edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
1. Question No. 1—FinanceDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister of FinanceORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Finance1. Dr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central) to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has he seen on the New Zealand economy?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON (Minister of Finance): I have received many positive reports on the New Zealand economy since my last answer on this subject in the House. Just yesterday we received very positive business confidence data from ANZ showing business confidence had improved significantly and that as the ANZ put it indicators relating to investment employment and profit were also higher. Evidence of this is seen in recent data on retail with sales values recording their largest September quarter rise since the series began in 1995—up 7.4 percent. The latest Statistics New Zealand labour force survey data shows unemployment at 5.3 percent. While we will never be satisfied with this it is worth noting that this is nearly half the rate of unemployment that had been anticipated at Budget 2020 and it means that 117000 fewer people are unemployed than expected by Treasury just seven months ago. Even more pleasingly is the very latest data from Statistics New Zealand showing that this strength is continuing with monthly filled jobs data showing an increase of 27667 jobs in October.Dr Duncan Webb: What do the reports on jobs data show? Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well manufacturing saw 2713 new filled jobs; retail was up 2188 jobs; accommodation and food services rose by 2019 jobs; and 5048 jobs went to those aged 15 to 19 years together with another 3123 jobs in the next age group 20 to 24 years. All regions in New Zealand had increases in the number of filled jobs compared with September. Auckland recorded the largest rise of 8104 for jobs followed by Wellington with 3329 and Canterbury with 3301. We do need to acknowledge that many people have lost their jobs and some regions are still struggling with the effects of COVID-19 but the New Zealand economy is recovering.Dr Duncan Webb: What recent reports has he seen on export performance?Hon GRANT ROBERTSON: Well I've seen recent data on trade from Statistics New Zealand which showed our annual goods trade surplus reached a 28-year high. Goods exports rose $734 million to $60.1 billion in the year to October 2020 despite COVID-19 reducing global economic activity. The annual value of our exports goods rose to countries such as China the United States Japan Korea the United Kingdom Germany and Canada. Overall the value of our goods exports rose 1.2 percent showing the continued strength hard work and resilience of those in our economy.
Thursday 26 November 2020 - Volume 749
VoteSPEAKER: The question is that the amendment be agreed to. I'm being relatively slack here in that it hadn't been tabled. Is there any debate on that? There is none. The question is that the amendment be agreed to. A party vote was called for on the question That the amendment be agreed to.Ayes 43New Zealand National 33; ACT New Zealand 10.Noes 76New Zealand Labour 64; Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand 10;Te Paati Māori 2.Amendment not agreed to.SPEAKER: The question now is that the motion is agreed to. Motion agreed to.
EventSTATE OPENINGA message from Her Excellency the Governor-General desiring the immediate attendance of honourable members in the Legislative Council Chamber was delivered by the Acting Usher of the Black Rod.Accordingly the Speaker and honourable members preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms proceeded to the Legislative Council Chamber and after a short absence returned.
Wednesday 25 November 2020 - Volume 749
EventAUTHORITY TO ADMINISTER OATHCLERK: Honourable members I will now read the Commission authorising me to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance required by law to be taken or made by members.In accordance with section 11 of the Constitution Act 1986 I The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy Governor-General of New Zealand authorise youDavid Martin Wilson Clerk of the House of Representativesto administer to members of Parliament the Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen required to be taken or made by every such member before that member shall be permitted to sit or vote in the House of Representatives.JACINDA ARDERN Prime MinisterAuthorisedPATSY REDDYGovernor-General6 November 2020
Dean JacquiCHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Thank you for that last comment around the procedures around the end of play for the day. The Standing Orders have changed for this Parliament and we do have a five-minute window on either side to allow members to make a contribution. So members the time has come for me to leave the Chair. The committee will resume at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Thank you.Debate interrupted.Sitting suspended from 10.03 p.m. to 9 a.m. (Wednesday)
Reti Shane; Little AndrewDr SHANE RETI (National): Thank you Madam Chair. I just have a simple question to the Minister in the chair. The regulatory impact statement says Victoria University has conducted research into drug-checking services and that the Ministry of Health has been provided with interim results. What are those results with respect to the actions of the clauses in Part 1 please?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): Thank you Madam Chair. I thank the member for his question. Look it would be desirable if the research were released fully and properly. As I understand it it is expected to be released in the next couple of weeks but the interim results of that research I am advised led to the conclusion that two-thirds of people using drug-checking services at festivals or events changed their behaviour as a consequence—either didn't consume the substance that they had submitted for testing modified their consumption of the substance for testing or in a subsequent period changed their drug-consumption habit.
