edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Lee Melissa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Lee Melissa: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7468. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
12. 
MELISSA LEE (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: What progress has the Government made in 2012 to shift the focus of our welfare system to one that is active work focused and delivers better outcomes for New Zealanders? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 There has been a substantial year for those who are on welfare and we have been making a fundamental difference for them. We are backing people into work and we are seeing evidence of that happening. Let me give you an example. In the 4 years from November 2008 to now 305000 people have left the benefit to start work. This compares of course with just 280000 in the previous 4 years under Labour. People are getting into work under this Government. 
Melissa Lee 
: How are the Government’s changes making a difference to those receiving welfare? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I apologise to the Minister. She has not even opened her mouth yet and the level of interjection makes it impossible to hear. This is the last question for the year and I just ask that we can hear the answer. 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I understand their jealousy of me and that they just cannot quite pull off animal prints as I can. I have been getting a sense of that from them today but that is OK. I think what we need to be proudest of is actually the difference that we have made for young people. That in fact is a fact. What we have seen is that youth on the unemployment benefit is 12 percent lower than this time last year and 33 percent lower than 2 years ago. Youth are getting the best go under this Government. Happy 2012 and merry Christmas to the Opposition.
Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
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Hutchison Paul: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7462. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
6. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
 to the  
Minister of Health 
: What progress has the Government made on its national preventive health targets this year? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
: 
 Very good progress. Clinicians in the district health boards and general practice continue to provide more and more patients with advice and support to quit smoking. Engaging with a clinician is internationally proven to be one of the most effective ways to quit smoking. Latest reports say there are 70000 fewer New Zealanders smoking today than there were 3 years ago and the rate of daily smoking for youth has fallen dramatically from 14 percent in 2006-07 to 6 percent in 2011-12. This year’s child immunisation results show that there is virtually no difference in the rates between ethnicities or family income. Immunisation rates for the richest families are the same as for the poorest families. As you know immunisation is one of the most effective interventions to prevent against infectious diseases in children. 
Dr Paul Hutchison 
: What further work is planned for preventative health in the new year? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: There were over 4000 notified cases of whooping cough this year of which 120 babies were hospitalised. This severe cough can cause babies to stop breathing and can lead to blindness brain damage and in severe cases death. I am pleased to announce to the House today that the Government will announce this afternoon that a free whooping cough vaccine Boostrix will be made available to all pregnant women in New Zealand from 1 January next year until the current outbreak finishes to help protect their babies from this potentially fatal disease. We are advised that vaccinating mothers is the best way to provide ongoing protection for babies. On top of this the Government also encourages parents to have their babies vaccinated again at 6 weeks. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: Is part of this dynamic progress being made under his administration the circumstance where pharmacies are being told that the Ministry of Health will not be financing any signs alerting people in New Zealand to the rise in pharmaceutical costs on 1 January next year? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: That is not correct. There is going to be a flyer that will be available in all pharmacies.
Ross Jami-Lee: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
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Ross Jami-Lee: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7427. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany) 
: 
 I am happy to welcome the further advancement through the parliamentary process that this bill the Consumer Law Reform Bill is taking. Consumer laws are important for New Zealand citizens and it is good to see that after roughly 25 years they are getting an update they are getting an overhaul and that some new provisions will be enacted for New Zealanders. Like my colleague Melissa Lee I too was listening very carefully to the speech by the Hon David Cunliffe. I just simply say to him “Welcome to the backbench Mr Cunliffe.” Welcome to the backbench. I could never be quite as cutting as my colleague Melissa Lee but she did make an observation of oh how the mighty have fallen. Welcome to the backbench. 
I would just briefly like to comment on one aspect of this legislation that I thought was particularly worth commenting on and that is the extension of the disputes tribunal’s jurisdiction to cover section 9 of the Fair Trading Act. Having an appropriate level of access to justice for consumers through the disputes tribunal and extending that power to section 9 of the Fair Trading Act I think is particularly welcome. It is something that has been raised with me before by a constituent in my electorate and I am pleased to see that it is being changed through this legislation. It is a good bill. It enjoys wide support amongst the House and I look forward to it passing its second reading. 
