edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Simpson ScottSCOTT SIMPSON (National—Coromandel): It is not usual for the Government chair of a select committee to quote from a Labour Party minority view on the committee's report back but I am compelled having heard the address from the member Jacinda Ardern who has just resumed her seat. The Labour Party's minority view as part of the committee's report back says: … we are pleased that the submission process has worked to remove many of the defects submitters were concerned about. While some submitters will be disappointed that other barriers (rather than fences) remain permitted the system overall will be more effective than less." That really sums up the good work that has occurred on this bill at the select committee. The bill that has been reported back to the House for its second reading is significantly different from the bill that was introduced for its first reading. We did a lot of good work at the select committee. We heard a lot of very good submissions from a number of very good submitters. I was impressed by the calibre of those submissions. But this is a bill that effectively repeals the Fencing of Swimming Pools Act of 1987 and moves those provisions into the Building Act. It does not actually create a situation that is of great concern other than changing that piece of legislation into a more consistent broader piece of legislation. There are three quick points that I want to make while I have the floor. One is that spa pools and hot tubs with safety covers will no longer require a fence. This is a practical solution that means that it will impact upon the vast majority of owners of spa pools and hot tubs that already have lockable covers. The vast majority of those pools are not currently fenced. They are difficult for local authorities to identify because many of these pools are portable. Secondly retailers will now be required to inform people who buy spa pools and portable pools of the safety rules to help people understand how to use these pools legally and safely.Hon Simon Bridges: Knowledge is power.SCOTT SIMPSON: That is right. Knowledge is power. Thirdly councils will now be required to inspect pools every 3 years instead of every—Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10 p.m."
Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill — First Reading
Adams AmyHon AMY ADAMS (Minister for Communications): I move That the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill be reported to the House by a date that is 4 months and 1 day from the day that the bill receives its first reading.Motion agreed to.
Ngaro AlfredALFRED NGARO (National): I rise to take just a brief call on the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. This bill is about connectivity. So in the first part of connectivity—e Te Mana e Te Whakawā tēnā koe; in Māori Language Week Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori—we connect with our Māori whānau and iwi who are out there as well. In the second piece of connectivity can I also acknowledge our Chamber stewards the ones whom I have come to know over this period of time. There is Trevor Thomas Sue Bob Judy Pat Euan and Philip. Can I just acknowledge their service to us in this House and their warm smiles and their friendliness as well. The last part of connectivity is just the fact that what this bill does do—and it has been laboured on a number of occasions in regard to property access—is ensure that there is a consenting process that is tiered and allows for a regime that allows for quicker installation. We think that is good. I am looking forward to being on the Commerce Committee which will receive submissions and work this bill through the House. There is not an ounce of guilt in here; instead there is a sense of wanting to do the work that is necessary to get the job done. I commend this bill to the House.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Commerce Committee.
Hudson BrettBRETT HUDSON (National): It is a pleasure to rise in support of the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill a bill that has a very simple purpose which is to make it easier for people to connect to ultra-fast broadband (UFB)—easier and quicker. So the last thing they need from me is to take up more time in this House—that could slow down their connections. So I would like to commend them for their interest in connecting to UFB and I would like to commend this bill to the House.
O'Connor SimonSIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): I am delighted to take a call on this bill. I think I might speak in analogy. Look 10-minute speeches are akin to dial-up.Hon Member: It's a metaphor.SIMON O'CONNOR: It is sort of more of a metaphor but there is an analogous element to this. Long 10-minute speeches are akin to dial-up. Those that are a bit shorter may be ADSL. Three or 4-minute speeches may be VDSL speed but this speech is an ultra-fast broadband speech—it is completed seconds after it started.
