Brown SimeonSIMEON BROWN (National—Pakuranga): Thank you Madam Chair and I also rise to take a call on the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2018–19 Modernising Tax Administration and Remedial Matters) Bill. I'd like to take a quick call talking in regards to clause 18F of Part 2 which is the Regulations for information-sharing for public services purposes". I noted in clause 18E(4) that the definition for public service "means a public function or duty that is conferred or imposed on an agency described in subsection (5)—(a) by or under law; or (b) by a policy of the Government." So that context does say that a public service has quite a broad meaning.So when we come to clause 18F we note here that this allows the Minister of Revenue the ability to make regulations in order to be able to require public services to share information in order to be able to enforce the law to make sure that the information that they have is correct and a range of other purposes. I understand that the purposes which are put down here are good. They are in order to ensure that the Minister of Revenue or the Inland Revenue Department is able to enforce the law to be able to gather the revenue which is required. I guess my questions relate to how the Government is going to ensure that people's information—which may have been given to one Government department or one public service—is going to be kept private.I note in making these regulations that under 18F(2)(b) the Minister of Revenue must prescribe "(i) the classes or types of revenue information that may be shared: (ii) how the information is to be provided or accessed: (iii) how the information is to be used: (iv) how the information must be stored kept secure or disposed of;". Then new subclause (bb) is being added which says "providing … the information-sharing arrangements under the regulations are monitored by the Privacy Commissioner;". I'd like the Minister to take a call and just discuss in further detail what this monitoring by the Privacy Commissioner might mean.I note in the previous clause 18E "The Commissioner may enter into an agreement to share certain information"—this is under 18E(3)—"(a) [this] agreement—(i) is made for public services purposes; … (ii) relates to the disclosure of sensitive revenue information" and this is to do with disclosures of information. It says there that the commissioner has consulted. So he may enter one of these agreements if he's consulted the Privacy Commissioner on the terms of the agreement and the Commissioner agrees that the disclosure is appropriate. I guess what I'm trying to point out between these two clauses is that in one there is a requirement for the commissioner to consult the Privacy Commissioner on the terms of this disclosure agreement and the Privacy Commissioner has an obligation to agree that the disclosure agreement is appropriate. Then in the next clause where the Minister of Revenue through the Governor-General has the power to make regulations they must only ensure "that the information-sharing agreements under the regulations are monitored by the Privacy Commissioner". There doesn't seem to be any requirement here to consult with the Privacy Commissioner in setting up these regulations or an order for the Privacy Commissioner to have to agree to—or give some sort of approval to—the regulations which are being set up to allow for the sharing of information between public services. I guess the concern that I have here is around the privacy of people's information. People go to different public service departments or organisations to share information for different purposes and then the tax authority—the Inland Revenue Department—is being given powers here to be able to use this information to match it and then to ensure that they can enforce the law and ensure that people are paying their fair share a purpose which we agree with. But what I'm wanting to ensure is that there are appropriate safeguards and I understand that of course that is part of the regulation-setting powers that the Minister must take into account: appropriate safeguards etc. But where is the check and balance by the Privacy Commissioner in regards to the information sharing for public purposes and the regulation-making power compared to the disclosures in the previous clause? I'd like the Minister if he can to take a call on that matter. Thank you."