Macindoe Tim: Sale and Supply of Alcohol Bill Local Government (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Bill Summary Offences (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Macindoe Tim: Sale and Supply of Alcohol Bill Local Government (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Bill Summary Offences (Alcohol Reform) Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
[Sitting date: 11 December 2012. Volume:686;Page:7352. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 After I spoke in the Committee stage of the Alcohol Reform Bill last Thursday I had to leave the Chamber so I was not present when my commitment to highlighting the issue of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder and to supporting measures that would reduce its incidence were questioned disingenuously by an Opposition member. I am confident that the fine folk of Alcohol Healthwatch who lead the charge in this area and the remarkable Shirley Winikerei who is a tireless campaigner on the issue in my electorate of Hamilton West will confirm that I have been a vigorous champion of the foetal alcohol spectrum disorder cause for all the time I have been a member of Parliament. Although MPs’ increasing awareness of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder has not translated into Parliament meeting all of Alcohol Healthwatch’s aims I think the organisation may feel confident that its voice is a respected and increasingly heard voice in our Parliament and that has to be a good thing for our future mothers and their babies. 
The Labour member who attacked me last Thursday said I should put my money where my mouth was by supporting her amendment although she must have known that it was outside the scope of the bill and could not be adopted for reasons that were explained to the Committee by the Associate Minister of Justice. For the record not only am I aware that there is measurable public support for introducing health warning labels but also I was one of the first MPs in New Zealand to make a written submission to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council review panel in support of alcohol being mandated to carry health warnings. However because of our agreement with Australia any changes to alcohol labelling must be developed through the Australia New Zealand Joint Foods Standards Treaty. That is why labelling was deemed to be outside the scope of the bill and the inconsistent amendment was rejected. 
I understand that the joint ministerial review of food labelling law and policy has resulted in both Governments recently agreeing to give the alcohol industry 2 years to introduce pregnancy warning labels on alcoholic beverage containers and that we have the option to regulate if it fails to do so. Although I would like it to be sooner I am reassured to know that it is happening and I remain fully supportive of the warning labels. 
The expected enactment of this legislation today is a significant step forward for New Zealand. I was pleased to hear a police officer during a Television One news item at the weekend say how much he is looking forward to the passage of the legislation because of the local alcohol plans the chance to stop all-night licensing hours and so on. I met recently with the mayor and councillors in my city of Hamilton to encourage them to get their local alcohol policy in place and I commend them for their very positive moves in that regard. 
I am the first to acknowledge that this legislation will not solve all of our alcohol-related problems and I believe that we must remain ready to respond in the future if further legislative change is required. But the fact remains that legislation alone cannot change a culture and it is dangerous attitudes and a reckless approach to personal safety that are at the heart of New Zealand’s alcohol abuse problems. Each and every one of us must do our bit to influence better decision-making by our friends and family to teach our youth how to handle alcohol sensibly to oppose irresponsible promotions and distribution of alcohol to support our health workers and law enforcement officers who bear such a heavy burden whenever alcohol is abused and so on. 
As this long process draws to its welcome conclusion I want to again praise the Law Commission for the huge job it did researching the issues consulting New Zealanders and ultimately proposing to this House reforms that are overwhelmingly reflected in the legislation that is soon to be enacted. Not all of its proposals made it however. Members will know that during the Committee stage I promoted an amendment seeking to increase the age for all categories of liquor purchases as was mentioned a few moments ago by the Minister of Justice and as was recommended by the commission. It was narrowly defeated and I believe that most New Zealanders were hugely disappointed at that outcome. But I thank those members who chose to support it. We have dropped the ball in that respect. 
I congratulate the Hon Judith Collins on the many fine amendments she promoted in her Supplementary Order Paper to this legislation such as the tighter controls on liquor displays and measures to prevent irresponsible liquor advertising and promotions. I am especially pleased by the Minister’s empowering of parents and guardians to control the supply of alcohol to minors. That is a bold and crucial step. It will help to avert the types of tragedies we have all been aware of during this debate in recent years. I offer my deep sympathy to the families who have suffered those terrible losses. 
There has been a lot of discussion of what is not in the legislation and I do respect the views of all who have taken a close interest in this issue. But today is the time to welcome all that is in the legislation and I remain confident that the measures in this legislation will make a positive difference. Now is the time for us to put them into action and for all of us to commit to making them work. That is my firm intention. 
I seek leave to table the submission that I made on 10 May 2010 to the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council review panel in support of alcohol being mandated to carry health warnings.