Sio William: Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 3) — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSio William: Local Government (Auckland Council) Amendment Bill (No 3) — First Reading[Sitting date: 24 June 2015. Volume:706;Page:4767. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere): The Labour Party will support this bill to a select committee. I was going to be quite critical of the member who produced this bill Alfred Ngaro but I now understand it was not his bill that he did not draft this bill and that it was actually Maggie Barry who drafted this bill. The right place for this bill to be considered really is at the select committee. There I think we will really delve into the substance of this bill and whether there was wide-ranging support for it. The reason why I say that is firstly we have a bill that we are debating tonight that amends the Government legislation of 2009 and contained in the presentation tonight is another Supplementary Order Paper—Supplementary Order Paper 418—in the name of the same member who drafted the original bill Maggie Barry and that Supplementary Order Paper is amending this bill. That is a signal that does not really sit well with the public so when the Government member says that this is a good bill that is yet to be seen.So we would like this to go to a select committee and we would like to hear from particularly those members who are in this situation where they are serving two or more local bodies because it is not their fault. The legislation that was passed by this Government allowed for that. The rules simply state that they have to be elected by the electors of that ward or of that area. That is really it. So it is not their fault. I am pleased that the member who drafted this bill actually has got a Supplementary Order Paper saying that this will not affect those members who are currently in that situation because that gives some confidence to them while the House deliberates on this particular bill.The explanatory note suggests that this will help resolve the potential conflicts of interest. The reality is that in politics—whether it be central or local government—there are bound to be conflicts of interests. It is my hope that we have existing systems in place—in central and local government—that will ensure that when there are potential conflicts of interest that do arise perceived or otherwise those systems in place will help address those conflicts of interest. So I would like to hear from the local government sector and particularly also Auckland Council and those members whether it is in fact the case that they cannot deal with their conflicts of interest.The other point that the explanatory note makes is that this is going to somehow resolve the problem of double-dipping. I do not know why we are pointing the finger at the local board members in the Auckland region. There are members in the House who at various times have been in local government and who could be accused of double-dipping—holding a position in a council and holding the position also of a member of Parliament. But there is also the instance where a person could be on the local board and serve on the district health board at the same time or be a councillor and serve on the district health board at the same time yet if a candidate stood for a local board and the council and they won both they must choose one. They cannot hold both positions. So we would be interested to hear in the select committee just how widespread this situation is. I accept that this bill is focused on the Auckland Council but I would be interested to hear from the New Zealand local government sector whether this is a widespread situation across New Zealand.So those are really the points that we would like to make at this stage. We look forward to the select committee process. Again I say that I would hope that the local government sector comes forward I would hope that the candidates who find themselves in this position come forward and I would hope that those in similar situations outside of the Auckland boundaries also come forward.I have a concern about what gave germination to this bill because I note that Maggie Barry released a press statement last year accusing Mr Paul Gillon—[Interruption] Grant sorry—Grant Gillon of holding two roles. The reality is that he had every right to stand in those two positions. The legislation that this Government passed in 2009 allowed for it. I look forward to the discussion and I look forward to the public coming forward and making their points heard on this particular bill. Thank you.