Gallagher Martin: Arms Amendment Bill (No 3) — First Reading 
Gallagher Martin: Arms Amendment Bill (No 3) — First Reading 
[Volume:625;Page:19783] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 As the chair of the Law and Order Committee which I understand from the Minister’s speech will have the task of considering this bill I would like to take a relatively brief call. I also acknowledge the previous speaker Simon Power and his compliments to the former chairperson of the committee Janet Mackey and his description of her as a very very good chair. I certainly would not disagree with that at all. I also compliment the previous members of the Law and Order Committee and the work they did on the No. 2 bill and in particular the work of the chair of the committee at the time Janet Mackey. 
For the benefit of the House and the wider public I will restate the fundamental tenets of this bill as I understand it in terms of my reading. This bill amends the Arms Act and it replaces the Arms Amendment Bill (No 2) that was introduced in July 1999. Unlike that bill this bill will not include provision for the establishment of comprehensive firearms registration. However the passage of this bill will enable New Zealand to become party to the firearms protocol. It is important to restate that that protocol is against the illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms—their parts and components and ammunition—supplementing the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime. 
I have no problem with international agencies—including the United Nations obviously in the very critical work it has to do in our fight against highly organised transnational crime. I would say that anything that improves international cooperation and reinforces some of those protocols must by its nature be a very very good thing. Obviously we are well aware that this is a very very serious issue internationally. 
The Arms Amendment Bill (No 3) also includes a number of amendments to enhance the effectiveness of the Arms Act as I understand it from my first reading and to assist the police in their enforcement role in respect of this legislation. For example there will be new offences relating to the possession for illegal purposes of body armour designed for protection against firearm projectiles—as again was outlined in the Minister’s speech—and increases to some of the maximum penalties for offences under the Arms Act as was also outlined very clearly in the Minister’s speech. 
It seems to me upon reading this bill that it strikes a balance between strengthening New Zealand’s ability to prevent arms from being used in transnational crime and minimising the costs of complying with the firearms protocol. It is not as has previously been stated a vehicle to introduce a comprehensive domestic firearms registration system; rather it will help to ensure that New Zealand has effective control systems and record-keeping on the export import and manufacture of firearms. 
I am very sure that all members of the Law and Order Committee will undertake their very important task of considering this bill and the submissions on it with absolute goodwill and integrity. I am hopeful that the process will not be used for some sort of political grandstanding exercise. I am sure it will not be. There are some very important fundamental issues in this bill. I note from the explanatory note of the bill that a number of Government agencies were consulted. I also note that we are advised: “Police also sought the views of some representatives of firearms owner groups in particular the New Zealand Council of Licensed Firearms Owners the New Zealand Pistol Association the Sports Trade Industry and the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council.” All those organisations do very very positive work on issues of firearms safety. I absolutely agree with the previous speaker in anticipating that there will be quite a significant number of submissions on this bill and I will look forward as a member of the committee to the very considered submissions from those organisations and of course from the professionals in the New Zealand Police as well. 
I will not take any further time because I am well aware that a number of speakers want to follow me with their input on this bill. As chair of the Law and Order Committee I think I can say that we look forward to our task. We will certainly be doing our very best to give the various submissions that we will receive on this bill very very close and careful consideration. In the end again I guess from what I can see this bill will attempt to strike the right balance. Obviously we will recognise New Zealand’s obligations in terms of international protocols and do what we can to ensure the ongoing international fight against transnational organised crime when it comes to the illicit trade in and supply of firearms. We look forward to working on this bill and the submissions that will come to us in the course of our hearings on it.