Bakshi Kanwaljit SinghKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National): Thank you for the opportunity to participate in the first reading of the Telecommunications (Property Access and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. This is an important bill because as we know day by day the demand for ultra-fast broadband is increasing. It is very important for our businesses educational institutions community and others that opportunities are available because of this. Thousands of New Zealanders involved in shared properties or living in apartments experience delays in connecting to ultra-fast broadband and they need permission for access to the property shared between the neighbours. In 2000 we had only 22 percent of our population with access to broadband. In 2003 we had 51 percent and in 2012 we had 86 percent of our population with access to broadband. Fifteen years ago the total usage of the internet was 40 gigabytes. Today monthly usage of the internet is almost 80 terabytes. These are the things that are required for ultra-fast broadband and this bill will help that availability to the end-users. I commend this bill to the House.
Lee MelissaMELISSA LEE (National): E Te Mana Whakawā tēnā koe. I listened very carefully to the member who just took his seat David Shearer and also to the Minister Amy Adams. I am very excited about this bill coming to the Commerce Committee and I look forward to the submissions when we actually deal with them. One of the comments that the Minister made was that as of April this year there were almost 800 orders on the book where the consenting process had been running for about 50 working days or longer without resolution. This is one of the issues that we are trying to resolve with this bill. As Mr Shearer said a situation where houses are sharing a driveway or people live in a high-rise complex where they actually need the permission of their neighbours who may not necessarily be present is something that we are trying to resolve here. The comment that the Minister made in terms of 50 days of no resolution reminded me of the times when we did not actually have the internet. I am obviously going to be ageing myself but going back to university when the internet was not available I think we all went to university with typewriters. Nowadays more and more people are wanting faster cheaper internet services. This is one way of making sure that we deliver the service better and faster. I commend the bill.
Pugh MaureenMAUREEN PUGH (National): It is my pleasure to stand in support of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill in its first reading tonight. This is the culmination of many years of consultation and consideration. This new organisation that will be set up is called Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) with local committees to be established at the local level. This single organisation FENZ will be responsible for rural and urban fire services. Reflected at the heart of this bill is the importance of the links between fire services and communities and also the strong need for support for volunteers given that 80 percent of firefighters are indeed volunteers. This bill reflects the changing demand on our rural fire services. For example from my own experience on the West Coast rural fire services very rarely put out a rural fire. In fact in some areas it is difficult to even get a fire to burn. However these volunteers are often engaged as first responders to motor vehicle accidents. This bill will ensure through the regional committees that they are well resourced trained and heard. I have great pleasure in commending this bill to the House.Bill read a first time.Bill referred to the Government Administration Committee.
Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill — First Reading
Bakshi Kanwaljit SinghKANWALJIT SINGH BAKSHI (National): It is my honour to take a call on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill at its first reading. First of all I would like to pay gratitude to all the firefighters and the volunteers who stand up in difficult times with other New Zealanders. This bill is also part of the Better Public Services of this Government. We warned that the law should be revamped and updated because it has been due for a long time. The review was taken in 2015 and the recommendations are contained in this bill. I commend this bill to the House.
Dowie SarahSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill): I rise to take a very short call in support of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill in this first reading. As has already been talked about the formation of this bill is a product of the Swain review. It is one that looks to modernise the service to bring both the urban and rural components together—the paid side along with the volunteer side. As has already been discussed in this House the Fire Service and its emergency responses have evolved over time. It is no longer about firefighting per se; it is also about first response to crashes. Especially in my area a southern geographical spread—that response is certainly well received in such isolated areas. And of course the Fire Service's duties also span to search and rescue. So it is a service that is very much needed in New Zealand and one that should be reflected properly in legislation. To finish with in my short call I do want to pay tribute to Minister Dunne on his consultation process. I had the pleasure of attending meetings between both the rural and urban fire services in Invercargill and greater Southland. They were conducted with the utmost respect and were a very constructive series of meetings that took on board the challenges of uniting the different aspects of the service but also acknowledged the opportunities. I think that consultation process was done in a very good way and it has produced this bill which is well needed and reflects the modern state of the Fire Service. With that I commend this bill to the House.