Bill read a second time.
Tisch Lindsay: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7425. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: The next call is a split call. Clare Curran.
Lee Melissa: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
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Lee Melissa: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7424. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MELISSA LEE (National) 
: 
 Before I talk about the bill the Consumer Law Reform Bill I echo the greetings to the House from the member opposite David Cunliffe who has just sat down. I echo that: merry Christmas to everybody. What irony from David Cunliffe. How the mighty have fallen! He talks about unsubstantiated claims and he talks about fair trading. The irony is in the unsubstantiated claim he made to the Labour caucus saying he had the numbers. The Labour caucus saw through that. The fair trading that happened in that caucus was that he got demoted he is on the back benches and he is speaking not from the front row but from the back row. He calls that fair. That is fair trading indeed. He is lucky that this bill is actually coming to fruition now and perhaps if it had happened at that time there might have been a claim. 
This bill is a good bill and everybody agrees with that. The purpose of this bill is to make sure that consumers are protected. I want to give two very quick examples of some of the unsubstantiated claims that have bothered a lot of people in the ethnic communities. As a mother I look at some of the ads and I really have to think whether the claims are in fact true or not. I do worry that there are people out there buying them. There have been advertisements for health products that promise to give your child an extra foot in height. Often Asian parents worry that their children are not going to grow as high as tall as they should because of differences in diets and whatever. These health products claim that they will guarantee an extra foot. This bill will make sure that those people cannot make those kinds of claims. I think that is a good thing to happen. 
The second example is the thing about the Consumer Guarantees Act which will be amended to better protect consumers who receive goods via a courier. I know of an incident where a local service centre had sent a repaired good a telephone back to the owner. The owner could not get to the service centre and had organised her own courier to get it delivered. But when the phone actually got delivered to that person the phone was broken. It was shattered. By the time it went through that whole insurance process it was a nightmare. It took for ever and it took months to repair but a good service centre actually took responsibility and paid for the product using its own insurance company. But there are other companies that are not as responsible and this bill will make sure that when goods are sent by courier it is actually the sender who is responsible for the good. This bill is a good bill. I commend it to the House.
Macindoe Tim: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
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Macindoe Tim: Consumer Law Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7421. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I also support the Consumer Law Reform Bill and I commend the Commerce Committee for the work it has done on it. It is good to note that there is widespread support for updating this area of law to reflect technological advances and modern consumer conditions. 
My Christmas wish is that I will be able to contribute further to improvements in our consumer law next year by winning the parliamentary lotto competition better known as having a bill drawn out of the members’ ballot. I have been working with representatives of the Scrap Metal Recycling Association of New Zealand for nearly a year now and they and I hope that my bill the Secondhand Dealers and Pawnbrokers (Scrap Metal Dealers) Amendment Bill will be drawn early in 2013. 
We have got a serious problem in this country arising from the increasing incidence of scrap metal thefts and that does come under the umbrella of consumer law. We need to drive the cowboys who harm the honest operators—and that is the vast majority—out of that industry and make it harder for thieves to dispose of stolen scrap metal which has become an attractive currency for those who choose a life of crime. 
But that is yet to come. For now this bill the Consumer Law Reform Bill serves a worthy purpose and deserves our support. It has mine. I close Mr Assistant Speaker Tisch by wishing you all honourable members and all who are listening at this moment a very merry Christmas and a happy summer holiday.
Brownlee Gerry: Offices of Parliament — Appointment of Auditors—Controller and Auditor-General 
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Brownlee Gerry: Offices of Parliament — Appointment of Auditors—Controller and Auditor-General 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7408. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That pursuant to section 38(1) of the Public Audit Act 2001 this House appoint CST Nexia as the independent auditor to audit the financial statements of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General for the financial years ending on 30 June 2013 30 June 2014 and 30 June 2015 commencing with effect on 21 December 2012.  
This appointment as the motion clearly states is for an auditor to look at the financial probity of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General. But it does raise the very interesting question in my head at least as to who it is apart from the cursory time that we get at a select committee who actually takes a look at the work of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General. 
