Leary Ingrid; Dean JacquiINGRID LEARY (Labour—Taieri): I'm not sure that the Opposition members understand the purpose of this bill. It's about creating a culture of plain language. That is clearly what has been missing in the Public Service. Official information is a way that the public can scrutinise us as parliamentarians and can access Government services. It is a democratic right. And what this bill does is it goes some way to busting the bureaucracy that so many of us in this House frequently complain of. I can't tell you how many constituents have come to my electorate in Taieri needing support just to understand documents that are coming out of Government agencies—important documents relating to housing relating to immigration to social welfare to driver licences there are so many examples I could give you. And these are not just immigrants who are coming and second language speakers these are also people with a good command of first language English who simply cannot understand many of these documents.As Jan Logie mentioned plain language writing is a skill. And in fact I believe that the culture of unplain or complex language in bureaucracies is part of the risk averse nature that happens when officials are needing to be able to make sure they cover all their bases in advice to Ministers or to other members of this House. But that is not the right language to be using for constituents who need clear simple advice that doesn't cover every caveat that just simply says In order to do (a) you need to do (b)." That is why that culture has emerged.There is a desire to have plain language in the Public Service but unless people within the service lead on it unless there is somebody who actually takes that responsibility and leads it won't happen hence the need to appoint the officers. They need to take responsibility they need to socialise it because a culture change cannot happen without socialisation and people need to be trained. And yes there is accountability because they will be accountable to the people who write in and complain; they will need to respond when the plain English rule isn't followed.My colleague Glen Bennett very ably pointed out the real problem that this is trying to resolve. And it may sound trite and I apologise to people at home who may feel a little belittled by some of the comments from the Opposition because what this is about is that when complex language means that people don't understand those people don't have access and those who don't have access aren't included and if they aren't included then we don't have a democracy that works. It also sends a very clear message to people from those communities that they are not welcome in governance roles; that the governance rules are only for the elite only for the educated only for the privileged.I'd like to commend my colleague Rachel Boyack for taking on this important bill and also for ring-fencing te reo Māori and New Zealand Sign Language. Those languages have their own mana they have their own cadence their own wairua. They don't need this bill but we do and we need it to make sure that our society is accessible and inclusive to everybody. The plain language of the sniggers and chortles from the Opposition tonight speaks for itself. It is the language of privilege and elitism. I commend this bill to the House and I am so grateful to my colleague Rachel Boyack for taking this stand. Thank you Madam Speaker.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Members this debate is interrupted and set down for resumption next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow. Good evening. Debate interrupted. The House adjourned at 9.57 p.m."