Key John: Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill — In Committee 
Key John: Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:609;Page:6870] 
JOHN KEY (NZ National—Helensville) 
: As the Chairperson quite correctly pointed out I rise to take part in the title debate on the Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill. If I reflect on that title I can see quite a bit of merit in it. I do not like to agree with the Government and praise it and I certainly would not do that in normal circumstances but I can see some logic in the title. 
Hon Member  
: The member has been lobbied. 
JOHN KEY 
: I have been lobbied from time to time. I can certainly see that there is an attempt in this bill to make the definitions of goods and services clearer and that some quite interesting goods will be defined as a result of this bill. 
A lot of discussion has taken place tonight about electricity. Electricity has been defined as a good but equally defined under the legislation with its wonderful title are gas telecommunication services water and also—most importantly indeed—computer software. Far be it from me to say that the definition of goods and services is not at least discussed in the bill and it is in some way fitting that those words should be in the title. Like other speakers tonight where I would express some concern about the title is in respect of the use of the words “consumer protection”. One has to ask oneself whether consumers are truly being protected. There is certainly an attempt to protect them through continuity of supply although as we have heard from various speakers it is very unlikely that that would take place. [ 
Interruption 
] The Labour senior whip needs protection and I can understand that. However I am not sure that he is defined as either a good or a service. I am sure he needs protection but let me not detract from this wonderful dissertation. 
Hon Judith Tizard 
: He provides great services of very high quality. 
JOHN KEY 
: Does he? I was not aware that he provided services of great quality. I do not know whether consumers are protected by him but I will take it that they are. Consumer protection conjures up in my mind the concept of someone with a shield a weapon—some sort of a white knight riding out into the sunset to protect the poor and lonely consumers as they huddle around the fires that are not going the computer software that has blown up in their faces the water that is undrinkable or the gas supply that has been turned off. Will that happen as a result of this bill? I think not. At the end of the day no one can absolutely guarantee that the lights will be on. The lights are on in the Labour Party but is anybody home? That is the obvious question but the answer is not obvious. They have some wonderful members who from time to time make a stunning contribution on the odd bill but generally speaking the lights are on but no one is home. 
That has to be very much the same situation under the Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill. Where is the discussion about insurance companies and the role they could have played if they had the opportunity to protect consumers? That is what insurance companies do; they offer protection. They do not offer the faint hope that the lights will never go out that computer software will never go down that the gas will not work or that the water will not be of wonderful quality. Insurance companies are there to protect consumers when things go wrong. For the poor consumer who is at the moment huddled around his or her computer looking to log on; the poor consumer who has turned on the gas fire but it is not working; the poor consumer who is wanting to turn on his or her stove as we speak the Consumer Protection (Definitions of Goods and Services) Bill is not providing them with that protection because it cannot if the power is not on. Consumers must therefore look to an alternative source. 
I am not sure that this bill does absolute justice to what could take place. I can see that many consumers at the moment are feeling a sense of security but they have been wronged by this legislation. They will not have continuity of electricity supply or the quality of water that they require. There is nothing nicer than going home on a cold night and having a glass of water.