There is a very very considerable capacity for that office to look at almost anything in New Zealand that deals with issues of public finance whether that be at a local government or a national government level. I think there is a question though about where the investigative powers of the Auditor-General should be appropriately used and where they interconnect with what are the perfectly legitimate rights of elected Governments or elected councils to engage in activities that will deliver on promises that they have made to the wider voter community. 
I think that we are rapidly seeing a number of reports coming out of the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General that will mean that Parliament has to look at how that intersection is more transparent so that we do not end up with reports that are somewhat self-generated that are often naive in their content and that are occasionally nothing more than self-congratulating for ever having been undertaken in the first place and ultimately with conclusions that simply justify the reason for starting an investigation in the first place. That ends up being a waste of time it ends up being a brake on activities that are legitimate for elected bodies to undertake and I think it also starts to weaken the formal and accepted role of ensuring that the financial probity of activity and therefore the appropriate expenditure of funding provided by ratepayers and taxpayers is handled in a proper way. I do hope that CST Nexia is able to engage with the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General in a positive way to give us confidence about the probity of that office.
Roy Eric: Offices of Parliament — Appointment of Auditors—Controller and Auditor-General 
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Roy Eric: Offices of Parliament — Appointment of Auditors—Controller and Auditor-General 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7409. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The question is that the motion be agreed to. Those of that opinion will say Aye— 
Denis O’Rourke 
: Mr Speaker— 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I have started putting the vote. 
Denis O’Rourke 
: It’s all right. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: To the contrary No. The Ayes have it. I did wait. I looked around. The member needs to be a little more alert. 
Motion agreed to.
Chauvel Charles: Offices of Parliament — Appointment of Auditors—Controller and Auditor-General 
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Chauvel Charles: Offices of Parliament — Appointment of Auditors—Controller and Auditor-General 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7409. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) 
: 
 The issue here is that the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General supervises the auditing of the entire public sector in its widest sense and it does so with the assistance of a number of private sector firms that have audit expertise. In the nature of things those firms tend to be the larger and better-resourced ones. They tend to be in large part the international accounting firms with audit practices. 
When the Officers of Parliament Committee comes to consider who in fact ought to audit the auditors obviously the committee has to consider firms that have the expertise but also lack the conflicts. It cannot very well look at the larger firms that perform work customarily for the Audit Office itself and that is why it must look at other firms to ensure that it finds one that has the reputation and the ability to have a look at the very work of the auditors themselves. 
The committee has settled upon the well-respected firm of CST Nexia. It is a small firm. It has I think five partners maybe six and the work that it will perform will be very valuable in terms of ensuring the continuing confidence of this House in the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General and its functions. 
I do not think the comments of the Leader of the House about the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General can go unanswered as we join in the motion because I would not want it thought that although we support the motion we also agree with his comments about the scope and role of the Audit Office. 
 There is a real danger I think when the Government of the day becomes annoyed and gets tetchy with individual aspects of work of the Officers of Parliament who exist not to serve the Government of the day in any way but to ensure that Parliament can in the widest sense do its job of holding the executive to account. 
There is no doubt in New Zealand that the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General for many years has performed that role in an exemplary fashion. There is no justification whatsoever to call for the curtailing of its “own motion” powers of investigation. To say that those powers should not exist and that it should be able to investigate only matters that are referred to it would be an absolute travesty and I am sure that that is not what the Leader of the House was suggesting in his contribution. 
I want to put on record my own gratitude for the way in which the Auditor-General performs her work. I want to put on record the Labour Opposition’s appreciation of the way in which her predecessors have performed their role. And I want to say that we have utter confidence in the office to perform the important role that it currently does.
Horan Brendan: Appointments — Ombudsman 
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Horan Brendan: Appointments — Ombudsman 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7408. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
BRENDAN HORAN (Independent) 
: 
 I support the appointment of Ron Paterson as an Ombudsman for a 5-year term commencing in June. His role will be to handle complaints against Government agencies undertake investigations and inspections and encourage good administration by giving feedback and training through agencies. He will also initiate his own investigations where there is a need—independent and impartial with a focus on fairness for all. 