Seymour David; Dean JacquiDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): Well thank you very much Madam Chair. I'd just like to ask a little bit about clause 19 which contemplates somebody who is operating a pill-testing site tests drugs and returns them to a person. Of course it contemplates that they'll give it back but what if—CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! Order! The member will resume his seat. We are debating Part 1 at the moment. Part 1 contains clauses 1 to 16. The member was addressing clause 19.
Brown Simeon; Little AndrewSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Madam Chair for the opportunity to take a call in the committee stage on the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill. I've got a couple of questions in regards to how this bill is going to work. My first question is around how a young person who's attending some festival somewhere when they turn up to the festival and someone's there saying I'm going to test your drugs" how to know that they have been certified under clause 10 new section 35DA. The ministry has to have a website which lists the people who have been certified but there's no information required—from what I can see—for the service provider to actually put it in front of that young person their certification the fact that they have been certified by the Director-General of Health. How are they going to know that this person has been given the lawful authority to do this drug testing and that they are doing it in accordance with the law and therefore meeting the standards and the conditions imposed upon them by the Director-General of Health?Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): Again the director-general in giving somebody this permit to provide drug-checking services can also specify reasonable terms and conditions of that appointment. My expectation is that one of the conditions will be that the person who was given the permit to carry out drug-testing services must display the permit authority from the director-general. So that is covered off in the bill; it is there and it allows therefore that person to carry out that testing. Again when we think about the practical reality the situation that we are now in we know that there are outfits—of one at least called KnowYourStuff that has been around for a while is well known to people has an established track record of carrying out drug-treatment services. They will no doubt—if given the authority to do so under this legislation—be able to establish themselves in a relevant event or be known at the event or display their permit as a trusted provider of these services. That is what the bill provides for."
Dean JacquiCHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Order! Order! Before I take the next speaker I just want to remind the House that in the previous Parliament we had instituted a new way of running the committee where the member asking the question doesn't necessarily need to take the full five minutes. In fact asking a question succinctly then really requires the Minister if they have a mind to to provide an answer. So can I encourage the House: that was a system that was beginning to work quite well in the last Parliament and could well work in this Parliament.
Dean Jacqui; Little AndrewPart 1 Amendments to Misuse of Drugs Act 1975CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): The House is in committee on the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill. Members we come first to the debate on Part 1. This is the debate on clauses 4 to 16 Amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. The question is that Part 1 stand part.Hon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Health): Thank you Madam Chair. Part 1 deals with amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. So this is the part of the bill that gives the power of the director-general to effectively give a permit to any outfit that wants to offer drug-testing services. The director-general has to be satisfied that they can do so and the director-general can attach any conditions to any permit that they give.The effect of it then is that the person providing the service is protected from liability for prosecution. It also means that the host of an event in which a drug-testing service is carried out is also protected from liability for prosecution. So these provisions deal with that which is the cornerstone really of the legislation as we seek to provide these services and provide protection to young people going to festivals and the forthcoming summer season.
Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill — In Committee
Brown Simeon; Mallard TrevorSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Point of order. I seek leave to move a motion for the bill to be referred to the Justice Committee.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that? There is objection. The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill is set down for committee stage forthwith. Oh sorry I declare the House in committee for consideration of the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill—you know I was just giving my new assistant a bit of time to get here. Madam Chair.
Webb DuncanDr DUNCAN WEBB (Labour—Christchurch Central): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's with a little bit of sadness we come back to the House and hear the usual scaremongering and inaccuracies on the issue of drug safety. The fact of the matter is that the National Party is standing between someone trying to make something safe for a citizen. Under the current law the moment a person takes a drug takes ecstasy and says I will test it to make sure this is what it says it is" they're committing the offence of possession of a drug. These people would have our law keep it that way. Well on this side of the House and around the rest of the House we say "No." We say "If people are going to make decisions—decisions which might not be the wisest decisions—we want to make that as safe as we possibly can." That's really all you need to say about this piece of legislation. We will make people as safe as we possibly can. This bill is part of that and I commend it to the House."
