Whaitiri Meka: Border Processing (Trade Single Window and Duties) Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeWhaitiri Meka: Border Processing (Trade Single Window and Duties) Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 27 August 2013. Volume:693;Page:13115. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]MEKA WHAITIRI (Labour—Ikaroa-Rāwhiti): It is an honour to take a short call to speak on the Border Processing (Trade Single Window and Duties) Bill. Labour supports this bill and I welcome it going to the select committee where no doubt it will be scrutinised tested and enhanced for fit for purpose. For the benefit of viewers and listeners at home can I remind us all that the intent or the purpose of the bill is to amend the Customs and Excise Act of 1996 and the Biosecurity Act of 1993 to support the implementation of the trade single window component of the Joint Border Management System. To that end can I commend this side of the House for conceiving the Joint Border Management System initiative and this is why Labour is supporting this bill to the select committee. What is the single trade window? It creates a hub for exchanging information. I particularly want to acknowledge previous speakers who talked about front-line staff ensuring that our borders are secure particularly ourbiosecurity systems because as previous speakers have said our reputation as being a green safe economy is important to our economy.I particularly want to talk about two areas that were raised by previous speakers. One is the IT reputation of the system that is being put before us in this bill. I too share some of the concerns that the Hon Phil Goff mentioned in this House around the debacle withNovopay and in particular with INCIS. When reading that this initiative is to create a one-stop shop of intensive data-sharing it did give me some concern to ensure that we do not fall down that trap of what happened with INCIS andNovopay. This is why I again look forward to the bill going to the select committee to get those assurances that that will not happen this time around.I also want to acknowledge Mr Hayes for introducing this bill. He mentioned in his speech the advantage that this will bring to particularly cherry-growers and apple-growers. As the member for Ikaroa-Rāwhiti and coming from the fine Hawke’s Bay where apples amongst other things such as wine are grown I too look forward to a bill that enables economic growth at the regional level. Can I share with the House that in my by-election days members of the Labour caucus were fortunate to meet with apple-growers in particular with JohnBostock from Hawke’s Bay who shared his views on economic growth particularly in the apple-growing industry. He shared with us the hope of having expanding markets land availability and skilled labour. What I can respond to him is that we are introducing a Border Processing (Trade Single Window and Duties) Bill that will lead to economic growth. Hopefully John will see the value in that.We also spoke to the owners of Apollo Apples Ltd—one of the largest apple-growers in Hawke’s Bay—and they shared their views on economic growth in the Hawke’s Bay. They have got one of the largest cool-storing facilities in Hawke’s Bay and it has been under-maximised. When we talk about benefits for apple-growers and cherry-growers I want to bring to the attention of the House the need for regional development investment particularly in the Hawke’s Bay to ensure that we can maximise the primary industry around apple-growing and that it is realised which I completely support. Again I stand in support of this bill and commend it to the select committee. Thank you.