I would also like to thank David McGee not only for his service as Ombudsman but also for his exemplary service as Clerk of the House for Parliament. My thanks go to him. Thank you. 
Motion agreed to.
Dunne Peter: Appointments — Ombudsman 
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Dunne Peter: Appointments — Ombudsman 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7407. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 Mr Speaker thank you for at last heeding my request for a call. The reason I was seeking a call in this debate was because I was part of the panel of people who interviewed Dr Paterson. I was also part of the panel that interviewed his predecessor and I think that one of the outstanding features of this appointment is that Dr Paterson comes to it with a very clear vision of the role he seeks to perform. He is aware of some of the challenges that the Office of the Ombudsmen faces particularly in terms of the timeliness of responses to those seeking the Ombudsman’s intervention and he had indicated to the panel a clear strategy for seeking to address those problems which I think is a good positive step forward. He does have an impressive background. His work as a Health and Disability Commissioner I think was not only seminal in terms of the development of that role but also influential and it continues to influence the way in which the current incumbent of that office operates. I am confident that he will be an outstanding appointment and I know that he will approach the job with relish vigour enthusiasm and a real sense of justice for the individual who is seeking the intervention of that office. 
I want also to make a comment about David McGee because the appointment of Ron Paterson as an Ombudsman brings to a conclusion at some point during the transition a long distinguished career of service to this Parliament by David McGee. He became our Deputy Clerk I think back in 1974. He was our Clerk for many many years from around 1986 or 1987 and has now spent the last 5 years as an Ombudsman. That is an unparalleled record of public service. One of the things that has always distinguished David McGee in my view both when he was a parliamentary officer and now as a wider Officer of Parliament has been a sense of fairness a sense of justice huge integrity and a massive sense of discretion. They are qualities I think that we should recognise and remember and we should thank him and wish him well for his future. So congratulations to Ron Paterson on his appointment and thanks to David McGee for jobs well done over the years.
O'Rourke Denis: Appointments — Ombudsman 
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O'Rourke Denis: Appointments — Ombudsman 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7407. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DENIS O’ROURKE (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First supports the recommendation to the Governor-General that Professor Ron Paterson be appointed as an Ombudsman for a 5-year term commencing on 4 June 2013. 
The Ombudsmen provide a vital service for our parliamentary democracy. Their checks and their scrutiny ensure that the Government and its agencies do not subvert or mislead the general public. This year we have had a number of examples that demonstrated the importance of ensuring open transparent and accountable government. We have been reminded that the greatest threat to our democracy lies in secrecy and the abuse of power that occurs when the public is denied its right to know. It appears however to New Zealand First that the Ombudsmen are regrettably under-resourced and we would like to see that addressed as soon as possible. 
We believe in both accountability and transparency. Therefore we support this recommendation for appointment and of course we wish Mr Paterson well in the office of Ombudsman over the next 5 years.
Hughes Gareth: Appointments — Ombudsman 
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Hughes Gareth: Appointments — Ombudsman 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7406. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
GARETH HUGHES (Green) 
: 
 Kia ora. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora. I rise to support the motion that Parliament advise the Governor-General of the appointment of Professor Ron Paterson to the Office of the Ombudsmen. 
When New Zealand’s first Ombudsman Sir Guy Powles was sworn in in front of the Speaker—your office—in 1962 he said these pretty important words: “The Ombudsman is Parliament’s person—put there for the protection of the individual”. The Ombudsman holds a very respected very important role in our country’s democracy and we have had a succession of very esteemed New Zealanders in this very important role. In September we celebrated the 50th anniversary of this office in New Zealand the fourth only in the world. It has been a good idea and has spread now I understand to 150 countries with Ombudsman-like institutions. 
Before we talk about the appointment of Professor Ron Paterson I would like to acknowledge the work of the current Chief Ombudsman Dame Beverley Wakem Dr David McGee—who obviously after his term in this office is moving on—and also the staff who play a crucial role doing the important work of the Ombudsmen. 
We have heard of the funding issue. We know that there is an increased workload with increased financial pressures on the office. I think we should consider this in the next year. 