Strange JamieJAMIE STRANGE (Labour—Hamilton East): Madam Speaker thank you for the opportunity to take a brief call on this bill. I'm not going to canvass many of the arguments but I am going to respond to the Hon Dr Nick Smith who is asking the question: why is this bill not going to a select committee? I would like to raise an important point that I think it's important for the House to know and for people who are listening at home to know—that at the end of 2019 Chlöe Swarbrick took a petition to legalise drug-checking services to a select committee of this House. It had support from the Ministry of Health over 6000 petitions and the National Party didn't turn up to that select committee to look at that petition. So that petition was suggesting exactly what this bill is doing and the National Party showed no interest in it. Now all of a sudden they've got interest. Are the National Party playing politics here? I've just put that question out there. That's for them to decide. I hope they aren't but I put that question out there. This is a good bill. It's an important bill. I commend it to the House.
Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Kia ora e te Mana Whakawā. Thank you for the opportunity to take the second contribution to this bill. I want to acknowledge the last speaker who just sat down Brooke van Velden. It's refreshing to hear a youthful voice from that side of the House.The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill—what it also does is that if the concert organisers find substance in a certain pill that is dangerous to the population what they can do is publish on their social media warning signs that this drug is circulating at this festival and that would warn festival goers not to use that particular drug. That is something that this bill would do be a warning sign at festivals of the dangerous harm of whatever is circulating at that festival. I commend this bill to the House.
van Velden BrookeBROOKE VAN VELDEN (ACT): Thank you Madam Speaker. I rise on behalf of the ACT Party in support of the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill. I support the bill's primary objective which is this: to reduce the harm of illegal substances by allowing drug and substance checking services to operate legally in New Zealand. It's pretty straightforward. This is not a debate about whether drugs should be legal or illegal nor is it a moral question on whether people should or should not take drugs. Drugs do exist and even though they're illegal people do take them.This bill doesn't seek to change whether these drugs are illegal. This legislation simply seeks to clarify a legal uncertainty over whether testing services provided can operate or not. It will make it legal for someone to handle illegal drugs for a few minutes simply to test them.It might not feel like summer's coming any time soon to Wellington but as we head into summer as happens every summer young people school kids and university students will head out to festivals and music concerts all around New Zealand. Many of these young people will be presented with illegal substances. Most parents would hope that their kids wouldn't be the ones taking these illegal substances especially when they don't know what's in them but it does happen. These are not bad kids. Young people just take risks—some with adverse consequences. No one wants to be the loved one of a tragic fatality that could have been avoided. This bill will reduce a lot of that risk. Passing this bill will reduce harm from drug use.The present situation is that people are likely to consume substances with less information than they could have about its potential to do them harm because the origin composition and toxicity of the substance is unknown. I think it's useful to acknowledge when we're discussing how to address this issue what actually happens now. Drug testing already occurs but it does so in a grey area. The testing sites are used but they're far and few between—operating through volunteers unable to touch the drugs themselves rather allowing young people to use the drug machines and avoid touching them because they face the risk of prosecution through possession or supply.This simple law change makes that operation clear. It will take away that uncertainty for a drug-test site gives a person better information about what drugs and substances they're using and allows a person to make a potentially life-saving decision not to consume it. I believe that this change is needed and the ACT Party will support this bill. Thank you Madam Speaker.
Warren-Clark AngieANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker and it's a pleasure to see you sitting in the Chair. I look forward to working with you this Parliament.The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill is an omnibus bill and it amends two Acts: the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 and the Psychoactive Substances Act. This bill does not change the status of any drugs and it does not make any changes to possession or supply. It does none of those things. These things stay in place. What it does do is enable a regime of testing to support the safer use of these drugs.We would hope that at the time that those drugs are being tested the conversation with the person having that drug tested would help them make a decision not to take it. They are still going to take these drugs or if they do we know prohibition does not work. We know that harm is occurring and it is therefore a good bill and a useful bill and I commend this bill to the House.
Swarbrick ChlöeCHLÖE SWARBRICK (Green—Auckland Central): Madam Speaker I seek leave to make a personal statement. ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): OK thank you.CHLÖE SWARBRICK: My understanding of the convention of the personal statement is that I cannot use this time or this space to obviously attack the Opposition and I have no intention of doing so. However I think that it is really important—ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): Sorry. Order! Sorry to interrupt—the member will resume her seat. Sorry I've very much got my training wheels on this evening and so in terms of procedure I must put leave to the House for the member to make a personal statement. Is there any objection to that course of action? Yes there is. OK.
