Sio William: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeSio William: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 11 July 2013. Volume:692;Page:11994. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Māngere):I rise to take a call on the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill the Government bill here. I want to appeal to the House to put politics aside and do the right thing for the community. The people ofMāngere strongly oppose the bill for the following reason: the harm of gambling is real.Le’aufa’amuliaAsenati Lole-Taylor: In Manukau East?Su’aWILLIAM SIO: Absolutely. I dare say my colleague there is absolutely right. Throughout Manukau the feeling is the same. Throughout the Manukau region the feeling is that the harm is real. Any member in this House who believes that it is not real is either blind or just ignorant of the reality out there in our community. All they need to do is talk to the Salvation Army. All they need to do is talk with the communities on the ground that are having to deal with the harm. People in this House need to know that the sole reason for the existence of casinos and pokie machines is to exploit and prey on the vulnerable. They make money but not for the community.Let me just read out part of the regulatory impact statement given to the Government: “The key concern … is the potential impact this may have in increasing the incidence of problem gambling and its associated harm for New Zealand society. … Research shows there is a clear link between the availability of gaming machines and opportunities to gamble and the incidence of problem gambling.” The region of Manukau has always known this. In 2003 we carried out research into the social harm on the people of Manukau and the research revealed that $91 million was what it cost that region each year in terms of the social effects of gambling. It also said that the number of people affected by problem gambling is virtually unknown although it is about 15 to 20 percent of the population. By and large it is a hidden problem. But Australian research found that the net gain in jobs and economic activity from gambling is small as the money involved is simply being diverted from spending in other areas. Again the Australian research showed that the national cost of problem gambling is greater than the taxes raised by the Government from gambling activities.As my colleague Trevor Mallard said earlier it does impact on family relationships. It does impact on people losing their homes. It has impact on people—some commit suicide because they have lost virtually everything. It is addictive. Despite what we say that there are avenues to help problem gamblers the reality is true that those avenues are just not helping our communities. It is wrong for this Government and for any future Government to think that by increasing casinos we can provide benefits to the community. It has been argued that jobs are created—certainly. But the reality is that these are low-value low-paid jobs and that is not the kind of New Zealand the community wants. The community deserves quality jobs. The community deserves a living wage. That is what the public have been arguing for.Again I would appeal particularly to the Government members to put politics aside and do the right thing. The way is open for you to conduct a conscience vote and I would ask members particularly those who live in the Manukau region—Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga Alfred Ngaro and Claudette Hauiti—to do the right thing for the community and vote against this bill. I would ask them to use their conscience. I know thatJami-Lee Ross does not have a conscience and I know that Mr Bakshi will not have a conscience. They are going to vote in support of this bill despite the harm that happens in our community.But the most important thing—and members of the House will be fully aware of this—is that this a bad stinky deal hatched and consummated on the dinner tables at Skycity. Like my other colleagues have said this is a deal that undermines the credibility of this country of ours. In passing this bill what this Government does is it ushers in a new dark era of dirty politics with its mates. I will be voting against this bill.