Likewise with the changing of the guard in the Office of the Ombudsmen I think it is appropriate to reflect on the role of the office. Obviously the title of Ombudsman comes from Scandinavian origins and one wonders how many New Zealanders even know what the office is or does. The office is a people’s champion as Sir Guy Powles said put there for the protection of the individual. 
I think with new technologies increasing privacy concerns and increasing Government engagement online it is a good time to reflect on how we can modernise this office. I think Professor Ron Paterson brings an impressive academic CV and an impressive history and will I am sure relish the opportunities and the challenges of adapting this office for the modern age along with Dame Beverley Wakem. He was a professor of law at the University of Auckland and a Health and Disability Commissioner. 
Finally it was a privilege to sit on the Officers of Parliament Committee. I would like to acknowledge all those members and recommend to this House that the Governor-General appoint Professor Ron Paterson.
Brownlee Gerry: Appointments — Ombudsman 
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Brownlee Gerry: Appointments — Ombudsman 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7405. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That pursuant to sections 3 and 5 of the Ombudsmen Act 1975 this House recommend to the Governor-General that Ron Paterson be appointed as an Ombudsman for a five-year term commencing on 4 June 2013.  
Back in September my colleague Anne Tolley moved a motion congratulating the Office of the Ombudsmen on its 50-year anniversary in New Zealand and I would like to add my congratulations to those expressed by the House in September to mark this important milestone for this equally important office. 
Today I rise to move a motion that recommends the appointment of Ron Paterson to replace David McGee as an Ombudsman. Mr McGee has decided after 5 years of further service to this country not to seek reappointment and I would like to place on record our thanks for his service in this important role. I think it is worth noting that this will be the second time that Mr McGee has been singled out for particular praise inside this House for his service to the country having previously been the very longstanding Clerk of the House and in that role having international recognition for his understanding of the parliamentary process. 
Professor Paterson is well qualified to become an Ombudsman. He holds a first-class Bachelor of Civil Laws from the University of Oxford and an LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland. In 2011 he was awarded an ONZM for services to health. He is currently Professor of Law at Auckland University where he teaches legal ethics legal method and health law. He has previously served as Health and Disability Commissioner where he served the community that deals with health and disability issues extremely well. Since 2010 he has chaired the New Zealand Banking Ombudsman Scheme. 
The position was advertised widely throughout New Zealand and the Offices of Parliament Committee as a select committee has acknowledged the high calibre of applicants. Mr Paterson though was unanimously supported by the committee for the position. I want to thank the committee for the work that it did on behalf of Parliament in choosing such an important officer position and I wish Professor Paterson all the best for the undertaking of Ombudsman.
Dean Jacqui: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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Dean Jacqui: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7438. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
: 
 Currently under the regime the living alone payment is a separate benefit so superannuitants and the recipients of veterans pensions who have become single normally after a death in the family then have to make a specific application to receive the additional supplement. The amendment in this Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill corrects that so now at the worst time in a person’s life when they have just lost probably their lifelong partner they no longer have to think of having to go down to the Work and Income office and make an application. That is done automatically. That is just such a good measure on behalf of this National Government. I totally support it. 
It is a bit like the measure that this Government brought in with the Juries (Jury Service and Protection of Particulars of Jury List Information) Amendment Bill where this Government also gave permanent excusal to those people over 65 who consider that for whatever reason—normally infirmity or distance from the court service—they do not wish to be part of the jury service. It is ironic is it not that the members across the House are falling over themselves to support this bill and yet they opposed what they called an ageist measure in the jury service bill? Well just get a bit consistent you guys. I mean this Government is very clear on the fact that we support older New Zealanders and will bring good legislation to this House to support older New Zealanders. You cannot cherry-pick this stuff like they do across the House. 
Hon Member 
: Clear about what? 
JACQUI DEAN 
: Well Labour does New Zealand First does and the Greens do—they are absolutely falling over themselves to support this bill. But let us bring just a little bit of consistency. I think New Zealanders are looking for that and they get it from this National Government. Thank you.