McAnulty KieranKIERAN McANULTY (Labour—Wairarapa): We have just heard a saying that we probably factually should not hear for the rest of this term and that saying is: This side of the House". Because that party no longer commands that side of the House. That side of the House is split in three. And two of those parties three of those parties actually—because this side of the House goes over to that side of the House. Three of the parties on that side of the House are supporting this legislation. Why? Because this legislation faces up to some simple facts. No one here is saying that these drugs should be legal. No one here is saying that these drugs should be consumed but what we are saying is that they are. And as long as they are being consumed we have a responsibility to ensure that they are safe. That's it; that's the guts of it.The National Party oppose this bill why? Because it's not their idea. That's the guts of it. They are so desperate now for some headlines that they look at this bill and they oppose it. They don't present any compelling evidence against it; they are happy—they are happy—for our young people to go to the festivals over the summer and they are happy to accept the fact that these substances will be consumed and they are happy to leave things to chance and increase the risk to these young people by not providing a simple service of testing those drugs.It wasn't that long ago that there were news reports and pushes from the police and other agencies warning young people not to take a particular drug because what they thought was in it was not in it. That simple warning and measure of safety would be provided if these things were tested at music festivals as an interim measure in the meantime finding a long-term solution. We can't ignore this; we've just got to deal with it."
Andersen GinnyGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour—Hutt South): Thank you very much Mr Speaker. Look I'd like to take a brief call to talk about the importance of harm minimisation and how important that is in terms of saving young people's lives and that's why this bill aligns with those very principles. But at the same time as I'm taking the first call of my time in this 53rd Parliament I think it's important that we remember past positions in this House.I'm going to point out a glaringly obvious U-turn on the side of the Opposition when the Hon Stuart Nash as the Minister of Police announced that Labour was pursuing a policy of drug testing of pill testing. In fact the National Party spokesperson spoke in favour of it and that they were in support of drug testing at dance parties because that was the safe and the right thing to do. In fact the spokesperson at that time Chris Bishop spoke strongly in favour of pill testing so I am surprised—I am incredibly surprised—that right now we hear the complete antithesis from those members opposite. In fact today when questioned on the tiles Chris Bishop responded that he was on holiday in the Coromandel at the time and so he was therefore unable to caucus. Well I think that the entire National caucus probably deserves a good holiday in the Coromandel at this point because clearly they need to get their lines sorted. And if you're going to support drug testing please say so but don't do a complete U-turn. This is a bill quite clearly about supporting New Zealand to make harm a minimal part of our lives—and young people when you see the chopper come in and pick someone up when their life is hanging on a thread that's why we need to pill test. That's why we need to pill test. We need to pill test because it's about the safety of young people and providing an environment where young people aren't consuming toxins. And those members opposite have no opportunity to cast aspersions when they can't even sort out their own lines.
Ngarewa-Packer DebbieDEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER (Co-Leader—Te Paati Māori): Kia ora e te Māngai. I stand up for Te Paati Māori and I will be less animated and probably a lot more calm. I do have to wonder though which concerts some of the members have been to lately. Te Paati Māori believe we should take a health approach to drugs and not a criminal one. This approach requires this Parliament to be extremely courageous in its decision making. Contrary to statements made tonight the cannabis referendum was overwhelmingly supported by Māori as must be decriminalisation. We recognise and commend rōpū like Hāpai Te Hauora within the drugs sector working for the rights of Māori guaranteed within Te Tiriti o Waitangi and we are also conscious of those who are working on the ground with the most affected and the most at risk of taking poor drugs. We know that Māori are most affected by drug harm and most criminalised by the use of drugs. Therefore we are very open to solutions. We also know that the implications of law on the lives of those whānau who have to deal with the law and in the context of education health and community safety.So let's be very clear: for us this is not about normalisation of drug use. Our rangatahi are going to make mistakes. They're going to make decisions. This is about us as whānau doing the most that we can to keep them safe and mitigate harm. Therefore we as a party will be supporting this and making sure we can do everything we can to help our rangatahi grow to be the best that they can be. Kia ora rā.
