Brown Simeon; Sepuloni CarmelSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Madam Chair for the opportunity to take a call on this piece of legislation. I want to raise a couple of questions in regards to the appointment process for the monitoring of the Oranga Tamariki system. I would like to ask around the appointment process for the independent monitor of Oranga Tamariki too. The question—I note from the debate—has been around the independence. I'd like to have the Minister outline how the independent monitor is going to be appointed and what the process of that will be because I think it's important that this committee understands how that process is going to be undertaken who will be responsible for it because I think in the interests of making sure that this committee appreciates the independence—if that is what it is to be—that process should be clearly articulated by the Minister.I also just want to make a quick couple of questions in regards to clause 17 in regards to the Māori advisory group. I note that the monitor must appoint a Māori advisory group in order to support meaningful and effective engagement with Māori. I'd like to understand again the process by which the appointment process for that must take place. It says here in clause 17(2) A person must not be appointed as a member of the Māori Advisory Group unless in the opinion of the Monitor the person is qualified for appointment having regard to the person's—(a) experience and knowledge of children's and young people's rights and issues in the context of the Oranga Tamariki system; and (b) experience and knowledge of tikanga Māori." Now obviously that has some criteria involved in that but as we've seen from recent appointments to the ministerial advisory group on Oranga Tamariki that there have been a number of questions raised in relation to individuals and the fact that CVs were not required or disclosed as part of that process which I think is absolutely shameful when we are talking about some of the most vulnerable New Zealanders.Harete Hipango: The checks were not done.SIMEON BROWN: The checks were not done—the background checks were not done. I think it's critically important that this committee has assurances that those checks will be undertaken in regards to that.So this Government has effectively in that appointment process I think undermined confidence in Oranga Tamariki and particularly in the Government's ability to manage that system by failing our young people by not actually doing that CV check and background check. I think it would be highly useful to the committee to have the Minister actually answer questions to ensure that the processes in place under this legislation in regards to the appointment will be more thorough. And I assume that it will probably be more thorough because it won't be a ministerial appointment ironically. That's the real issue in regards to those appointments was actually it was the Minister who was in control and the Minister wanted to find a quick way through. But here I assume it will probably be more rigorous but I think it's important that we actually have that laid out very clearly for the committee to be able to understand. Thank you very much.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): I just want to make clear that the bill—and particularly Part 2 of the bill that we're looking at at the moment—does not seek to amend the Public Service Act with regards to the process for the appointment of chief executives. That stands. It's the Public Service Act. It still remains with the Ombudsman for instance that it's the Officers of Parliament Committee that takes that through its process I think from memory. And the Children's Commissioner and the Chief Children's Commissioner as is in the bill is still appointed via Cabinet. There's no attempt to change any of the mechanisms there through this bill in any way and nothing is stated in here that does that.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): Members I have time for one more quick call before I need to report progress. I will take Karen Chhour."