Moroney Sue: Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Moroney Sue: Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:668;Page:15011] 
SUE MORONEY (Labour) 
: 
 We were once a proud nation were we not? We were once a proud nation where on the international stage people admired New Zealand because we took an independent stance. When the Americans said that they wanted nuclear ships to come into this country did we acquiesce to the Americans then? No we took an independent stance. The commencement date in clause 2 of this legislation is the date of the day of shame for this country. It is the day that our independence as a once-proud nation finishes. [ 
Interruption 
] David Bennett does not care. He does not care that New Zealand has been seen to acquiesce on the world stage to an American corporation to change our domestic labour law without any New Zealanders being able to come and make a submission to say what they think about this law change. 
What do New Zealanders think about this law change? That Government will never know. That Government will never know and it does not care; it does not want to find out because it is rushing this legislation through. The commencement date in this clause is a day of shame for this country. It was brought about by John Key because he in one fell swoop is ruining the reputation of this country as having an independent voice and as being proud in saying on the international stage that New Zealand does have its own view. New Zealand does not buckle to international pressure except for now. Now it is clear to the world that New Zealand does buckle to international pressure and this is an issue of our sovereignty. 
I am a Matamata girl. In fact to be fair I am a Walton girl but what is 10 kilometres between friends? There is no one in this Chamber who is more determined than me to see  
The Hobbit 
 shot in the locality where I was brought up. There is no one who is more proud of my town’s involvement in that film. But in that same location in Matamata there is another industry that would quite like $33 million at the drop of a hat—the racing industry—and it will come knocking on John Key’s door to ask where its $33 million is. Racing is another industry that is of incredible importance to Matamata the Waikato and the surrounding area. Members opposite know that they will have the tourism industry and the racing industry lining up next and why should they not? There are easily as many jobs at risk in the racing industry which is going down the tubes as we speak because of the Government’s approach of not having any economic development. 
I speak kind of in support of Trevor Mallard’s amendment. He has proposed that this legislation expire on 8 November but I would like to propose another date. I think that the first Tuesday in November would be a very fine day—Melbourne Cup day—for this legislation to expire. Why not have this legislation expire on Melbourne Cup day so that the racing industry could then have its turn? The racing industry could immediately knock on the door and say: “Mr Key where is our $33 million? We’ve got lots of jobs. We’ve got an industry that is of vital importance to New Zealand. Why don’t we get the same treatment that has just been handed out on a plate to an American corporation?”. 
Will that $33 million stay in New Zealand? Will it be in New Zealanders’ pockets? We know that $33 million is coming out of New Zealanders’ pockets—that it is coming out of taxpayers’ pockets—but where will it go? Will it go into the bottom line of Warner Bros? Where are the Warner Bros shareholders? Are they in New Zealand? Will any New Zealanders make any money out of the $33 million that is to be given away to Warner Bros? David Bennett says no. He says that no New Zealanders will make any money out of it. If that money went into the racing industry instead then we could see New Zealanders benefit through local jobs that are not just for two films but will go on and on as sustainable employment into the future. I think the commencement date for this legislation is pretty interesting because it will be a day of shame for New Zealand.