Andersen GinnyGINNY ANDERSEN (Labour): Thank you very much Madam Speaker. It is great to see this bill reach its third reading in the House today. I've watched this as a select committee member on the Governance and Administration Committee and watched the good work that was done by the subgroup that was formed to nut out the policy detail of what shape this bill would take.I would like to first and foremost acknowledge Mojo Mathers for bringing this bill and the shape and also for Chlöe Swarbrick for her continued advocacy for those in the community that cannot always have the same voice and impact as they probably should do. I guess my point in my speech tonight is that while it's great to see a bill that provides further access for people who deserve it and need it and don't always have it it is a shame that that always takes such a big fight. I'll look forward to the day when we have equality in New Zealand and not every step of the way has to be such a struggle.I was I guess educated on this by a local member of the Hutt community by the name of Mike Grigg who is sadly no longer with us. He was a very strong vocal advocate for the rights of people in the disability community and he was a constant battler to any local member of Parliament or council member that would listen. It is through his continued advocacy and talking with him that I learnt how difficult it can be for people to get what they deserve and have that equal representation with those around them.So we support the Election Access Fund Bill because of the fact that it facilitates participation of people with disabilities in general elections and that is only right and fair. It enables disabled people to be given appropriate tools and the ability to be able to compete on an even ground—to run as a candidate to attend an election event and to participate as a party member. It is estimated that it is around 9 percent of the population of New Zealand who have some form of hearing loss alone as one area and it is only right that there should be an ability to engage in debates and communication and have those abilities for the members of our democracy to share and understand what those ideas are.The Government is working hard to build a more inclusive New Zealand but we have a lot more to do. We want to be a country that creates opportunities for people with disabilities and that is why I am supporting the bill and why this Government supports this bill.The Election Access Fund Bill was originally sponsored by Mojo Mathers and it was back in 2011 I understand that she became New Zealand's first Deaf MP. In some ways while this bill I've said is a good thing it is a bit sad in some ways that it's taken us to 2020 to reach making steps like this just to enable people to be able to fairly engage and be part of an election process. I'm really looking forward to seeing this bill form part of how we will continue to have elections in the future and to see what differences it brings what types of candidates we see and the ideas that they bring into New Zealand. I think we can only be a stronger and more robust democracy with the more voices that contribute to that debate and I am proud to see a bill that further enables that action to take place. I commend this bill to the House.