Hudson BrettBRETT HUDSON (National): E Te Mana Whakawā tēnā koe. It is a pleasure to rise in support of this the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill. Much-needed reform has been canvassed after many many years. The legislation that this will repeal and replace dates back to the 1970s to a time when a firefighter's role was very very different indeed. So it is good to see legislation that recognises that both paid and also volunteer members of our fire service now are involved in many more types of activities and incidents whether it is urban search and rescue vehicular incidents and extrications or other emergency services. I am pleased to see that we will have legislation that both recognises that and sets up the structures and the funding arrangements to support that. I am also very pleased to see within that some measures that follow along from the lines of the Inland Revenue Department to prevent avoidance of those levies through the new means that will be used. So it remains to go through the select committee process. I look forward to that and I commend this bill to the House.
Mitchell MarkMARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney): It is my pleasure to take a short call on the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Bill in its first reading. Can I just acknowledge any members of the Fire Service that we have in the House today—I think we do have some—and their families. Welcome and it is great to see you here. Can I just mention my own fire service back in my electorate of Rodney and also the fire service in Northland.The previous speaker highlighted—and I agree with him—that our Fire Service and our firefighters are now far more than first responders to house fires commercial fires or any type of fire. Every year we attend award ceremonies where they will be receiving awards for their actions at motor vehicle accidents chemical spills storm and flooding damage. In my own electorate when we were hit with a major storm it was our firefighters who were the first ones out there dealing with the damage and the carnage associated with that.I was recently up in Kaikohe and I want to acknowledge the rural firefighting service in Kaikohe because it had actually implemented a youth programme whereby it has taken eight young guys who were going off the tracks—they were running straight into the arms of the gangs up there—and wrapped around them mentoring some discipline and training and it is training them to be rural firefighters. This is the kind of community spirit - based service that we have in our country and I just want to acknowledge our Fire Service the role that it takes and everything that it does in our communities.Like I said it is only a very short call. I do look forward to receiving the bill on the select committee and being given the opportunity to get up and speak in this House again to this bill. Thank you.
Pugh MaureenMAUREEN PUGH (National): It is my pleasure to stand in support of the Social Security (Extension of Young Persons Services and Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill. I congratulate the Hon Anne Tolley on caring so much about our young people in bringing this bill to its third reading today. We know that the social investment approach works because more than half of those who exit the programme remain independent of benefits 3 months later. We believe in the potential of all of our young people and we want to support those most at risk to be meaningful contributors to society as a whole but more important to their families and to their own children. That is why Budget 2016 included a $652 million social investment package. This bill will make a positive difference and I commend it to the House.
Parmar Parmjeet; Mallard TrevorDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): Thank you for the opportunity to take this call to support the Social Security (Extension of Young Persons Services and Remedial Matters) Amendment Bill. The purpose of this bill is to extend the Youth Service to 19-year-old beneficiaries with children and 18 and 19-year-old beneficiaries without children who are considered to be at significant risk of long-term welfare dependency. For 18 and 19-year-old beneficiaries there will be risk assessments done. We heard from Opposition members that that will stigmatise young people. Actually these young people need help and we want to help them. The risk assessment will be a very transparent process. It will include factors that are well accepted—for example the level of education involvement in employment or training and contact with Child Youth and Family or the justice system. These kinds of factors will be used for the risk assessment model. Once a young person is referred to the Youth Service they will go through a consultation process which will give them an opportunity to comment and also provide extra information about their background. Based on a risk assessment during the consultation process Youth Service providers will also have an opportunity to understand the needs of that young person who is referred to the Youth Service. It is quite possible that during that consultation process Youth Service providers may feel that the young person being referred to the Youth Service actually does not need that referral and the Ministry of Social Development can consider that recommendation and can actually withdraw the referral if appropriate. We also heard about sanctions. Yes when these young people are referred to the Youth Service they will have obligations to meet. If they meet their obligations there will be incentives and if they do not there will be sanctions. Nineteen-year-old beneficiaries with children will be required to work towards the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 2 if they do not have NCEA level 2 and they will be required to take a budgeting and parenting course. Eighteen- and 19-year-old beneficiaries will also be required to work towards NCEA level 2 and take a budgeting course. If they do not meet their obligations there will be sanctions. Sanctions are an important part of the Youth Service because having sanctions has shown us an improvement in the level of compliance for the requirements that are there for Youth Service. This is a great bill which is to support young people so that they can have a better future. This Government is committed to providing that support to our young people. I support this bill and commend this bill to the House. Thank you.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): I understand this is a split call from the Labour Party—Louisa Wall.
