Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): The question that immediately arises from the Minister's commentary to the House is: what constitutes the local community? Because if it's open to anybody anywhere in New Zealand to object that is not a local community. That is the prohibitionists in society are given an opportunity to have a rant every time they see someone either going for a renewal of a licence or for a new licence. And then of course we also know that under these local alcohol plans when they're advertised etc. the vast majority of people who are quite comfortable with the licensing arrangements in their area don't make submissions because they assume that this is something that society allows. So those who are opposed tend to have the louder voices. And I think the problem with this too is that not only is that group of people who give their assent—and remember it's only a few years certainly in the member's lifetime that the whole question of prohibition was taken off the general election ballot each year. The question of whether an area wanted to remain a trust area was taken off that ballot because the assumption was that people after generations of saying yes accepted that these facilities would be available in their local community.Now the other problem I've got with this is there's no specification in here about who might sit on those licensing applications. Look the member can laugh but throughout the country there are people who are in those positions who take extremely dim views of anything that comes out of a bottle particularly if it's got alcohol in it. And I think that's a consideration that needs to be taken into account—should be taken into account. The idea too that someone who's operated successfully for a long period of time and complied with the law and any conditions of a licence could lose it because of an objection is also very unreasonable. If someone is operating outside the law they're acting irresponsibly they're behaving poorly then yes you'd understand why they would lose their licence or they would have special conditions put on them or whatever. This makes it too easy for anybody to raise objections that could see someone else lose not only their investment their livelihood but also a loss in a community. It might be a great win for the small group of people who don't want it but there's been no reference to the larger volume of people who are quite comfortable with that facility being there.And then I'd raise the issue of—in Christchurch we have alongside the river in the central city what was once known as the strip"; a sort of series of bars a very well-organised entertainment area. Now with all the laneways and what have you there are smaller bars all throughout that facility; bars cafes small restaurants etc. What if the local people there decide or some big objectors get in there and say "No we don't like that."? Something that the whole city is quite proud of quite pleased with but then a small group of people put the knife in and go and convince the local hearing panel looking at the local alcohol policy that it should be shut down.Now look the Minister over there shakes his head and says "This couldn't happen". Lots of things happen as a consequence of law—lots of things happen as a consequence of law and this is a law that's being imposed on the basis that it's good for community participation but essentially is going to ignore the vast majority of the community and simply give a voice—a much louder voice than is reasonable—to those who are opposed to this just on a principle basis. So my question is: what constitutes a community?"