Copeland Gordon: Border Security Bill — First Reading 
Copeland Gordon: Border Security Bill — First Reading 
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GORDON COPELAND (United Future) 
: I am pleased on behalf of United Future to speak to this first reading of the Border Security Bill. Sadly since 11 September 2001 we live in a world that overall is less secure than at any time since World War II between 1939 and 1945. The shock and horror of the twin towers collapsing in New York an aeroplane crashing into the Pentagon in Washington and a fourth plane brought to ground before it could reach its intended destination the White House represented the greatest breach of border security in the history of the United States. We watched with a mixture of awe and horror as the massive towers of the World Trade Center collapsed and in the memorable words of Mayor Guiliani of New York “the losses were more than we can bear.” 
 Sadly however these acts of international terrorism have proved not to be isolated events. In October 2002 they also arrived in our hemisphere via the tragic bombing in Bali. In the months and years since the nations of the world and in particular the nations of Europe and the Americas—particularly the USA—have expended literally billions of dollars in an effort to tighten their border security. It has been necessary for New Zealand to follow suit; hence this Border Security Bill. 
I would like to compliment the Minister the Hon Rick Barker and his officials on the thorough common-sense and relatively low-cost solutions they have come up with in relation to the export of goods from New Zealand to the USA and other countries. The cost for example of x-raying the more than one million containers that leave our shores each year would be a massive and further blow to our international competitiveness. After all with perhaps the exception of Australia we already face the greatest average distance of any nation in delivering to our many overseas markets. If we are to maintain and enhance our market share continuing efforts must always be made to reduce costs whenever we can. Accordingly the certification of supply-chain security for low-risk exports by an approved customs seal provides a workable and cost-efficient answer to the new requirements placed upon New Zealand and all other nations as a result of the increased terrorism security risk which is now unfortunately part of our world. 
Exporters and transport operators may nevertheless chafe and grizzle a bit about the new requirements. That is only human but the reality is that from now on it will be a case of either complying with these arrangements or risking kissing goodbye to the exports themselves. As time goes on we may find some advantages in the new supply-chain security certification process because right now we very often have no idea of what is in containers. I can see a lot of advantages flowing to society in general when it becomes known—and we have a system in place that ensures that we actually do know—what is in each and every individual container shipped throughout our country and through our wharves to overseas destinations. 
The enhanced border-secured immigration risk measures contained in this bill are also timely. New programmes have been written and electronic records developed that will enable customs and immigration officials to gain advance information on people intending to fly to New Zealand whether they are coming as immigrants or as visitors. Of course the way in which terrorists and other undesirables would normally reach our shores would be precisely as visitors. 
I have some small concerns about the possible costs involved in providing that information. For example the cost of that new technology could be up to $80000 for airlines and up to $1 million for customs. For pre-boarding checks airlines are looking at a bill of up to $100000 and for customs the cost is estimated to be $21 million over a 5-year period of which about half will be recouped from immigration fees. In that connection I would like to ask the select committee that considers the bill to look carefully at whether the mix is right between costs lying where they fall and assistance through Vote Customs to ensure that those security measures are put in place. 
I have no doubt that we must put these new measures in place. It is sobering to recall that all of the terrorists who participated in the atrocities of September 11 were legally in the USA. The reality is that New Zealand has no choice but to utilise all of the new information technologies with the goal of preserving and enhancing the security of our borders. We can make no other choice if we claim to be delivering responsible Government to the people of New Zealand. One of the highest and first obligations of Government after all is the security of its own citizens. 
Normally people come to New Zealand on regularly scheduled commercial flights or ocean-going ships. Since we are an island nation however we are also at risk of people arriving here on small craft fishing boats and the like. Indeed it is interesting to recall that the only terrorism to occur within New Zealand in recent times which was related to the sinking of the   
Rainbow Warrior 
 involved the use of yachts and other small vessels. For small craft and other means of non-scheduled transport the bill therefore moves towards tightening up current procedures and practices. 
The United Future caucus had just one reservation about this bill. It was referred to also by the Hon Murray McCully and it concerns the sections relating to the detention of suspected persons by customs for up to 12 hours. In that connection I note also that the  
Bills Digest 
 issued by the Parliament Library expresses similar reservations. Accordingly we would specifically request that the select committee give careful consideration to those provisions balancing the need for stronger border security on the one hand with the civil liberties of individuals on the other. 
United Future is happy to support this bill at its first reading and its referral to a select committee for further examination.