Kanongata'a-Suisuiki Anahila; Rurawhe AdrianANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Kia ora e te Mana Whakawā. It's an honour and a privilege to contribute in the first reading of the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill. I heard a couple of speeches on that side and I just want to remind members what this bill actually does. I heard the Minister the Hon Andrew Little say that the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill is a time-limited and narrow measure to enable drug testing at festivals to operate within legal certainty this summer. To lose one life just because you went to a concert and took something that you thought would not kill you—to lose one life is one life too many. I heard from the other side—I'm not sure whether I heard it correctly but a member from that side said that You buy ecstasy; you get ecstasy." Well actually I haven't bought it in my life but I don't think it comes with a label. That's why we legislate labelling in everything—so that it is safe for the consumer. This bill does not change the status of any drug. It does not change the status of any drugs or substance. It will still be a crime for unauthorised persons to possess and sell illegal drugs. What it does is it does not increase the risk of prosecution because it does provide an avenue where if you do get a drug test at a concert then that is not admissible as evidence. So my advice to anybody who attends a festival is that if you are going to take a choice of taking a drug or something that you don't know what it is please get it checked because your life matters. I commend this bill to the House. Mālō. DEPUTY SPEAKER: This is a split call. I call the Hon Dr Nick Smith—five minutes."
Warren-Clark AngieANGIE WARREN-CLARK (Labour): Thank you Mr Speaker. It's a pleasure to rise for the first time in this House for the 53rd Parliament. I want to acknowledge you sir for the rulings that you have spoken on over the last 52nd Parliament and also I want to acknowledge that I look forward to the work that we will do together in this House.So we've heard from the Opposition about the drug-use tests and how it will make things worse etc. Well I'm going to talk a little bit about the fact that I am a parent of young people and let me say to you Mr Bridges it is the most horrifying thing to discover that the beliefs and values that you yourself may have about whether children will be taking drugs or not is actually not what is happening with your children. As a consequence I want to know that if my children are using illicit substances—and I hope that they are not—I want them to know that it is safe to do so.So what will happen with this bill is that we will have testing and that testing will occur to enable people to know and what we do know from the study that was carried out in Victoria University is that when young people discover what is in those substances they may make another choice and that is a good thing. That is what we hope.Hon Dr Nick Smith: When you buy ecstasy that's what you get.ANGIE WARREN-CLARK: Not necessarily. The member tells us If you buy ecstasy that's what you get." I have no experience of that so I appreciate your experience there. However the important thing here is that we must ensure the safety of the people that are trying these drugs and this bill does so I commend this bill to the House."
Hipkins ChrisURGENCYHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That urgency be accorded: the passing through all stages of the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Billthe first reading and referral to select committee of the Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Billthe passing through all stages of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Billand the introduction and passing through all stages of the Taxation (Income Tax Rate and Other Amendments) Bill.Just taking each of those bills briefly in turn: the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill it's the Government's desire to have that passed before the summer holiday period when there are a number of festivals where we want that activity to be able to take place.The Government has made a commitment to increase the amount of sick leave that is available. We want to get that bill to a select committee prior to Christmas hence including it in the urgency motion.The COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill is a very simple bill. It creates my job as Minister for COVID-19 Response—one of my other jobs as Minister for COVID-19 Response. But particularly important it allows us to step down alert levels faster which is important as we go into the longer summer adjournment should we need to use that.And then finally the Taxation (Income Tax Rate and Other Amendments) Bill implements the Government's tax policy that we campaigned on. In order for those tax rates to be in place at the time we committed to putting them in place we need to pass that bill before Christmas.
Woods MeganHon Dr MEGAN WOODS (Minister of Housing): I move That this debate be now adjourned. Motion agreed to.
Mallard TrevorTUESDAY 1 DECEMBER 2020The Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.Prayers.PETITIONS PAPERS SELECT COMMITTEE REPORTS AND INTRODUCTION OF BILLSSPEAKER: No select committee reports have been delivered for presentation. A petition has been delivered to the Clerk.CLERK: Petition of Sophie Handford requesting that the House of Representatives support a climate emergency declaration provide for net zero carbon end fossil fuel exploration and extraction invest in a sustainable economy and honour its responsibility to the Pacific.SPEAKER: That petition stands referred to the Petitions Committee. Ministers have delivered papers.CLERK: Report in relation to selected non-departmental appropriations for the year ended 30 June 2020:Minister of Tourism for Vote Business Science and InnovationMinister of Customs for Vote Customs andMinister of Education for Vote Educationannual reports for 2019-20 for:Kāinga OraParliamentary Counsel OfficeCrown LawNew Zealand Customs ServiceMinistry for the EnvironmentEnvironmental Protection AuthorityMinistry of EducationEducation Review OfficeNew Zealand Qualifications Authority andMinistry for Womenstatement of performance expectations 2020-21 for: Te Kāhui Tātari Ture | Criminal Cases Review Commission and New Zealand Trade and Enterprisestatement of intent 2020-24 for Te Kāhui Tātari Ture | Criminal Cases Review Commissionstatement of intent 2020-25 Ministry for the Environmentstrategic intentions 2020-24 for the Parliamentary Counsel Office andMinistry of Education report on the compulsory schools sector in New Zealand 2019.SPEAKER: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. The Clerk has been informed of the introduction of bills.CLERK: Holidays (Increasing Sick Leave) Amendment Bill introduction.COVID-19 Public Health Response Amendment Bill introduction.Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill introduction.SPEAKER: Those bills are set down for first reading.
