket lines and put down their picket signs of opposition and they've come around to realising that free trade is a good thing. My colleagues and I were just discussing before how much this party the National Party loves trade. We love capitalism and we couldn't help but remember the comments made by Jacinda Ardern when she first became Prime Minister of New Zealand that capitalism has failed this country. Well to that I would say Look where we are now."So we are very pleased that this thing is getting near to getting over the line and getting near to getting ratified. It does stand as a shining example I think in the global international community and you know as an example of what good can occur in a country when we put economy first.It is of course an entrée for the United Kingdom's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership—again another deal that the Labour Party members stood on the picket lines as did their friends in the Greens. But we're friends with them too so we won't be too mean to them this evening. But of course the UK is our seventh-largest trading partner and that must not be ignored in a world where everybody is trying to emerge from this post-COVID malaise and indeed looming recession for many like economies as ours. We must look to every opportunity to build the wealth of this nation because it is by building the wealth of this nation that we look after people who need to be looked after. It is as the Minister has mentioned a deal worth well over a billion dollars when it does come into full ratification.But of course the main goal of any FTA is that slow but sure and gradual elimination of tariffs because that does of course allow our exporters an even playing field and better market access. Much has been made of the quite slow progression of the tariff elimination particularly for dairy and meat but we do celebrate those sectors that have got almost immediate accession. It does of course mean that 99.5 percent of products will become tariff-free upon entry into force and we do celebrate that and we do look forward to that day. Of course we will stand alongside the Government and celebrate that and particularly as has been mentioned all the hard work that has gone in by our officials over at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They are among the world's best. They are highly regarded and that is why we're here discussing this deal as gold standard as many have mentioned.Of particular note—not much has been said but I think it does need to be observed—is the lifting of the investment screening threshold from $100 million to $200 million for those non-Government investors from the UK. I know I've quoted him many times in this House and I will do it again; as John Key said "We do not get rich by selling to ourselves." This country has to go out and be really aggressive in its pursuit of foreign direct investment of foreign capital. We are a very small island nation. Trade is in our lifeblood so as well as chasing good strong ambitious aggressive trade agreements like this we do need to roll out the red carpet to foreign investors and welcome them to our shores. So we very much look forward to the third and final reading of this bill. We of course will be supporting it all the way through. With that I commend this bill to the House."