Young Jonathan: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Second ReadingText is subject to correctionYoung Jonathan: New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 05 November 2013. Volume:694;Page:14347. Text is subject to correction.]JONATHAN YOUNG (National—New Plymouth): Can I please start by just addressing an issue that Mr Mallard raised regarding the hearings in Auckland where a member from the Salvation Army made a comment. I was concerned about that comment so I investigated it. After the statement was made—and the statement was that members of the organisation were muzzled from appearing before the Commerce Committee—officials sought to clarify and understand the statement made to the committee. At that point the Salvation Army made it clear that the Ministry of Health had not instructed the Salvation Army against making a submission to the select committee in respect of the New Zealand International Convention Centre Bill.The comments made to the select committee related to an interpretation of the political neutrality clause which is standard in health sector service contracts. That clause is about the relevant non-government organisation delivering its services in a manner that maintains the neutrality of central government agencies which is a requirement of the State Services Commission. The meaning of that clause was clarified for the Salvation Army during the conversation with officials. The Salvation Army says it now understands that the clause means that it is entitled to make submissions and voice its opinion but itcannot endeavour to influence the thinking or decision making of other individuals organisations or agencies. The member knows that that is a consistent regulation and guidance in terms of the State Services Commission.This bill is about creating economic growth particularly in tourism and construction and seeing the spin-offs around the country of significantly more numbers of convention centre participants coming to New Zealand. The size of the international business events market is growing. The International Congress and Convention Association estimates that there were approximately 10070 non-government international association conferences organised in the world in 2001 but only 44 of these were held in New Zealand. This is due in part to New Zealand not having the right facilities to attract larger conferences.Addressing the harm issues around gambling which the Minister for Economic Development Steven Joyce raised is very much part of this bill. Increasing Skycity’s obligations to do so is embedded in this legislation. But also central to this legislation is addressing the issue around job creation. Let us not minimise that. The people whom I have had contact with—and I am sure members of this House have all had contact with—who struggle with long-term unemployment also suffer from depression loss of confidence some poor health and very poor social outcomes. In the research that I did I noticed that a number of academics at universities—Massey University and Auckland University—state and I quote from an article inPolicy Quarterly November 2010 entitled “Health Employment and Recession” that increasing unemployment is associated with a wide range of adverse social outcomes particularly when prolonged. The writer said: “Unemployment also has significant acute impacts on health particularly poorer mental health status. Unemployment is a major contributor to reduced incomes and is itself related to significant adverse social and health outcomes.” This bill is principally about encouraging economic growth and increasing employment.But of course we acknowledge that for some in our community gambling-related harm is a terrible thing. It is something that we can and should do something about. This bill leveraging off the agreement between Skycity and the Government lifts the bar on harm minimisation obligations. I believe that we can see development and positive change in addressing this issue. Professor Delfabbro who is an associate professor at the University of Adelaide reported to the Gambling Commission that the New Zealand regulatory environment is rigorous as the Minister said. Professor Delfabbro continued to say that the Auckland casino’s current host responsibility programme is of a high standard internationally.One of the measures that Skycity is obligated to put in place is a predictive model created by Focal Research Consultants which analyses loyalty data as a tool to identify players who are at risk from gambling harm. The Australian regulations stipulate that casinos do something only about those who are harmed whereas here in New Zealand we have to put in place tools and technologies to identify players who are at risk which is why New Zealand is seen as a world leader in harm minimisation. As these technologies and tools are developed there is every opportunity that these can be extended right throughout the country. It is our understanding that Skycity’s development of this tool is an international first. This is about building those measures and putting contingencies in place.The regulatory concessions in no way remove Skycity from the continuous review of its host responsibility programme as the Green minority view in the commentary of this bill stated. Skycity does not escape the issues around public health scrutiny. The Gambling Act 2003 requires casino operators to implement a range of measures to prevent harm from casino gambling. As we know every 2 years that is reviewed. The Gambling Commission considered whether there is a need for an additional independent evaluation of the effectiveness of the Auckland casino’s host responsibility programme. Anumber of submitters raised this as an issue. The commission felt no such need as it undertakes such an evaluation in the course of its periodic reviews of casino host responsibility programmes. It does so by consulting with a range of knowledgable parties as well as seeking independent expert assistance. The committee was also informed that the Department of Internal Affairs inspectors continue to walk through the casino on a very regular basis.As I have said what this bill does is create a significant economic opportunity for tourism hospitality retailing construction and convention centre activities that will create employment opportunities for New Zealand. It also places on Skycity a very serious obligation to develop and put in place measures that will identify people who are at risk from gambling harm. So this bill will maximise the positive opportunities of economic growth and employment while also proactively developing technologies and practices that will identify potential gambling-related harm and work to reduce that. I commend this bill to the House.