Mallard TrevorSPEAKER: The question is that a respectful address be presented to Her Excellency the Governor-General in reply to her speech.
Mallard Trevor; Hipkins ChrisSTANDING ORDERSSessionalSPEAKER: According to a determination of the Business Committee I call on the Leader of the House to move a motion regarding entities deemed to be public organisations.Hon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That Air New Zealand Ltd Genesis Energy Ltd Meridian Energy Ltd Mercury New Zealand Ltd the Reserve Bank of New Zealand the Judicial Conduct Commissioner Kiwi Group Holdings Ltd Māori Television Service and Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology be public organisations for the purposes of the Standing Orders.This is the last of the routine motions that I intend to move this morning at the start of this Parliament. It has the effect of opening up the organisations that I've just listed to parliamentary scrutiny through the annual review process where they would otherwise not be. There are two changes from the last time I had to move this motion in the House. The Abortion Supervisory Committee has been omitted on the basis that it no longer exists and the newly formed Te Pūkenga—New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology has been added on the basis that it now exists. Other than that this motion follows the same formula as the last time Parliament considered this matter and it simply means that these organisations which otherwise wouldn't be subject to parliamentary scrutiny will be.Motion agreed to.SPEAKER: The House is suspended until 2 p.m. today for the Address in Reply.Sitting suspended from 12.01 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (National): Well I thank you for that compliment Mr Speaker but I wouldn't be at all surprised if you do give me some kind of warning along the way. While the National Opposition supports the reinstatement of this business we do express concern about the Autonomous Sanctions Bill not making the list and the reason we do that is because New Zealand has had a strong independent foreign policy for a very long time. Certainly since 1984 it has been something that New Zealanders have been very proud of. What this bill would enable is for New Zealand to on its own issue sanctions where international organisations—the United Nations particularly—have not been able to move to do so. We know that happens. Under section 41 it's not always easy to get everyone to agree on everything and there is of course the sanction on the UN Security Council as well. So it's a concern to us that in a week where we have seen the Government—SPEAKER: Order! Order! I am going to interrupt the member and I think he'll know the reason for it. We're debating a matter which is before the House at the moment not a matter which is not before the House. The fact that a bill is not part of the motion is something that could have been remedied but members have chosen not to. Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Well at this point.SPEAKER: Sorry?Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: At this point.SPEAKER: Well if the member actually has an amendment that he's speaking to he should have moved it and tabled it.Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Well my apologies and thank you for the instruction.I move That the Autonomous Sanctions Bill be added to the reinstatement motion.SPEAKER: That the reinstatement motion be amended by the addition of—Hon GERRY BROWNLEE: Thank you. Your words will do mine. Thank you. The reasons for it are because it enables the Government to make decisions independent of other countries. I'll say again: in a week where we've seen New Zealand join with others—the Five Eyes particularly—to augment a statement that New Zealand had already made it seems to me that without the bill on the statute book we are abandoning our independent foreign policy status. Thank you Mr Speaker.
McAnulty KieranKIERAN McANULTY (Chief Whip—Labour): I move That the question be now put.Hon Gerry Brownlee: Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Well we have a very experienced member who I'm sure will be able to make a relevant contribution—more than has been the case recently.
Willis NicolaNICOLA WILLIS (National): Speaking to the reinstatement motion I wish to draw members' attention to a member's bill that is to be reinstated and that is the Unit Titles (Strengthening Body Corporate Governance and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. This side of the House wishes to welcome the reinstatement of that bill and note the importance of it. That bill was introduced to this Parliament by departed member Nikki Kaye and was the result of significant consultation with apartment dwellers body corporate managers and others who have been affected by legislation which is no longer fit for modern purpose. I know that there are members opposite who will also welcome the reintroduction of this bill. The Hon Grant Robertson on the campaign trail spoke fulsomely of the need for reform in this area and I would encourage the Government to take a constructive and pragmatic approach in progressing this member's bill at the first opportunity at its first reading rather than taking an alternative more political course of introducing their own bill.The reason I make that argument is that this is an area that is overdue for reform. If we are to address housing—SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member is now getting into the substance of the bill which is outside the remit of this—NICOLA WILLIS: Sure.SPEAKER: When I stand the member sits and she is now on her final warning.NICOLA WILLIS: So I would encourage the Government to support this member's bill and I would just note my hope that we don't needlessly frustrate its progress by requiring a Government bill to be introduced instead. I would note our support for progressing this constructively at select committee.