11. Community Development—Community-led Development FundJOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary SectorCommunity Development—Community-led Development Fund11. JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector: What recent announcements has she made in terms of support for community-led development projects?Hon JO GOODHEW (Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector): E te Mana Whakawā tēnā koe. The recent launch of the Community-led Development Programme marks a step change for the long-term support of community projects and will have a significant positive impact for successful applicants and their communities. The programme will allow communities to identify community aspirations then partner with both central and local government private funders businesses and local iwi to achieve their goals. Once fully implemented in 2019-20 the total value of investments per year will be up to $3.56 million.Joanne Hayes: How is the new programme different from previous investment schemes?Hon JO GOODHEW: The 5-year community-led development pilot programme wrapped up on 30 June this year. The new programme takes the best elements of the former community development scheme and community-led development and modernises them including paid community development workers a partnership approach with relevant agencies intensive advisory support from Internal Affairs and flexible funding. The Community-led Development Programme is about local people finding local solutions to their problems. It will be open to communities hapū and iwi. A contestable expression-of-interest process will open in September this year.
9. Roading New Plymouth—State Highway 3JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of TransportRoading New Plymouth—State Highway 39. JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth) to the Minister of Transport: What recent improvements has the Government made to State Highway 3 in New Plymouth?Hon SIMON BRIDGES (Minister of Transport): Alongside the hard-working MP for New Plymouth it was my pleasure to recently open New Plymouth's $24 million Vickers to City road upgrade project. This stretch of road to the north of the city was starting to see a growing number of problems and was near capacity causing delays and frustrations for motorists and freight transporters alike. The Government has now upgraded the road to include two lanes in each direction and has put in place safer and more efficient intersections as well as better facilities for walking and cycling for the people of New Plymouth as well as the wider region.Jonathan Young: In what ways will the improved Vickers to City road benefit the people and the businesses of New Plymouth?Hon SIMON BRIDGES: Now that the improvements have been made local traffic is moving much more freely to the north of New Plymouth. Freight is also moving more easily though the area benefiting both the port and industries to the north of the city. Businesses are also benefiting as it is now much easier to move goods and services around the city and region. So it is clear that the improvements to the Vickers to City road have been an important development for New Plymouth that will support the future economic growth of that great city.
7. Prime Minister—StatementsRt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Prime MinisterPrime Minister—Statements7. Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his statements?Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister): Yes. In particular I stand by my statements that the National-led Government is doing a lot to assist senior citizens—in particular when I said that there has been a 31 percent increase in the married rate of New Zealand Superannuation since 2008 that $41 million has now been allocated in Budget 2016 to support the SuperGold card scheme providing more certainty for more than 670000 card holders across New Zealand that there have been 50000 more—Mr SPEAKER: Bring the answer to a conclusion.Rt Hon JOHN KEY: —elective surgical operations taken.Rt Hon Winston Peters: When Prime Minister Turnbull was comfortably ahead in the Australian election campaign why did he go public in supporting Mr Turnbull and cause his support to nosedive?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I think the furthest apart we ever saw it was 51:49 but I am thrilled that the member thinks that I can impact so many voters in Australia.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Why with his record of endorsements in the Northland by-election the flag referendum the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement Brexit the Panama Papers the housing crisis and now the Australian election will he not stop being a scatological Midas?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: I will—I will. But I just need to inform him that the last thing I said before I came into the House was: Winston Peters is going to do well in 2017." Ha ha!Rt Hon Winston Peters: To put my sense of panic at rest now is it not a fact that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have called him pleading that he not back their campaigns?Rt Hon JOHN KEY: No neither of them has rung but if they do I will be more than happy to have a chat with them about international events and when I am away next week you never know whom you might run into."
