Cosgrove Clayton: Policing (Involvement in Local Authority Elections) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Cosgrove Clayton: Policing (Involvement in Local Authority Elections) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 22 June 2010. Volume:664;Page:12050. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon CLAYTON COSGROVE (Labour—Waimakariri) 
: 
 Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker Barker. I know that you have been in the gym so the delay in calling me may be because your eyesight was affected by the amount of weights you were lifting. You are known I am told as a fit person; others dispute that but I am sure it is the case. 
I briefly reiterate what I said in the first reading touching on one point. We will support the Policing (Involvement in Local Authority Elections) Amendment Bill. As I say the issue arose out of a coalition partner who was zealous in his approach to wanting police not to participate in elections. I note in passing that a certain number of public servants are not permitted to participate in elections. This is enforced not by legislation but I am told by their own internal law if you will. For instance the military to a certain level I am told are not permitted to stand for election to this Parliament and that is by their own arrangements within military law. 
I address one issue that I think was raised by Metiria Turei in the first reading and that is the issue of conflict of interest. I had a chance to have a chat to a colleague opposite who has been a member of the constabulary to check the history on this issue and neither of us could remember a time when a conflict of interest had arisen. Metiria Turei raised the issue that a conflict of interest could arise where a police officer in a dual role—as an elected councillor community board member or local authority member and as a member of the constabulary—could not manage that issue. She suggested there could be some sort of great constitutional issue of moment. I have to say from having police officer Robbie Brine as a councillor on the Waimakariri District Council that I cannot recall that situation taking place. My colleague across the aisle having been a serving police officer cannot recall either. 
I think as with all elected roles—even members of Parliament from time to time whether it be Cabinet Ministers or members of select committees—conflicts of interest arise. There is a simple way to deal with them and that is that there are rules in this place and there are rules under the Local Government Act. There are also sanctions that can be imposed by the Auditor-General; we saw the Auditor-General give Environment Canterbury in my own area of Canterbury some scrutiny over a number of perceived or otherwise alleged conflicts of interest by non-serving police—ordinary folk that is—who still trod that fine line in respect of a conflict of interest. That was dealt with by the Auditor-General. So there are safeguards on that side and equally—again taking some counsel from my colleague across the aisle a former serving police officer—I would wager that there would be a great deal of interest taken by the hierarchy from the Commissioner of Police down if a serving police officer was to cross the line or in any way compromise the department or his or her own standing in the way by which that officer approached the decision-making process in a local authority. I argue that serving police officers who are elected—and in general 99.9 percent of folks who are in elected office—know when they have to withdraw from a process and when they have to leave the room or declare an interest. These things can be managed. 
I disagree with our Green colleagues that somehow the world as we know it will end the veil will fall the constitution will be torn asunder as it were and there will be a great series of injustices put forward because serving police officers are enabled to stand in local body elections. It is right to raise the issue and I accept that. I am sure there will be one or two letters to the editor and one or two in the community who will have a go from time to time at serving police officers who have the dual role but there are enough safeguards on both sides—both on the blue uniform side and within the elected local body—through legislation and the Auditor-General to ensure that people can have the confidence that those issues will be dealt with. Such people will be dealt with in the same way if you like as business people who serve on local authorities and may have an interest in property. When local authorities are making decisions on zoning arrangements irrigation issues or whatever decisions local authorities make those business people too have an obligation to ensure that those conflicts of interest are declared and appropriate measures taken so there is transparency. 
I like the Minister of Police commend the bill to the House. I will not go as far as her colleague Melissa Lee who expressed her love and admiration for the Minister but I am advised there is a lot to love. I commend the bill to the House.