Seymour DavidDAVID SEYMOUR (Leader—ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. I rise on behalf of ACT in support of this motion and I think it's a very good thing that the Government is without dispute taking all business from the previous Parliament into the 53rd Parliament. I note a couple of issues on the Order Paper. There is one petition that stands out from all the rest because practically every petition is I guess précised by the number 2017 meaning that's it from the Parliament that began in that year; there is one petition in the name of Lucy McSweeney which has 2014 before it. Lucy is an Epsom electorate constituent who has been doggedly determinately and quite deftly campaigning for better attention to mental health in schools for over four years since her petition was first lodged. It's now been reviewed by a select committee and is on the Order Paper awaiting a Government response. So I certainly hope on behalf of my constituent Lucy McSweeney that she's going to get a fulsome and proper response from this Government after petitioning Parliament for four years. I would also note something about the amount of business particularly the amount of Government bills that are being continued into this Parliament. I wonder how many of them will be progressed because this year for circumstances largely beyond our control in this House and around the world the House has not sat for very many days. And yet despite the election being behind us and the country returning to level 1 we're scheduled really to only sit for four full days for the rest of this year post-election. One has to wonder what the value of some of this business that the Government is bringing forward into the 53rd Parliament is if they didn't have the alacrity to at least sit another week while most New Zealanders will still be working—Hon Chris Hipkins: He wanted us to sit less! He wanted us to sit less!DAVID SEYMOUR: —in the second-to-last week before Christmas. And I hear the barracking from Chris Hipkins; the problem is it's his Government that is lacking the bills here and they're going to have to come up with some new ideas.SPEAKER: Order! I'm giving the member his final warning to get back to the subject. And I will warn the Leader of the House not to encourage irrelevancy. DAVID SEYMOUR: I have to say that—thank you for that Mr Speaker and certainly I was very focused before Chris Hipkins interrupted. I certainly hope—SPEAKER: That's misleading.DAVID SEYMOUR: —that the Government—ha! Well Mr Speaker it's a matter of opinion and debate and I happen to disagree with you on that one. But I certainly hope that the Government will soon augment this business brought forward into the 53rd Parliament with business that it has a greater value in and a higher priority for than it's shown to the business that it is bringing forward for which it's only prepared to sit four full days this year. Thank you Mr Speaker.
Simpson ScottHon SCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): Thank you Mr Speaker. I'm rising to support the motion but in doing so I want to particularly make comment about the lack of progress on the Kermadec Ocean Sanctuary Bill which has been reinstated under this motion. Now that was a piece of legislation that was first mooted way back in the 51st Parliament: talked about in 2015 introduced to this House in 2016 unanimously supported at first reading across the House and sent to a fulsome select committee—the Local Government and Environment Committee—chaired by none other than myself. It received a very fulsome and appropriate detailed analysis at select committee came back for second reading and there it has languished. SPEAKER: Order! Order!Hon SCOTT SIMPSON: It's languished there Mr Speaker.I listened carefully to the Speech from the Throne today. I listened carefully to see whether there would be mention in the Speech from the Throne of any progress or imminent speed and haste about the Kermadec ocean sanctuary and there was—SPEAKER: Order! Order! I'm now going to give the member his second and final warning. This is a very narrow question and it's whether or not it should be reinstated. The speed in the past and the speed in the future is not part of that and I'm pretty sure that member knows it.Hon SCOTT SIMPSON: Thank you sir. The question really is: if no progress was made in the previous Parliament what hope and prospect is there for progress in this Parliament? I'm heartened to a degree that the new Government has created a Minister for Oceans and Fisheries. I hope that that Minister can give this House some degree of certainty about progress on what is an important piece of legislation that the public of New Zealand and the environmental movements and the NGOs are very keen to see progressed. It wasn't progressed previously and I'm hoping that we will see a degree of urgency a degree of focus that was not present previously.
