Tisch Lindsay: Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
Tisch Lindsay: Subordinate Legislation (Confirmation and Validation) Bill — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:868] 
LINDSAY TISCH (National—Piako) 
: 
 Part 2 deals with confirmations and validations. I mentioned briefly in the debate on Part 1 that I wanted to look specifically at two areas one being the Biosecurity Act of 1993 and that I would mention in passing clause 13 “New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001 and the Social Security Act 1964”. 
I have a question for the Minister however which maybe should have come up in the debate on Part 1. He may be able to respond to my question: as we are dealing with clauses that expire as there needs to be consultation and as the levies go up each year—that is the process we are going through—is there a proposition that under the sunset clause provisions we are dealing with there will be a tidier way of going through that process without having to come back on an annual basis to go through it? I see he is shaking his head— 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: I think it is important that Parliament validates and confirms. 
LINDSAY TISCH 
: Would the Minister be prepared to take a call shortly just to say why we go through the process? It is mainly for the sake of interest that I ask him to do so because I look at other jurisdictions and see sunset clauses—Australia has moved very much to sunset clauses in a lot of its legislation—and I would really like to know for my own interest if for no one else’s why we do this on an annual basis. If the Minister does take a call I would certainly appreciate it. 
I come back to clause 9 in Part 2 which concerns the whole area of biosecurity and in particular the gypsy moth levy and the varroa South Island bee-keeper levy. It was interesting that prior to the luncheon break we passed the Biosecurity (Status of Specified Ports) Amendment Bill which National supported because it is our view that nothing is more important than biosecurity. We must have defences and we must have in place the mechanisms to protect not only our exports but our culture and our heritage. Those things cannot be compromised. 
In relation to the Biosecurity Act of 1993 I want to spend time on the varroa mite which has caused so many problems. It was originally envisaged of course that the varroa bee mite would go only as far south as Taupo. Then over time it has actually now—oh yes; the Minister is shaking his head—extended its area throughout the whole of the North Island. My colleague Shane Ardern during his speech on the previous bill asked what would happen if the varroa bee mite actually ends up in the South Island. That would be a huge problem for bee-keepers in the South Island just as it is for those around the rest of New Zealand and that is why we must make sure that the requirements levies and protection for our biosecurity are paramount. 
It is our view that the Government has been lax in this area and that there were very clear indications that the varroa bee mite would become a problem. If it gets into the South Island then we are in real trouble. I actually mentioned that earlier on in the first reading debate before the bill went to the Regulations Review Committee. I do not know what discussion was held specifically on clause 9 which concerns the biosecurity area during the deliberations of the committee. Maybe my colleague Dr Worth can fill us in on that. 
I also want to draw the attention of the Committee to clause 12 which concerns the Customs and Excise Act 1996 and in particular the Customs Import Prohibition (Trout) Amendment Order. That is a very very important clause as it relates to the Waikato an area I represent and to trout fishing. The whole trout issue is a very important one for tourism. People travel the world to come and fish for trout so it is very important that we do not relax the requirements on importing trout because of its potential effect on tourism. What attracts a lot of overseas people to New Zealand are the trout throughout the Rotorua and Taupo region and further north into the Waikato. So I bring clause 12 and the prohibition order there to the attention of the Committee. It is very important and important for our region. I know that Stevie Chadwick is here in the Chamber and that she would also say that on behalf of Rotorua. She nods her head in agreement with me. She also did that during the first reading of the bill so I know I am actually on the right track.