Upston Louise: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Upston Louise: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7453. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupo) 
: 
 I am pleased to take the final call in the first reading of the Statutes Amendment Bill. Anyone watching would think that this is a controversial piece of legislation that covers all sorts of things. It actually does. It covers 30 Acts administered by nine different Government departments but the very nature of the Statutes Amendment Bill is that it is non-controversial and that is why it is universally supported in this House. But we have heard about Christchurch and we have heard the member who just spoke before me Andrew Little riding invisible horses and singing in the House which was rather disturbing I must say. But what we have heard from that Opposition is that actually it is the party of nothing to say nothing to do and nobody is listening so you are desperate to take any opportunity that there is. 
This is a very technical bill. It is a housekeeping bill that is universally supported. This side of the House focuses on what really matters. It is another example of a significant amount of legislative change that the Government has put in place this year—I think almost a record amount of legislation that has been passed. On that note I shall wish you all a very merry Christmas and say thank you for the contribution to this year’s Parliament. 
Bill read a first time.  
Bill referred to the Government Administration Committee.
Sabin Mike: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Sabin Mike: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7451. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 I also take a short call. There is no need to have it any longer than that because this bill the Statutes Amendment Bill is nothing more than a procedural matter. It is something that has been happening for many years in this House. I am not sure that it was about pot-shots galore but it seems to have come to that today and a few soapboxes have been pranced upon. 
However Statutes Amendment bills have been a feature for some time. They are about ensuring that the oversights are tidied up and that the technical deficiencies are remedied. I am happy to commend this bill to the House. It is hardly something that needs to take much time.
Mitchell Mark: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Mitchell Mark: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7451. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) 
: 
 It is a pleasure to take a call on this the Statutes Amendment Bill. I would like to congratulate Minister Borrows on bringing such a good bill to the House. It is important that our legislation is kept up to date accurate and user-friendly. 
I would like to mention some comments made by my colleague Nicky Wagner who actually is the one person who has her shoulder to the mill in terms of trying to help and assist with what is happening in Christchurch. I think it is a disgrace actually that the last speaker Lianne Dalziel got up and spent the whole time trying to manufacture another crisis when there are a lot of people—the private sector the community sector and the Government—who are doing a lot of work down there to try to make things better in Christchurch. 
Like I said this is a very good bill. There are some very good gems in this bill. There are actually some good cost savings to businesses which are important and that has been a big part of the Government’s agenda this year. I am very happy to commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
Dean Jacqui: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Dean Jacqui: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7445. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki) 
: 
 I am very happy to speak on the Statutes Amendment Bill which is now having its first reading. Statutes Amendment bills are always annual bills that provide a legislative vehicle for minor technical and also non-controversial amendments to existing statutes. They seem to be a bit of a pre-Christmas feature of this House. These bills allow us to keep our statutes and our laws up to date allow us to keep them accurate and also user-friendly. The previous bill that has just gone through the House is probably a good example of this Government’s drive to be user-friendly for the people of New Zealand. 
Statutes Amendment bills have been a feature of the New Zealand system for many years through the 1950s and the 1960s and though for a while they were put into abeyance here they are back again. This current bill before us which is having its first reading today amends 30 Acts that are administered by nine different Government agencies so as you can imagine it is quite a good job to get all those amendments put together into one bill. I congratulate the Minister Chester Borrows on bringing this bill to the House in pretty good shape. 
Many of the amendments are designed to correct drafting errors and oversights. We do try in the select committee in our deliberations on bills not to let drafting errors and unintended oversights get through but none the less they do happen and so those amendments are brought forward for correction in this bill. Just perhaps for an example of that an amendment to the Real Estate Agents Act of 2008 clarifies that payments of fines imposed by the disciplinary tribunal should be made to the Real Estate Agents Authority. Previously the Act did not say who the fines were payable to—a bit of a mistake—and the Real Estate Agents Authority was reluctant to accept payments of the fines without specific statutory authorisation. That is absolutely fair enough. That is what the Parliament is about—to give clarity to those organisations that are carrying out the will of Parliament. In this first reading I commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
O'Rourke Denis: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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O'Rourke Denis: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7448. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DENIS O’ROURKE (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First is happy to support the Statutes Amendment Bill. We are satisfied that all the amendments in it are appropriate for an omnibus bill. They are minor or machinery amendments and they are non-controversial in nature. I have no issues to raise for debate on any of the many minor matters in the bill. New Zealand First will vote for it. 
