Yang Jian: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeYang Jian: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee[Sitting date: 06 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14448. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr JIAN YANG (National): I rise to support the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill. I would like to follow up on the speech of the previous speaker Grant Robertson. Throughout its 35-year extension of its casino licence Skycity Casino will continue to be subject to existing and any new casino laws and regulations. In the event that Skycity Casino fails to meet its obligations as set out in the terms of its licence its licence could be suspended or cancelled under the current Gambling Act. The agreement will not change the operation and enforcement of the existing gambling regime.According to the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment the size of the international business events market is growing. The International Congress and Convention Association estimates that there are approximately 19000 non-government international association conferences organised in the world on a regular basis with approximately 11219 held in 2012 compared with 10070 in 2011 and 9120 in 2010. Last year only 45 of these events were held in New Zealand partly because of New Zealand not having the right facilities to attract large conferences. I have talked to a number of conference organisers and they find it hard to believe that New Zealand is unable to host such conferences. It is clear that we have been missing out on many opportunities for the growth of our economy.Casinos in New Zealand were first introduced over two decades ago. Research shows that there is indeed a link between the availability of gaming machines and opportunities to gamble and the incidence of problem gambling. However the research does not demonstrate a direct causal relationship between an increase in gaming machines and a commensurate increase in problem gambling incidents. The 230 new pokie machines is the same number granted to Skycity Casino under the previous Labour Government in 2001 for the development of the existing and much smaller Auckland convention centre.Under the agreement Skycity Casino will have to introduce a number of preventative measures to reduce the risk of problem gambling—measures such as a predictive modelling tool that conducts analysis of data to identify players at risk of problem gambling as well as a voluntary pre-commit card system where players can elect to restrict the amount of time they play or the amount they spend. Skycity Casino will also have to introduce player identification requirements when amounts over $500 are being put on to or cashed from ticket-in ticket-out machines in non-restricted areas as well as doubling the number of host responsibility specialists to deliver 24 hours a day 7 days a week coverage. These actual harm minimisation requirements will become part of Skycity Casino’s host responsibility programme which is monitored constantly by experienced and professional Department of Internal Affairs inspectors. The Gambling Commission is also required to review this every 2 years. It involves a wide range of independent experts in those reviews. The method of review is entirely up to the commission which acts independently of the Government.The National Government has been working hard to build a more competitive and productive economy. The New Zealand International Convention Centre is just one ofthe Government’s around 350 initiatives to create jobs and grow our economy for all Kiwis. The centre will be a major asset for New Zealand and will generate significant spin-off benefits including a projected $90 million annual injection into the economy an estimated 1000 jobs during construction and 800 jobs once it is up and running. So it is expected to attract about 33000 more conference delegates to New Zealand each year.To conclude my speech I would like to quote Mr Brett O’Riley Chief Executive of Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development. Mr O’Riley says: “The International Convention Centre will be a positive signal to investors who we know are already interested in hotel development and are analyzing future demand trends.” Thank you.