Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): I rise on behalf of the National Party and as the MP for North Shore. I speak on the first reading of the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Amendment Bill. National supports this bill. We support this bill because it makes a number of important amendments including protecting of individual rights and safety of patients and the public; it eliminates indefinite treatment orders which we've discussed this evening; it also minimises harm not only for patients but also for the public when these individuals are being transported particularly forensic patients; and it also introduces some audiovisual aspects and makes these amendments permanent.The mental health of New Zealanders is one of the most important issues that this House will address in the coming decade. I acknowledge that this is a difficult and complex area but the Government has a role to support those individuals families communities and those on the front line whether they be in social education or part of our health response. We have a mental health crisis in New Zealand. We must act together across this exceptional country to take decisive action to make improvements that will build resilience save lives and reduce the burden that falls on our families and those within our communities when the system fails.This bill is being created following the Government's recent inquiry into mental health and addiction services a report that highlights significant action is required in order to start to turn the dial. I have been fortunate in my work before becoming an MP for the North Shore to work alongside passionate clinicians within our forensic mental health unit in my own home electorate under the Waitematā District Health Board. These clinicians do amazing work under what are often very challenging circumstances and I wish to acknowledge them and thank them for their ongoing contribution.I also want to share my personal perspective on this bill as a front-line volunteer ambulance officer with St John Ambulance who only last week was responding to a 111 emergency call to deal with another mental health incident. Thirty percent of the call-outs that we received on the shift I undertook last week involved mental health incidents and this reflects the significant pressure that our system is under and the critical need for action not talk to help our fellow Kiwis many of whom are young men.A special call-out to my fellow paramedics emergency medical technicians first responders extended care paramedics and intensive care paramedics who alongside our police are the front line in responding to this mental health crisis and are often picking up the pieces—often when it's too late. First responders are overwhelmed by demand and under-resourcing and the inability to provide a sustainable pathway to help people on their road to recovery a battle that is seeing call volumes skyrocket and pressure on our community and hospital services constantly at capacity. This bill recommends amendments that will enable a more effective application of the Act and this is welcomed. In particular it focuses on three key aspects. Compulsory treatment orders: the bill will remove indefinite compulsory treatment orders something that has been criticised in terms of its potential to breach human rights. This is where a patient is required to have treatment for their mental disorder and the changes that have been put in place allow these orders to be put in place and extended by a clinician by up to 12 months. I also acknowledge the conversation raised by my good colleague Dr Shane Reti. There is significant variation across this country in regards to the treatment that is provided to these patients and that is a concern that we all need to work together to address. The second aspect of the bill in terms of amendments is minimising the harm when these patients are being transported. Again I wish to acknowledge our mental health workforce those individuals that sit in the back of an ambulance when they are transporting our forensic mental health patients to hospitals and other facilities. This is a challenging role. This is a role in which many of our healthcare professionals put their own personal safety at risk and often are the subject of harm within the workplace. It is our responsibility as a system and as a House to protect these individuals who are making such a significant contribution for our country. Currently the Act does not permit the use of force including restraint when transporting these patients which obviously as I've just discussed poses a significant risk for not only the patient but the staff travelling with that patient and also the public should that patient leave the vehicle.Lastly I wish to talk about the amendment in regards to audiovisual links being allowed to be permanent. I'm pleased to see this amendment within the legislation. As we've all experienced the challenges of the last 12 months I think this is common-sense legislation and in particular around new section 34C(2) inserted by clause 8 which recognises the benefit of such technology and I welcome that.It is important to bring this back I guess as an electorate MP to the local electorate. No community within this country is immune from the burden that mental health illness brings and my electorate on the North Shore is no different. I like many New Zealanders are concerned with the slow pace of change in the area of improving our mental health services and what seems to be a lack of urgency to transform a system in such desperate need. The ask is simple of this Government: outline the plan to implement the recommendations confirm the timeline fund it and execute. Irrespective of where our political loyalties lie we require action not talk in this area.As a member of the Health Committee I look forward to rich discussion on this bill as it passes through. As we said before the National Party support this bill. I commend this bill to the House.