McKelvie Ian; Dean JacquiSALE AND SUPPLY OF ALCOHOL (EXEMPTION FOR RACE MEETINGS) AMENDMENT BILL First ReadingIAN McKELVIE (National—Rangitīkei): I move That the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. I nominate the Governance and Administration Committee to consider the bill.It's a privilege to again attempt to usher a member's bill through the House; my first was picked up by Minister Little: the Sentencing (Livestock Rustling) Amendment Bill and passed as part of a broader Government bill—survived an election as well. My second bill that passed related to the Dog Control Act and this the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for Race Meetings) Amendment Bill is my third—so we'll soon know how it goes.This bill originated from a Winston Peters' download on the police and alcohol laws where typically he blamed both for the downturn and on-course turnover and attendance of race meetings. The very quick Chris Bishop drafted a bill in his sleep and by the next morning he had the bill in the ballot which he allowed me to pick up. At the time he was a prodigious producer of members' bills and didn't want this one; he wants it now!The bill seeks to allow racegoers to take their family picnics and include a bottle of wine or beer in the hamper to the races where those racing clubs concerned wish this to occur.A day out at the races was in the past very much part of the New Zealand way of life as it still is in Australia. It is comparatively recent changes to alcohol laws in this country that's contributed to the stopping of this practice and a subsequent drop in attendance at race meetings. Our country is very different than what in the days when John Clarke alias Fred Dagg made more famous the Rod Derrett song Rugby Racing and Beer"—I'd sing it if I could!Andrew Bayly: Have a go Ian—have a go!IAN McKELVIE: What about you Bayly? However there's still very much a place for a day out with the family enjoying the last two in moderation.Currently licensing laws make it difficult for racing clubs who wish to allow car boot picnics to occur at their meetings to do so if they wish to without considerable difficulty. Many of our race meetings were founded on the backs of families taking their picnic lunch to the races sitting in the back of their car or in the distant past their dray or carriage and of course if some in this House have their way we'll be going in the dray and carriage to the races again in the future. They had a great day out and I believe this law will make it much more attractive for families to once again enjoy a day out with their family and friends having the odd flutter the odd beer and a lot of fun while the kids play with their friends in a safe and educational environment.The reason it will become more attractive is that some racing clubs will endeavour to ensure this option is once again available to patrons. I must however make the point that this can be achieved under current legislation with considerable difficulty and a great deal of cost. This bill alleviates that problem by changing some little points in the Act which I will refer to later.I wrote to all racing clubs some time ago to gather support for this bill. It will surprise some members to know that it received a good amount of support; although some of that support came from clubs that have no need for it or have satisfactory arrangements in place already and that was to be expected. The real beneficiaries of this legislation will however be our small country racing clubs many of them who run their feature race meetings at holiday times of the year and really run them as the entertainment for those holiday destinations in New Zealand. It's a significant part and a very important part of the New Zealand racing industry; it's also a very important part of our rural and provincial communities particularly in the more isolated parts of New Zealand. In that letter I also stated that I understand this is likely to be a conscience issue with some parties and members of Parliament having the ability to choose how to vote without their party whipping the vote in a particular direction. So I urged them to speak to their local MPs if they had any interest in this bill—and I'd have to state that a number of them did. I also stated that we'd very much appreciate their support fully understanding that many of them make a portion of their income from the sale of alcohol so their current licensing arrangement is quite important. But none the less from a racing industry perspective it's very important that we get people through the gate and that we are able to encourage greater attendance particularly from our younger people and I think to take them to the races at a young stage in a very friendly environment where they can have a pleasant day out is very important for all of us.Race meetings are important community events around New Zealand largely run by volunteer committees. Many regional racing clubs lack the infrastructure to offer large amounts of organised hospitality services simply because they don't have as I said the infrastructure or the facilities that are up to standard. Allowing patrons to bring their own food and drink to a course is a major driver in attracting attendance on race days. Saddlery clubs obtain a special licence or hold an on-licence for designated areas and this allows the rest of the course to be available for bring-your-own alcohol consumption if in fact the club requires it or the local community demands it.Recently the police began to object to BYO alcohol during clubs' avocation for special alcohol licence for specific areas on the course. This has been a stressful time-consuming and uncertain exercise for many racing clubs throughout the country. Interestingly it affects a lot of other organisations of course such as A&P societies and things like that but effectively this bill only deals with racing clubs. Police have issued guidance providing some clarity on their interpretation of section 235 which is the section that this Act makes some alteration to but ambiguity still remains.The bill makes it clear that racing clubs and race meetings are not the intended target of section 235 of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. The bill provides an exemption from section 235 for racing clubs on days of race meetings if the consumption of alcohol takes place at a time when the clubs either hold an on-licence or an on-site special licence that applies to the race meeting. The bill very briefly contrary to the bill we had in the House earlier tonight as 390 pages outlines that very clearly.Just a little bit of history on the racing clubs because it's such an important industry to New Zealand. It is a very big industry in New Zealand.Andrew Bayly: It underpins rural New Zealand!IAN McKELVIE: Shh! Shh! Shh! It effectively employs a very large number of people some 20000 people. Interestingly we also produce some outstanding horses jockeys and trainers—and you could say the leading trainer and jockey in the world at the moment: Chris Waller from Himatangi—those of you who don't know where that is it's in the Rangitīkei—and he's the leading trainer certainly in Australia and probably in the world; and James McDonald from Cambridge who's also the leading jockey in Australia and probably in the world. I think that's pretty special and it shows the importance of this industry and the breeding industry particularly to New Zealand. It's really important I think that we encourage in every way we can that industry to be successful.This bill in a very small way contributes to the future potential success and the ability of the industry to attract more people and more young people into it. I hope the bill makes progress tonight.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that the motion be agreed to."