Dean JacquiJACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): I congratulate David Bennett first of all on having the Private International Law (Choice of Law in Tort) Bill drawn from the ballot and in front of us for its first reading. Congratulations to him also on his introductory speech which has set the scene for this House in its first reading this evening. It is a bit like being given an early Christmas present actually because here is a whole new area of expertise that the Justice and Electoral Committee is about to become familiar with. In that spirit I propose that we should put together a bit of a dream team. So I would like to see David Parker sub on to the Justice and Electoral Committee for this item of business because in his speech I welcomed and appreciated his inquiring nature as he approached this piece of unfamiliar law which I have to say is even more unfamiliar to me as I am not even a lawyer. So you will see some chairing ability from myself but I am looking to people like David Parker to provide some of the intellectual grunt as we consider this.Having said that even on a little bit of study this evening already and in hearing some excellent speeches around the House some of the fog is beginning to clear about the intent of this piece of legislation—about its intent to provide some clarity and some sanity in legislation or tort across jurisdictions. And I can see that Denis O'Rourke on the other side of the House also shares our delight and I do hope that he also shares the House's enthusiasm for supporting this bill at least to select committee so that we can give it a thorough working over.I have very briefly looked at several of the cases that David Bennett did raise and yes indeed we occasionally hear of incidents where there is a dispute perhaps involving children as the Attorney-General has noted or perhaps involving some aspect of commerce where an agreement goes wrong. The question in the courts then becomes under which jurisdiction we address this concern.If I just turn perhaps to the clauses in the bill because it is a well-set-out bill and have a look at the bill clause by clause very briefly. Of course we have the title and commencement. As the bill's explanatory note sets out clause 3 provides that the purpose of the Bill is to establish rules for choosing the law to be used for determining issues relating to tort." Of course clause 4 binds the Crown. Clause 5 "states the general principles relating to the applicable law for the purposes of private and international law. These are—the characterisation of issues arising in a claim as issues relating to tort is a matter for the courts; the applicable law is to be used for determining the issues arising in a claim including the question of whether an actionable tort has occurred; and the applicable law to be used for determining the issues arising in a claim excludes any choice of law rules forming part of the law of the jurisdiction or jurisdictions." We then go on to clause 6 which "abolishes several common law rules that relate to the applicable law for the purposes of private international law as they apply to any claim in tort." There are nine clauses in this bill. Clause 7 "provides that the general rule for determining the applicable law for the purposes of private international law is the law of the jurisdiction in which the events constituting the tort in question occur." Clause 8 "provides for situations where the general rule is displaced."—that will be an interesting aspect of our deliberation. And of course clause 9 completes this rather well-set-out bill. I do look forward to the consideration in the select committee. I sincerely mean that this is an early Christmas present because I think we are going to find it very interesting and very practical. Thank you."