Unkovich TanyaTANYA UNKOVICH (NZ First): I rise today to take this call on the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill on behalf of New Zealand First. Now this bill seeks to address an area which is very important for New Zealand First and that is of public safety particularly that of our most vulnerable in our society: our children. As already mentioned there is a register that already exists which holds a record of a range of up-to-date personal information about registered child sex offenders living within the community. It is a tool to help police and corrections staff with the monitoring of people who have offended in the past with the aim of preventing reoffending.This bill the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Government Agency Registration) (Overseas Travel Reporting) Amendment Bill aims to enhance measures for monitoring and regulating the overseas travel of these registered child sex offenders. It proposes amendments to the existing legislation to require registrable offenders to provide additional information to the authorities before they travel overseas for more than 48 hours.Now this bill seeks to align reporting requirements for domestic and overseas travel and it enhances the collaboration between the New Zealand Police and our Customs Service to protect our children from potential risks posed by overseas travellers.New Zealand First's position is that we will support this bill. New Zealand First upholds the principles of protecting vulnerable individuals safeguarding public safety and ensuring the effective enforcement of laws. We prioritise the wellbeing of our children in the communities and we will always advocate for policies that promote their safety and their security.Now whilst a significant proportion of convicted child sex offenders do not reoffend once they are released from prison and back in society again it is important to note that some do. Due to the nature of the type of offence if by chance during a temporary lapse of reason the offender commits yet another sexual offence the consequences for the victims are by no means temporary. From the traumatic emotional harm and the possible physical harm caused as a result of this attack the suffering for the victim and their family will continue. It could be that this one event is the beginning of another systemic family pattern of abuse. The introduction of this bill would be another measure to protect the most vulnerable in our society.So what are some of the reasons that New Zealand First are supporting this bill? Well as already mentioned it will enhance the monitoring and the regulation with additional information required when the offender is overseas and for every country that they go to. Also if an offender does not want to return to New Zealand they have to also make that known and where they will be.Now another reason that we're supporting this bill is because of the alignment with domestic reporting requirements. It will align the requirements for domestic and overseas travel which will ensure consistency and coherency in monitoring the movements of these registrable offenders. This alignment streamlines enforcement efforts and facilitates cooperation between the agencies domestically and internationally. Also it's a collaborative approach to protecting our children the most vulnerable. The bill will promote a collaboration between New Zealand Police and Customs leveraging their networks and resources to better protect the children in the countries where the offenders will travel to. By enabling this information sharing and coordination between the relevant agencies this will strengthen the bill and these international efforts that are being taken around the world to combat child sex tourism which sadly is a very real thing.As I've already mentioned New Zealand First is all about protecting our vulnerable and it's a big reason why we will be supporting this bill.Now some may say Well what about the rights of the offender?" That is a valid question. They do also deserve a chance to rehabilitate and to not live under this cloud of shame and judgment for the remainder of their lives. What if however these additional requirements were in fact a deterrent for the sex offender? As mentioned due to the nature of this offence it can be a decision made in a split second that could lead to irreversible consequences for the victim. What if by having these extra measures it would be a deterrent that they need to take responsibility for their actions and ownership for their second chance at life themselves?So in summary New Zealand First believes that public safety concerns and the safety of children who are our most vulnerable and defenceless far outweighs the privacy or equal protection claims of the sex offender and it is why we believe that this bill will be well received. I'm very happy to commend it to the House. Thank you."