Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Well what a pleasure it is to be back in the House after 85 days in lockdown in Auckland and I tell you what I'm looking forward to giving a few key statistics during this speech about the issues that our fellow Aucklanders are facing. I'm going to be talking about the Data and Statistics Bill first reading. I obviously rise on behalf of National as the MP for North Shore in Auckland. National supports this bill. This bill is to replace the Act that was put in place in 1975. I must say I've had a look at a few of the key statistics from 1975. Footrot Flats obviously was a key element and a key show there and I was sort of wondering looking across the other side who's a Wal and who's our Aunt Dolly but I won't get into the detail on that. Also National a key statistic in 1975 won the election. So I think we'll just ponder on that for a little while. Statistics obviously in those days were all hard copy and computers were just coming on line; so you can imagine the need to replace this Act is—obviously things have moved on. But look good statistics are essential for good policy—we know that—and are a key element in terms of driving a number of our decisions. In terms of the three provisions within the bill that I wanted to touch on obviously the Crown responsibility is to consider and also to provide for Māori interests—is a key element that's in here. Obviously in 1975 for those who remember a little bit of their key statistics it was the year in which the Waitangi Tribunal was actually established. So I think it is quite appropriate that that is being reflected as well. Obviously the bill also looks at adding in additional safeguards and protections into the bill. Obviously around confidentiality we've seen the sort of catastrophic failures by this Government particularly down in the Waikato and other Government departments which have just been blatantly releasing our personal information and other details and other statistics and information which obviously this bill covers into the public domain. So confidentiality and some enforcement for that is really important. The last aspect is obviously that this bill will introduce a new framework for the collection of data which will also allow some mandatory requests of that data. I wanted to get back to a few other key statistics particularly in Auckland City because obviously we're all down here and life is normal but life is not normal in Auckland or in the Waikato for our fellow constituents. Auckland business closures a statistic that this bill will obviously cover have increased by 13.8 percent according to Statistics New Zealand in the month of September. Obviously they are significant numbers. Statistics New Zealand also release information around the Consumers Price Index which is obviously the measure of inflation up 4.9 percent—a key statistic in regards to cost of living as well. So that's a key aspect that obviously has been under this Government's watch. But look National supports the better collection and publication of analysis of data and statistics obviously. And obviously this is really important I guess to take into account some of those industry trends. I think if you took a straw poll of where Aucklanders sit today and I'm looking down at Chris Penk because I know that in his constituency if you took a statistical survey of those constituents about how happy they are to be in lockdown under this Government I think you'd find the statistical significance of course of those findings would be around zero percent. That's how happy they are in regards to where they are at the moment and the critical need for change in that regard. Anything will be too slow for the people of Auckland. I also wanted to refer back to some other key statistics that obviously this type of bill would look to hopefully cover. That is the fact that 100 percent of hair salons in Auckland are closed. Just a reminder: 100 percent of those remain closed even though you can still go and get your Botox. But obviously in regards to this bill in regards to the statistics that would be carrying that also means that 100 percent of the revenue that those businesses collect is no longer there as well and that's a significant impact obviously on all those members. Obviously this bill has a number of other elements that we won't have sadly enough time to cover in this short speech. But I wanted to just reinforce that National will be supporting this bill and we're looking forward to going through to the select committee process where I'm sure we will receive a large number of submissions and contributions to what will be an absolutely important topic.