Lotu-Iiga Sam: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third ReadingText is subject to correctionLotu-Iiga Sam: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading[Sitting date: 26 May 2016. Volume:714;Page:11453. Text is subject to correction.]Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (Associate Minister of Health): I move That the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. It has been a pleasure to be in this House leading the debate on this particular bill and I do welcome the support from across the Chamber. I think most members here agree that this bill will have a positive impact on our people—particularly I want to say our Māori people and our Pacific people whose smoking rates continue to be high. Another at-risk group of course is pregnant women. This bill is but one measure one step along the way towards the ultimate goal of a smoke-free New Zealand.I want to particularly thank the Māori Party. I want to acknowledge the previous Associate Minister of Health Tariana Turia who I think many would acknowledge has led the charge in this area and not only around the increases in taxation: 10 percent year on year on year for the last 6 years. I also want to acknowledge Marama Fox and Te Ururoa Flavell and their acknowledgment that this must continue not just here today but into the future.I also want to acknowledge members opposite and the Labour deputy leader as well as Louisa Wall whom I have had many interactions with on tobacco control. I acknowledge the passion certainly and the vigour that they have brought to this debate. I think this is one of those bills where we can agree despite some of the rhetoric that has gone on in the House this morning that it will make a difference to all New Zealanders.I want to say that it is about tax increases and there is part of me that ideologically looks at a bill that increases taxes and thinks “Well I believe in less government; lower taxes.” but I know that when it comes to smoking and tobacco control taxation makes a difference along with a whole range of other measures. We know the damage that tobacco does in this country—the 4500 to 5000 people who die prematurely in this country—and I want to reiterate what I said in my first reading speech: this is still the biggest health problem in this country.Darroch Ball: Is it?Hon Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA: It is. It is. That is why this measure along with other measures that this Government has done I might add to promote smoking cessation in this country—we have got to be particularly grateful for them.I also want to acknowledge the officials who have assisted with this as well as with other tobacco control measures. I want to acknowledge our Government and the leadership of John Key in promoting this as I think a sensible measure. It will be one of the legacy policies that this Government will leave behind. We know that the costs of smoking are immense—the personal cost to the person who smokes but also the whānau cost the community cost of people who become sick and die and also the relationships that are affected by tobacco and the like.I just want to say that I welcome the support around this House. I believe that we are doing the right thing here today by New Zealanders. I know that this will make a difference to the health of New Zealanders and that is why I commend this bill to the House.