Dalziel Lianne: Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Dalziel Lianne: Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:675;Page:20825] 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL (Labour—Christchurch East) 
: 
 The reluctance of the Minister in the chair the Minister of Statistics to take a call in response to the wonderful contributions from my colleagues has prompted me to also take a call. But I want to acknowledge something that was chipped across the Chamber from the other side. It was a rare occasion when Tau Henare said something that was quite funny. I usually do not acknowledge what the member does but he has been at my select committee the Commerce Committee on the odd occasion and he has behaved in a rather mature and sensible way so I want to acknowledge the very very funny statement that he chipped across the Chamber in respect of the “Sensible Census Trust” which he felt would be prompted to react by the disgrace of this Government passing this bill through all of its stages under urgency. I congratulate that member on an amusing little aside. 
The serious issue that all of the speakers on our side of the Chamber have raised is in respect of a bill that has a title like this one—namely the Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill. Here we are as parliamentarians with duties to undertake our obligations in a particular way and they are being completely ignored. That is why I find the title of the bill somewhat ironic. The fact that the legislation comes into force on the day after the date on which it receives the Royal assent is equally an issue for me because this bill as we know could have been prepared with sufficient time for it to go to a select committee and have all manner of individuals contribute to the discussion on it. 
Hon Tau Henare 
: No there’s no need. We know what it’s about. It’s about counting people. 
Hon LIANNE DALZIEL 
: I have already explained to this Committee and I will explain it again for the member because I know that he is interested in everything that I am saying and he is hanging off every word. The agency disclosure statement of the regulatory impact statement was signed on 6 April this year. I am sorry but is it not August now? How many months is that? April May June July August—that is 4 months ago. What has the Minister been doing for 4 months in order to bring this legislation before us? 
The decision not to hold the census was made in March. It was due to be held on International Women’s Day 8 March and it was deferred for a very good reason. We all agree with its being deferred. Of course we could not hold the census. The census office was completely devastated by the earthquake so the duties of statutory officers and census officers could not be undertaken. I understand the title of the bill in respect of that element but I think we could have had a discussion a public debate about what the alternative was. 
Although the regulatory impact statement talks about three options I think there were in fact only two: the one that the Government has chosen and the other which was to defer it altogether so that the next census would be held in 2016. The Minister has not really described in detail why this particular option was taken and why it had to be done in this manner so that there was no opportunity for any public debate. That is why in an earlier debate on the bill I tried to table a copy of the document titled  
CERA: Residential Red Zone Offers—Summary of Sale Process—draft for discussion 
 which is marked as “Confidential—not Government policy”. Now I have downloaded a whole lot of other documents from the New Zealand Law Society website. Perhaps the Government whip will allow me to seek leave again at the end of my contribution. I have several other documents that are all on the New Zealand Law Society website none of which have been consulted on with any of the people who will be receiving offers from the Government in respect of the red zone. I think it is completely out of order but completely in line with the way that this bill has been approached. 
This bill is entitled the Duties of Statutory Officers (Census and Other Remedial Provisions) Bill. The duty of a Government is to consult with affected parties before putting together details of such an agreement and I think it is a tragedy that this Government treats us with such disrespect and does not follow its duties as it should otherwise be obliged to do. 
Clause 1 agreed to. 
Clause 2 agreed to. 
Bill reported without amendment.