I wish to close by wishing a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year firstly to you Mr Speaker; to all members of Parliament; to all New Zealand First staff in Parliament and in my parliamentary offices in Christchurch Dunedin and Invercargill; and to all New Zealand First supporters throughout New Zealand. Especially I want to wish a merry Christmas and happy New Year to all of the many people in Christchurch who are still struggling with earthquake effects accommodation and home repair problems unconscionable rental increases munted roads and services loss of business and loss of jobs. Keep up your spirits and keep trying to get through it all. A merry Christmas and a happier New Year to them in particular and to all.
Wagner Nicky: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Wagner Nicky: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7448. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
NICKY WAGNER (National—Christchurch Central) 
: 
 I support this Statutes Amendment Bill. Despite the protestations of the Hon Phil Goff this is simply a housekeeping bill. It is simply a makeover bill. It is an omnibus bill that is usually done every year to allow us to update to correct and to deal with non-controversial amendments to legislation. It is really important that we do our best to keep our legislation accurate fresh relevant and user-friendly. This bill amends 30 different Acts. Those Acts are administrated by nine Government agencies. So these corrections are important in the streamlining of our legislation. Most amendments are very minor: changes to cross-references and to drafting errors or clarification. 
Mr Goff seems to think that these amendments are all about errors but actually that is not so. I was very pleased to see that some of these updates streamline simplify and improve bureaucratic processes particularly those that embrace new technologies and I would like to give you two examples. The first example is the Births Deaths Marriages and Relationship Registration Act 1995. This is amended under this bill to allow information to be provided by electronic means. That means that it is cheaper and easier to pass that information on. There is also an amendment to the Electoral Act 1993 and there is nothing sinister about it. All it does is allow party secretaries to pay their deposits when submitting candidates’ names for election by direct credit—the modern way. You have a record and it goes through the process—simple cheap easy. 
There is an old saying that a stitch in time saves nine. The updating of legislation through regular statutes bills that improve and streamline is an incredibly important process to keep our legislation relevant and to keep it efficient and it is done is a cost-effective way—simple no-brainer common sense. I support this bill.
Genter Julie Anne: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Genter Julie Anne: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7448. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
JULIE ANNE GENTER (Green) 
: 
 I rise to speak on behalf of the Green Party on yet another Statutes Amendment Bill. We in the Green Party have no objection to the minor technical amendments in this bill. Therefore I do not believe I can add much to the debate though I was interested in the many issues raised by the Hon Phil Goff just then. I just commend this bill to the House. Thank you.
Chauvel Charles: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Chauvel Charles: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7445. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
CHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour) 
: 
 This is the second time in the past fortnight I think that the House has dealt with a Statutes Amendment Bill but for anybody who is confused about that the two bills are distinct pieces of legislation at different stages. The Statutes Amendment Bill that was dealt with by this House last week was the Statutes Amendment Bill from this year. This Statutes Amendment Bill which is being read a first time is the series of miscellaneous and technical amendments that have been agreed across the House ought to be made to a series of statutes—30 in total—and that are to be progressed in the coming year. 
As I have said before on Statutes Amendment bills they are dealt with by a particular procedure in this House. The Standing Orders provide that if any member of the House objects to the inclusion by the Government of any clause in the bill then that clause must come out and not be debated. That is how we safeguard the convention that these sorts of bills will deal with only minor technical corrections to legislation and do not have a deep policy content but none the less they need legislative amendment in order to better guarantee the administration of the law in New Zealand. 
The Labour Opposition on that basis is happy to support the first reading of the Statutes Amendment Bill.
Sabin Mike: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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Sabin Mike: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7443. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 There is plenty I would like to talk to with regard to the last member who has resumed her seat Catherine Delahunty but suffice it to say that some brilliant work has been going on in the welfare space from this Government. Rights are very much a part of the equation; we are just factoring in a bit of responsibility and obligation in there as well which is a nice thing. 