4. Tertiary Education—Centres of Asia-Pacific ExcellenceSARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and EmploymentTertiary Education—Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence4. SARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill) to the Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment: How is the Government ensuring New Zealanders have the skills to strengthen our connections across the Asia-Pacific region?Hon STEVEN JOYCE (Minister for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment): Last month I announced $34.5 million in funding in Budget 2016 for a new programme to develop new Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs) in New Zealand universities as part of the Innovative New Zealand package. These centres will be cross-institutional centres of excellence in the language culture politics and economics of countries or groups of countries within the Asia-Pacific region. New Zealand's prosperity is increasingly tied in with our region and we must secure our future by investing more in preparing young people to understand the languages culture and economics of this diverse range of countries.Sarah Dowie: How will CAPEs operate? Hon STEVEN JOYCE: The funding will be available to support up to three Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence which will be modelled on the successful Centres of Research Excellence programme. We intend to set up the initial CAPEs in universities around the country specialising in countries or groups of countries in North-east Asia South-east Asia and Latin America. Each CAPE will develop strong linkages with its region of speciality run student and faculty exchanges and become a focal point for New Zealand's relationship with that part of the world. I anticipate that CAPEs will train language-capable graduates for New Zealand exporters the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other Government agencies.Sarah Dowie: Why do we need to strengthen our connections across the Asia-Pacific region?Hon STEVEN JOYCE: As a small country we succeed only if we are outward looking and linked into the global world. Our future economic success is increasingly connected to the Asia-Pacific region which accounts for 71 percent of our total trade and now includes 11 of our top 20 trading partners. Expanding our partnerships with countries in South-east Asia and Latin America will only see this increase further. Once operational CAPEs will significantly boost—Rt Hon Winston Peters: That's enough.Hon STEVEN JOYCE: —our ability to successfully engage understand—which would help you Winston—and partner with our—Mr SPEAKER: Order!Hon STEVEN JOYCE: —trading nations in the region which will pay future dividends for our economy and our society. [Interruption] Mr SPEAKER: Order! I have already told that Minister on more than one occasion that I will not allow the interchange particularly then referring to members by their Christian name. That is an informality that is just a step too far for this House.
Macindoe TimTIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Kia ora e Te Mana Whakawā Tuarua tēnā koutou e Te Whare; ko tēnei Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori me whakanui e tātou.[Kia ora Mr Deputy Speaker and greetings to you the House; this is Māori Language Week we must celebrate it.]May I very briefly as others who have spoken before me have done pay sincere compliments and thanks to the departing Chamber and gallery team. They are a fine group of people who have served us all well. They are delightful company no matter what side of the House you are on and no matter what time of night it is. Ewan is in the House with us at the moment. I would be grateful if he could convey our considerable thanks to them all and also the fact that we will miss them dearly. We wish them all the very best for the future and thank them for their very loyal service over many many years. It is has been wonderful to hear the very constructive and intelligent debate on this important measure. I am delighted to know that such a significant measure has the unanimous support of the House. I support this bill.Bill read a first time. Bill referred to the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee.
Maritime Crimes Amendment Bill — First Reading
Muller ToddTODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): I rise just to say a few words in support of the Maritime Crimes Amendment Bill. As we have all heard this afternoon this bill amends the Maritime Crimes Act to implement the obligations under two maritime counter-terrorism treaties. It has been very good certainly from my perspective to hear expressed by speakers thus far the unanimous support for the need for this—the importance of ensuring that our defence framework and capability is aligned and that we have the capacity under law to do what New Zealanders would expect us to be able to do which is that when we see that our interests are being challenged particularly by those who have terrorist intent we have the capacity and the ability to stop it from happening. That for me is a key part of what this legislation enables. In light of the various comments that we have had it will be very interesting to see whether we get a similar degree of unanimity from those who appear in front of us at the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee in the next few weeks and months. I am looking forward to that. We will be particularly interested in whether we can hold that unanimity all the way through to the third reading because I think it serves this Parliament well when we can do so on issues of national security. I look forward to participating in that debate and I commend this bill to the House.
