Power Simon: Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee Third Reading 
Power Simon: Appropriation (Parliamentary Expenditure Validation) Bill — In Committee Speaker Recalled In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:634;Page:5894] 
SIMON POWER (National—Rangitikei) 
: 
 I am keen to discuss the title clause the commencement clause and in particular the amendment I am proposing to clause 2. Clause 2 “Commencement” currently reads: “This Act comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent.” I am proposing by way of amendment to clause 2—the amendment having been tabled—that to give this bill the necessary teeth it requires and in particular to ensure that New Zealand First is left in no doubt about the nature of what this bill should do the bill should come into effect “the day after the date on which the Controller and Auditor-General reports to Parliament that he has received confirmation that all political parties have repaid … the amounts listed in Figure 2 and Figure 3 on pages 33 and 34 of the report …”. 
The point of this amendment is straightforward. It is that validation will occur only in the event that all parties have repaid the moneys owed. I have heard Dr Cullen tell members on several occasions over the last couple of days that the Labour Party will repay the money so I am sure he will have no objection to the validating legislation coming into effect once that repayment is made. The Greens the Maori Party National ACT and yesterday United Future have all indicated that they also will repay the moneys. So I am looking forward to their support on this amendment which requires that repayment to be made before validation occurs. 
There is however one political party that has not made that commitment and I ask Peter Brown as deputy leader of New Zealand First to stand during this part of the Committee stage debate and reassure other politicians—but more important the public of New Zealand—that the moneys owed by New Zealand First as listed on pages 33 and 34 of the Auditor-General’s report will be repaid. It is a very simple statement for the member to make. Once he has made that statement—and because he is an honourable member I am sure he will make it—then he too like Dr Cullen and the Labour Party should have no objection to my amendment which simply states that once repayment has occurred the validating legislation will kick in. It is pretty straightforward. 
The danger in not voting for my amendment is that political parties such as New Zealand First will take the gamble that the New Zealand public will see this issue disappear into the ether. As a result when the validating legislation passes the legal requirement for New Zealand First to repay will disappear at that time. The obligation will then simply become a moral or political obligation. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: There’s no legal requirement. 
SIMON POWER 
: I say to Dr Cullen that that is my point. That is why we need the amendment—to create the obligation for repayment to be made before validation can occur. On that basis a perfectly reasonable straightforward and simple amendment should enjoy the support of all parties that have agreed publicly to repay the moneys owed as identified by the Auditor-General. 
 Frankly New Zealand First should take the opportunity now to take a call and reassure the public of New Zealand that it will repay the moneys owed and vote for my amendment to ensure that validation of the appropriation occurs only once that repayment has been made. In fact I cannot think of a good reason why any political party that has agreed to repay the moneys owed would not vote for this amendment. It actually makes no material difference to its position in respect of the validating legislation currently before the House. It is a serious amendment. It is an amendment that is straightforward and makes sense and I look forward to its support by all parties because it actually makes a fair bit of sense. I also look forward to contributions from my other colleagues who have made amendments on the title and commencement clauses.