The core purpose of the Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill is amending the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 and the War Pensions Act 1954 so that single superannuitants and single veterans pensioners living alone do not have to make separate applications. It is pragmatic. It is quite a simple bill. 
The member from New Zealand First Le’aufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor asked why the National Government had not done this earlier. Well one reason is that the National Government has been adopting 132 recommendations of the Law Commission report on the War Pensions Act 1954 costing some $60 million over 5 years increasing entitlements across the board extending services to some 3000 more veterans—actually looking after the people who have served this country to ensure that we have the democracy that we enjoy today. So that is one example of what this Government has been doing and I thank the member for New Zealand First for giving me the opportunity to talk about that. I commend this bill to the House. 
Bill read a second time.
Borrows Chester: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Borrows Chester: Statutes Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7444. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon CHESTER BORROWS (Associate Minister of Justice) 
: 
 I move  
That the Statutes Amendment Bill be now read a first time. 
 I nominate the Government Administration Committee to consider the bill. As the House will be aware the Statutes Amendment Bill is an annual legislative vehicle that makes minor technical and non-controversial amendments to a number of Acts. It allows amendments to be made that would not usually receive sufficient priority to be progressed. This is achieved with the support of all parties in the Parliament. 
The bill as introduced amends 30 Acts administered by nine different Government agencies. Many of the amendments are designed to correct drafting errors and oversights and incorrect references such as the amendment to section 110 of the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 which clarifies that payments of fines imposed by the disciplinary tribunal should be made to the Real Estate Agents Authority. Previously the Act did not say who the fines were payable to and the Real Estate Agents Authority was reluctant to accept payment of the fines without specific statutory authorisation. 
The Summary Proceedings Act 1957 currently refers to a section of the Domestic Violence Act 1995 that has been repealed and replaced. The amendment to the Summary Proceedings Act corrects this error by substituting a reference to the replacement section. The amendment to section 134(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Act 2009 corrects a cross-referencing error by replacing a reference to section 131(b) with a reference to section 131(d). 
The amendments make unobjectionable refinements to machinery provisions including two amendments to the Electoral Act 1993 which allow certain payments by a party secretary to be paid by direct credit instead of just by bank draft or bank cheque. A new section inserted into the Passports Act 1992 allows for travel documents such as passports to be cancelled on the death of the holder. Currently travel documents cannot be cancelled on the death of the holder which increases the risk that such documents could be used fraudulently after the death of the rightful holder. An amendment to the Real Estate Agents Act 2008 confirms that a registrar can consider objections to licence applications on the papers unless either party requests a hearing. 
The examples of amendments I have mentioned demonstrate the value of the Statutes Amendment Bill as a vehicle for advancing technical yet important amendments. I look forward to the passage of this bill working constructively with parties as such bills are put together in the near future. Thank you.
Roy Eric: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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Roy Eric: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7441. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: This is a split call.
Mitchell Mark: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
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Mitchell Mark: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7441. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MARK MITCHELL (National—Rodney) 
: 
 I think 2.6 percent growth in the economy is actually a pretty good result when you look at what is happening in economies globally. It has been a good debate. I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with Dr Prasad’s comments with the unfair and unjust attack that he made on the Attorney-General. I think that is really throwing stones when you live in a glass house because I am sure that if Dr Prasad was to prescribe his speeches they would be a very good cure for insomnia. 
 I have to say that this bill the Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill addresses this issue at a festive time of the year and it is very very appropriate that we recognise our seniors. This bill addresses two issues with regard to the current living alone payment to ensure superannuitants and veterans pensioners living alone do not have to make a separate application to receive their full entitlement. This is important because it cuts down compliance demands on seniors. 
My colleague Jacqui Dean made the very good point that when a senior does lose their husband wife or spouse there are a lot of other things on their mind in the days that follow other than having another thing to deal with and new forms to fill out and submit and all the compliance issues around that. 
We are adamant that this group of New Zealanders should not face any unnecessary difficulty in obtaining what they are rightfully entitled to. These changes will ensure a fairer and more equitable experience for single superannuitants and single veterans pensioners who are living alone. This is a very good bill and I recommend it to the House. Thank you.