Speaker's Rulings — Defunct Portfolios—Responsibility
Bennett David; Borrows ChesterDAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East): It is unusual to follow on from a New Zealand First speaker who is actually supporting something. There was quite a bit of waffle in that speech but I do want to acknowledge Clayton Mitchell's contribution to those people who have worked for many years in this part of the precinct of Parliament. Going back to this legislation that we are looking at the bill contains provisions that are needed in our domestic legislation to meet our obligations under two counter-terrorism treaties. They are the protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation and the protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf. We do see support from this House at this first reading and that is good to see from all parties that want to see New Zealand take its place in reacting to and deterring terrorism as much as we can. This is part of our wider commitment as a country to doing so and it is good to see all parties are supporting that process. It is in the interests of New Zealand as a free and democratic country to prevent terrorism. It is also part of being a global citizen to make sure that we do not encourage or allow terrorism to flourish in any way in New Zealand and to play our part in the global community to make sure that everybody is safe and fairly treated and that terrorism does not take effect in any part of our world especially in our country. This bill will go through to the select committee stage. No doubt the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee will take a great interest in some of the finer details of the provisions of the legislation but the general essence of what you are seeing here today is that all parties are standing to stop terrorism and to make sure that New Zealand is as safe for our citizens as possible. We look forward to that progressing through this House. Thank you.Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER: A 5-minute call on behalf of the Green Party—Marama Davidson.
Mitchell MarkMARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney): First of all could I acknowledge our Minister of Foreign Affairs for bringing this bill to the House. It is timely because the reality is that we are seeing an increase in maritime operations supporting terrorist operations around the world. I was recently up in Iraq and had the honour of visiting Camp Taji and seeing our troops in action in terms of the mission that they are on up there which is obviously delivering training and junior leadership courses. I just want to acknowledge them and thank them and their families also because the work they are doing up there—we should all be very proud of them. The feedback that we got is that the training mission and junior leadership mission have made a real tangible difference to the way that the Iraqi troops are able to go on to the front line. They are winning ground back and seriously degrading the capability of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. This bill strengthens New Zealand's ability to deter and react decisively to terrorism. The changes are part of New Zealand's wider commitment to the four pillars of our UN counter-terrorism strategy. It is in the interest of all countries to eliminate terrorism. Any form of terrorism has a corrosive negative impact on us the global community. Regarding the main provisions of the bill the bill introduces new offences that relate to obviously maritime terrorism the illicit trafficking and shipment of weapons of mass destruction delivery systems and all related material the transportation of fugitives by sea and intentionally causing death or injury in connection with any of these offences. New Zealand has got a reputation as a good global citizen. We are a founding member of the United Nations and have recently served with distinction on the United Nations Security Council—and we continue to serve with distinction on the UN Security Council. We might be 4.5 million people at the bottom of the world but we punch well above our weight on the international stage in large part due to the work that our Prime Minister does and to the high esteem in which he is held. New Zealand does not shirk its global responsibilities. We are an outward-looking country whether it be serving on the Security Council forging trade deals or sending peacekeeping troops across the world. We know that the risks facing the world are many—economic conflict and terror-related—and they are too great for any one country to face alone. That is why this Government is keen to forge international trade links. That is why we stand up for our neighbours near and far who may face humanitarian crises. We are New Zealand a country that pulls its weight. I am very happy to support this bill and I look forward to receiving it in the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee. Thank you.
SpeechMr SPEAKER: I think on Mr Hipkins' point I have covered that point in detail in the ruling. On Mr Brownlee's point—in my mind as I considered this ruling an administration changed for instance at the end of 1999. It changed again at the end of 2008. If there was a substantial change in the formation of a coalition Government—a substantial change—that meant the overall direction and policies of the Government changed I could see that being considered as the end of an administration but in my mind the current administration in Government today applies since November 2008.
