Allan KiritapuKIRITAPU ALLAN (Labour): Well as the Rt Hon Winston Peters said earlier in the same debate he set out to get the racing industry back on track—so too do I with my contribution this afternoon towards this bill. I do want to really also commend the Rt Hon Winston Peters. This is an area that he has been passionate about over many a year during his time and tenure in this House. During the 2005 to 2008 period the Rt Hon Winston Peters dedicated a lot of his time and energy into trying to bring the racing industry together. Following that however for about nine or so years the racing industry has unfortunately taken a slide backwards. Now that has been damaging to the industry and in regions like for many of us in this House who come from proud regions proud racing regions we have seen the decline and the lack of investment time and energy by the previous Government.So the rigour with which the Deputy Prime Minister has taken up his role as the Minister for Racing—one of his first actions that he did was to undertake or to recommend that an inquiry was undertaken into the industry. The foresight he had in terms of actually appointing John Messara who had already done a massive overhaul in New South Wales of the racing industry over there—now I understand it was somewhat of a coup to be able to get a man of his calibre to draft what would become the blueprint for New Zealand's racing industry here. Those 17 recommendations have laid the foundations for what this bill is the first part of.Now I must commend the efforts of all of those that have contributed their time over in particular the last month and those in particular that were on the select committee chaired by one Darroch Ball who's the chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee. I understand he ruled that committee with a fair and even hand.Alastair Scott: Firm—firm hand.KIRITAPU ALLAN: A firm fair and even hand as I understand—my colleagues Paul Eagle Jan Logie Meka Whaitiri and the members from across the House. Now I know that from both sides of the House and we've heard contributions from both sides that have shown their passions for this industry. I actually do want to acknowledge the member Ian McKelvie. Many of us know of his passion for this industry and whilst it may have been a little trickier in the previous Government to get everywhere that he would've probably liked to have gone in this sector I am sure that he can stand with his hand over his heart that he's very proud of what the Rt Hon Winston Peters and this side of the House are doing for your industry.I won't go on because we know that this is an industry that is a significant employer within our regions—16000 people. It brings in $1.6 billion to the New Zealand economy and those figures are a couple of years old now but those are the latest that we're working with. It is a substantive industry. It's one that many of us have longstanding family connections with and I can imagine the people in Te Teko right now I'm sure will be watching this very valuable contribution to the House saying Yes here we go."—that the racing industry is back on track—and "Yes here we go and we're off we're off we're off!" because this is a great bill for the racing industry. With that I am pleased to commend it to the House."