Salesa JennyHon JENNY SALESA (Minister for Building and Construction): Madam Deputy Speaker thank you so much for this opportunity to speak on the Marrakesh Treaty. This is a multilateral treaty that was agreed and concluded in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh—thus its name—in 2013. We know that to date there are 33 member countries who have acceded—they've agreed—to this particular treaty including our neighbours in Australia Canada and Singapore. This is a very important treaty and it is my hope that we will have cross-party support for it.The Marrakesh Treaty has the objective of having a framework for producing and distributing copies of materials for people with print disabilities in formats that are accessible to them. Now the definition of those with print disability include someone who is blind; a person with a visual or perceptual impairment that is not able to be corrected for instance with glasses; and/or a person with a physical disability that prevents him or her from being able to read a book.I'd like to acknowledge and thank the Hon Kris Faafoi for giving us an outline of the background of the Marrakesh Treaty as well as its history and the amendments that we would need. I'd also like to acknowledge and commend the former chair of the select committee that actually sat through this particular treaty Melissa Lee for all of the processes that they went through. I know that there were many submitters that came through to that select committee the Commerce Committee that strongly supported this country for making the amendments that would accede the Marrakesh Treaty.In going back to what does this Marrakesh Treaty allow us to do—well it would if we are to accede the Marrakesh Treaty do the following. First it would allow authorised entities to make and distribute accessible formats of literary artistic works within their own countries without seeking the permission of the owner or the copyright of those works. Now the reason why this is important is as you heard from speakers that have spoken about this particular treaty before me it takes several months and sometimes it takes between $3000 to up to $6000 just to convert or just to make works available say for instance in Braille. If we were to have this treaty it would allow us to bring materials from other countries—member countries—to be able to distribute it here in New Zealand.Secondly we would be able to export copies—if we were to actually do these ourselves in New Zealand we would be able to export those copies after we make it accessible in our country. Third we would be able to access those materials from other countries who are authorised entities of the Marrakesh Treaty.The definition of an authorised entity though are those including schools it includes libraries and it includes charities that serve those with print disabilities. However if we are to ask the question do we in New Zealand allow in our own copyright legislation exceptions that would allow us to print these—well the answer is yes. Section 69 of the Copyright Act 1994 actually allows some exceptions. However only a few people can print and are actually allowed to do this. So in New Zealand we have two authorised entities and as far as I know the Blind Foundation is one of those and the University of New Zealand is also one of those that is allowed to do this in our country. However even though section 69 of the Copyright Act 1994 allows us to have prescribed bodies to make accessible formats available without the permission of the copyright owner it still makes it very very challenging for us to fulfil the conditions of section 69 which is why it is important for us in this House to accede to the Marrakesh Treaty. The amendments to the Copyright Act of 1994 would then allow New Zealand as I said to be able to produce materials and distribute materials that are much cheaper and be able to import various materials from overseas from those who have already made it accessible to their folks.When the Commerce Committee listened to the submissions for this treaty last year one of the things that they found was that 7 percent of the respondents to a Blind Foundation survey found such limited access to materials to the point that when they accessed tertiary education they gave as the reason for them leaving their studies—ending their studies basically—that they could no longer access materials. And so when we allow this treaty to make it more accessible to those with print disabilities it would make it more available make it more accessible to those of our students who are having difficulties when they study to be able to access materials when they study. Another thing that the select committee also found was that 40 percent of those accessing tertiary education here in Aotearoa New Zealand could not keep up with their studies because they felt that there was not enough support and that there was negative impact on their studies because of the lack of materials that they were able to access. So one of the goals of the Marrakesh Treaty is to change this sad reality for so many of our students.As you heard from the Minister Kris Faafoi earlier on it is estimated that here in New Zealand those with print disability is up to a number of about 168000 people. That is a whole lot of people that will be able to access more materials and be able to have better access when they have tertiary education when we accede to the Marrakesh Treaty. The other thing that the Commerce Committee also found is that the Marrakesh Treaty would be able to allow those with disabilities better autonomy better independence and better health-improved outcomes. Those individuals will be able to find and interpret and use information for health services. They'll be able to make more effective decisions for themselves related to their health and well-being. And I believe it is our job as members of Parliament to ensure that New Zealanders are not disadvantaged to ensure that they have better access to education better access to employment and social well-being. I encourage all members in this House to support the Marrakesh Treaty. Thank you very much Madam Deputy Speaker.