Hipkins ChrisCHRIS HIPKINS (Senior Whip—Labour): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It is a relevant but slightly different point and it relates to the answerability of Ministers for the actions of previous Governments which does not seem to have been covered by the ruling that you have just made. The Government of the day whoever it is continues to have accountability for decisions made by previous Governments that they may not necessarily have been involved with in so far as there is a continuing impact of those decisions. I think of things such as breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi the abuse of children in the care of the State—those sorts of issues where it may have been successive Governments that had some responsibility. Someone still has to answer to the House for those types of issues and it is the Government of the day whoever that is.
Parker DavidHon DAVID PARKER (Labour): Of course that very issue arose in respect of the last Labour Government which for a subsequent term was questioned in respect of the actions of the immigration department and former immigration Minister Taito Phillip Field. Of course the questions were perfectly in order in respect of the subsequent Parliament.
Brownlee GerryHon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Thank you for those rulings. I think they will be very helpful moving forward. The one thing that I would ask perhaps for some further consideration of is what constitutes an administration in a continuing sense. In other words if a Government is elected in 1 year goes through a 3-year term and is re-elected does that continue to be the same administration? With the MMP environment the make-up and nature of that can be quite different and indeed some policies that might have been promoted in a 3-year term may in a subsequent 3-year term with the Government continuing in fact not be progressed or may even be overturned. So I think it does under the MMP environment raise a question about how long an administration should be considered as being in office.
Carter DavidMr SPEAKER: I will look further at the matter but I think that is well and truly covered in the ruling I have just given in that it is the duty of the Government and the Ministers to make sure that the question is directed to the Minister with the most knowledge and most ability to answer that question. That is an expectation of this House.
Parker DavidHon DAVID PARKER (Labour): I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Thank you for those rulings. I accept them and I think they are wise guidance to the House. I have one further point of clarification. I sought some advice from the Clerk of the House after the question time to which you referred. He made the point which is not addressed in your ruling that where the Prime Minister or indeed other Ministers transfer a question—because I can see that if a question in this context was put to the Prime Minister he may choose quite rightly to refer it to another Minister—the Minister to whom the question should be referred is actually the Minister with the most knowledge and he thinks that that is implicit or the impression I took is that that is implicit in Speaker's ruling 167/5. I think it would be helpful if you could clarify that in these unusual situations where there is a transfer—actually in the end for the House to be able to learn what it should learn—the person to whom the question should be transferred if it is transferred is the person who has the most knowledge about it.
Mallard Trevor: Health (Protection) Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMallard Trevor: Health (Protection) Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11905. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! I regret interrupting the member but the time has come for me to leave the Chair.Debate interrupted.
Dean Jacqui: Health (Protection) Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDean Jacqui: Health (Protection) Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11905. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): I am very happy to rise and speak to the Health—
Parmar Parmjeet: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeParmar Parmjeet: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11896. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Dr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): It is great to see the support for this bill from all sides. I also support this bill and commend it to the House. Thank you.Bill read a third time.
Pugh Maureen: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumePugh Maureen: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11893. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MAUREEN PUGH (National): It is my pleasure to also stand today in support of the Human Rights Amendment Bill in the name of the Hon Amy Adamsin its third reading. It is her second piece of legislation before us today which reflects the great work that she is doing in this space.This bill was considered and deliberated on in some detail by the Justice and Electoral Committee but unfortunately that was prior to my joining that committee so I do not have the depth of information that some of my colleagues have on this issue. What I do know is that this bill seeks to clarify the description of the Human Rights Commission’s functions. It also sets out to provide flexibility to the specialised commissioners by replacing the three full-time and the up to four or five part-time commissioners with four or five commissioners who are all part-time. It does allow for the establishment of a full-time commissioner with the responsibility for leadership and disability rights within the Human Rights Commission and I believe this is a fantastic addition to this bill. This reinforces the Government’s commitment to promoting and monitoring mechanisms that will really make a difference to the lives of disabled people here in New Zealand.The commission’s functions are being amended in several ways. One of those is amending the commission’s functions to promote and monitor New Zealand’s compliance with its international human rights obligations and we have heard quite a bit about that in this debate today. The functions will also include providing important feedback on legislation and policies that affect human rights matters as they emerge. Another function of the Human Rights Commission that is introduced in this bill will be to express an opinion on matters or situations in which human rights may be infringed. For me I think the most important change is the explicit reference in this bill to race relations equal employment and disability rights. These will be the primary functions of the Human Rights Commission. This reflects that these areas of human rights are priority issues for the commission and rightly so.The changes will enable the Human Rights Commission to better respond to human rights issues as they emerge and this is completely in line with the Government’s focus on delivering better public services. I have pleasure in commending this bill to the House. Thank you.