Reti ShaneDr SHANE RETI (Deputy Leader—National): Thank you Mr Speaker. I wish to speak to the motion and particularly with a view to the Health (Fluoridation of Drinking Water) Amendment Bill a bill that was introduced by the Hon Jonathan Coleman in 2016 and supported by his Associate Minister the Hon Peter Dunne. I ask the question: why did this not progress in the last Parliament? What hurdles were there there that are not here now? How quickly might we expect this to progress? We know on the campaign trail it seemed to receive significant support widely across the House and so we might reasonably expect that this will progress rapidly.SPEAKER: Order! Order!Dr SHANE RETI: Again we would anticipate that any hurdles they might have envisaged have now been removed. Thank you.
Hipkins Chris; Bishop ChrisHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That Jacqueline Isobel Dean be appointed Assistant Speaker.Jacqui Dean is one of the most experienced members of the House having been an MP since 2005 first for the Otago electorate and since 2008 for the renamed Waitaki electorate—one of the biggest electorates in the country. She was previously a councillor and has been Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Minister for Small Business in the Government of the Rt Hon Bill English. A diligent member of select committees she's demonstrated a willingness to work on issues on a cross-party basis. Some may argue that her experience in broadcasting would set her up very well for the role that she is about to undertake and I commend and warmly support her choice by the National Party for the role of presiding officer. I believe it completes a very strong team.CHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. National is equally very keen to support Jacqui Dean as another Assistant Speaker to complete the quartet that the Leader of the House has outlined along with you sir Mr Speaker. As the Leader of the House has noted Ms Dean is a very experienced parliamentarian. In fact reading back through her biography it's quite an astonishing list of select committees that she has had the privilege of serving on everything from the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee; the Education and Science Committee; Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade; Government Administration; Health; Justice and Electoral; Law and Order; Local Government; Environment—in fact I think there'd be very few select committees in the Parliament that Jacqui Dean has not served on. And along with being a very diligent member as the Leader of the House notes on select committee—something that I can attest to from having served on a committee with her—she's also been a Minister of a variety of portfolios in the last Government. She brings to the Chair brings to the presiding officer role dignity and grace and mana and we're pleased to support her.Motion agreed to.
Hipkins Chris; Bishop ChrisAssistant SpeakersHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That Jennifer Salesa be appointed Assistant Speaker. Jenny Salesa is the member of Parliament for the new seat of Panmure-Ōtāhuhu having previously been member for Manukau East since 2014. She's served as a Minister in the last Government as Minister for Building and Construction Minister for Ethnic Communities and Minister of Customs as well as being an Associate Minister of Education Associate Minister of Health and Associate Minister for Housing and Urban Development. She brings many perspectives to this role. I'm sure her cheerful manner and her commitment to the people of her electorate will make her a popular choice amongst members of the House. She will I'm sure be diligent liked and respected in the role of presiding officer.CHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. National is pleased to support the nomination of Jenny Salesa to this august position. As well as what the Leader of the House has noted as someone who has been a former Minister but also a member of a variety of select committees in her time in Parliament since 2014 Jenny Salesa will bring a range of different experiences to the role from her time as a member of select committees as a Minister and of course as an electorate MP and as the new electorate MP for Panmure-Ōtāhuhu. Thank you. Motion agreed to.
Hipkins Chris; Bishop ChrisAPPOINTMENTSDeputy SpeakerHon CHRIS HIPKINS (Leader of the House): I move That Adrian Paki Rurawhe be appointed Deputy Speaker. The member Adrian Rurawhe has been the member for Te Tai Hauāuru since 2014. He has of course a distinguished political pedigree though. His grandparents Matiu and Iriaka Ratana were both MPs for Western Māori and he's the great-grandson of the Ratana founder T W Ratana and his mentor was Koro Wētere. He's a highly respected figure amongst Māoridom and he has served this House well as Assistant Speaker during the last term of Parliament. He has proven to be a calm and fair but decisive and firm Assistant Speaker. Members have responded well to his approach to presiding over the House and I'm sure that he will be an appointment that will be supported across the Chamber. CHRIS BISHOP (National): Thank you Mr Speaker. The National Opposition is pleased to support the nomination of Mr Rurawhe to be the Deputy Speaker. As the Leader of the House has noted he is someone who brings huge mana and wisdom to the position. He's already served as a presiding officer in the last Parliament and discharged that important role with dignity and with decorum and we welcomed his rulings as a presiding officer in the last Parliament. On a personal note it's great to see a member of the class of 2014 the time I entered Parliament assume the position of a presiding officer's role and we look forward to his continued discharge of his duties. Motion agreed to.