Bridges Simon: Electoral Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBridges Simon: Electoral Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 13 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16719. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Energy and Resources)on behalf of theMinister of Justice: I move That the Electoral Amendment Bill be now read a third time. The Electoral Amendment Bill is the latest chapter in a longstanding ongoing endeavour to ensure that our electoral system is the best it can be. As the bill’s general policy statement notes the New Zealand electoral system has a very high level of integrity. However minor changes to the legal framework are required to help continuously improve the efficiency and integrity of elections. As members will be aware against that backdrop the bill primarily puts in place recommendations of the Justice and Electoral Committee’s inquiry into the 2011 general election. Specifically the bill implements recommendations that require legislation and can be put in place in time for the 2014 general election. The Electoral Amendment Bill will improve services to voters candidates and parties; improve efficiency through greater use of technology; and simplify and clarify existing provisions of the Electoral Act.At this time I would like to recap some of the specific changes the bill makes. The bill provides for full online enrolment using electronic identity verification makes loans to parties subject to similar disclosure rules as donations extends the time for filing party expense returns and allows bulk nomination and party list documents to be lodged by email. The bill also clarifies that the High Court can direct the Electoral Commission to recalculate and amend the allocation of list seats if there is a successful electorate petition. These reforms along with other largely technical changes contained in this bill will not only update aspects of the Electoral Act; they will also enhance the already strong integrity of our electoral system.I thank the Justice and Electoral Committee for its diligent consideration of the bill and for reporting back by the end of last year. I would also like to again thank those members of the public who made submissions. As I said during the second reading of this bill and on many other occasions electoral reform should if possible be based on consensus. I note that there was unanimous consensus among the committee on the report back of the bill. I would like to take this opportunity to note that in addition to the positive changes contained in this bill I also intend to amend the electoral regulations in the next few months to implement several other recommendations of the inquiry into the 2011 general election.We are lucky to live in a nation where our electoral system has a very high level of integrity. New Zealand is a nation where we actively seek to build on the lessons learnt from previous elections and where we take a multiparty approach to electoral reform. The Electoral Amendment Bill is one result of this drive for continuous incremental improvement. It will enhance the integrity of our electoral system and ensure that the law remains relevant going forward. [Interruption]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Order! I am sorry to interrupt the honourable member. Can I just refer members to Speaker Statham 1923 in Speakers’ ruling 60/5 where he says interjections are out of order unless rare reasonable relevant and restrained.Hon SIMON BRIDGES: The Electoral Amendment Bill will have a positive impact on the administration of this year’s general election and future elections. I commend this bill to the House.