Mallard Trevor: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMallard Trevor: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11892. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): I regret that I have to interrupt the member but her time has expired.
Naylor Jono: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNaylor Jono: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11887. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JONO NAYLOR (National): It is a pleasure that this is the second bill in a row where we have had wide support from right across the House which you know makes for a nice Thursday afternoon really. It is quite pleasant in fact.Of course this is another area where we do need to be I think operating across parties as well. We have a great human rights record internationally and in New Zealand but that does not mean we should rest on our laurels. Basic human rights are really important issues for us to be able to ensure that we maintain our international record but that we also actually still continue to improve on our human rights in New Zealand as well.The primary purpose of this bill is to give greater flexibility to the Human Rights Commission. I think we would all agree that it is important that when we have any public body there is an ability to be flexible to best meet the needs of the people whom they are trying to serve. I think that is what this was all about.The original legislation did not necessarily disestablish the roles of the Race Relations Commissioner and the Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner but the job titles as such. I think on reflection as we have gone through this process—the Minister of Justice brought in Supplementary Order Paper 175 at the Committee stage which said that if it is going to give people confidence that those people are still going to be focused on these things if we retain the titles for the people who are focused on that part of the work then so be it. I think that has been a healthy process and a good one.I just want to focus on the establishment of the Disability Rights Commissioner. I think this is a really strong signal for us to send to the disability community. Palmerston North where I come from has the highest proportion of population with disabilities and it is going to be really important I think for those people to know that as a Government we take their issues seriously. When they have got issues they want resolved they will know there is going to be somebody who is committed to that—who is committed as part of the Human Rights Commission to devoting a huge amount of their time and energy to that particular sector.As I have said earlier I think this is a positive move forward. I think it is high time that we did get it sorted. I know Clare Curran just said it was 2012 when she gave her first reading speech and the bill itself was introduced in 2011. It is not quite Mainland cheese I know but good things do take time. I think it is great that we have now got to a place where we can all agree on this going forward and that we can now continue to move forward with improving the human rights of New Zealanders and ensuring that everybody’s rights are protected. Thank you.
Dean Jacqui: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDean Jacqui: Human Rights Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 09 June 2016. Volume:714;Page:11885. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): I am very pleased to be speaking on the Human Rights Amendment Bill’s third reading. It has been a while since we considered this bill which has given us the opportunity to do our homework have another look at it and just reconfirm to ourselves that it is a pretty good piece of legislation—reflected by the way it enjoys support I hope across the House because the measures in the bill are pretty helpful in terms of the Human Rights Commission.What this bill does is make changes to the composition of the Human Rights Commission. It makes changes to the governance arrangements; it also makes changes to the functions and powers of the commission. There are a number of emerging human rights issues and the changes that are contained within this bill will enable the commission to respond better to those emerging human rights issues and to do so in line with this Government’s Better Public Services targets. It is about providing good services where they are required.The bill gives the designation of Disability Rights Commissioner. It gives the designations of Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner and Race Relations Commissioner to the commissioners appointed to lead the work of the Human Rights Commission in those priority areas which are listed under clause 6 which amends section 8. The bill will give greater flexibility to the office so that the office of the Human Rights Commission can set its own priorities and be more flexible and responsible to what is required and the issues that it comes across with this new group of commissioners. Strengthening the commission will also enable and enhance New Zealand’s ability to comply with its human rights obligations as well as of course benefiting implementation of domestic human rights legislation.So in the third reading and in this short call I commend the bill to the House.