Carter David: Wine Makers Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Carter David: Wine Makers Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:607;Page:4519] 
Hon DAVID CARTER (NZ National) 
: 
 I will start by thanking the Government for finally advancing some legislation that is of use to the Primary Production Committee. We seem to have spent many many hours in this Chamber passing stuff that will not be of much use to primary production at all. Finally Dr Cullen has acknowledged that this bill is important and that it must be passed with some urgency. I thank the Government for that. 
I will also very briefly note that amongst the packed public gallery we have two of the most superb industry lobbyists in the form of Philip Gregan and Nicky Stewart of the Beer Wine and Spirits Council of New Zealand. I take this opportunity to thank Philip Gregan for the superb advice he gave to the select committee. We will need his further advice and support as we progress to the next stage of the original Wine Bill. 
The National Party is pleased to cooperate with the passing of the Wine Makers Amendment Bill. We wholeheartedly support the legislation which is designed to support our wine industry. Of all our industries the wine industry is one that does New Zealand extreme credit right around the world. We have wines that are recognised internationally for their excellence and I take this opportunity to congratulate the industry on the role it has played in that respect. 
I assure the House that National is not in a position to say that it will be able wholeheartedly to support the balance of the Wine Bill when it comes back to the House. There is a lot of water to go under the bridge in that regard. There is a lot of discussion to occur and at this stage I take a very reserved position as to whether that bill will assist winemakers throughout New Zealand to continue their excellence in production and advancement of the name “New Zealand Incorporated”. 
The bill we are debating today has had a most interesting history. It was introduced to the House on 17 October last year in a huge rush and the Primary Production Committee was given— 
Brian Connell 
: Huge rush! 
Hon DAVID CARTER 
: That is right. It sound likes another incursion! 
The Primary Production Committee was given only about 3½ weeks to hear submissions in the hope that we would be able to get the bill back to the House—I think there was a very short report-back time but the details slip my mind. Then when it was realised that the bill as originally introduced would cause great consternation amongst the winegrowers of New Zealand and considering the fact that submissions poured in—in 3 weeks I think we got over 100 submissions—it was suddenly acknowledged that the select committee would need to take some time to sort out the mess that the Government had got us into. On that basis we split out Part 5 of the Wine Bill and that is the part that is before us today in this Wine Makers Amendment Bill. 
The point I made in my last contribution on this bill is that unfortunately the New Zealand Government does not have much choice as to whether it advances it. This is a requirement put on us if we want to continue to export product to that market. As a New Zealander I want winegrowers to continue to export to that very valuable market so having split off Part 5 we all acknowledge that it is important to get this bill through. 
The final point—because I realise the House is keen to break a little earlier than normal tonight—is that it is important that this bill is passed as quickly as possible. There is a deadline now in the legislation of 1 August but for people unfamiliar with the industry that date is not the important one. That is the date by which any wine that reaches its market in Europe England etc. will have to assure the importing countries that it does comply. The point I am making is that that would require perhaps 6 or 8 weeks of shipping time so there is not a lot of time left by which this Wine Makers Amendment Bill must proceed through all stages in the House. 
It is with pleasure that I therefore have this opportunity to make a contribution on the Wine Makers Amendment Bill. The National Party supports this bill wholeheartedly and looks forward to a more interesting debate when Parts 1 to 4 of the Wine Bill come back to the House after going through the select committee process.