Andersen Ginny; Salesa JennyDIGITAL IDENTITY SERVICES TRUST FRAMEWORK BILLThird ReadingHon GINNY ANDERSEN (Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications): I present a legislative statement on the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill.SPEAKER: That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.Hon GINNY ANDERSEN: I move That the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill be now read a third time. Madam Speaker I am pleased to present for a third reading the Digital Identity Services Trust Framework Bill. I would first of all like to acknowledge the work that the Economic Development Science and Innovation Committee has done in this space. I'd like to acknowledge those select committee members and officials who have put much time into getting this bill this far. As the new Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications I would like to thank the previous Minister the Hon Dr David Clark for his work on this bill including starting the bill's committee stage back in December 2022. I have just a few comments to make following the debate that's pursued in the second reading. This bill sets up the digital identity services trust framework which is an opt-in regulatory framework for the digital identity service industry. Digital identity services give people the ability to easily share information about themselves such as name date and birth. This enables access to services like setting up a bank account online providing a new employer with information—basic day-to-day things that will make life easier for people. The bill is part of a wider programme of initiatives that support key Government priorities in the digital community and is the cornerstone of the Digital Strategy for Aotearoa New Zealand. It's also trade enabling as a digital identity can enable digital trade in other cross-border transactions. A mutual recognition of digital identity services with Australia is something that our Prime Minister and the Prime Minister of Australia have both signalled as a high priority for the Single Economic Market agenda. During the select committee process some submitters expressed concern that the trust framework was establishing a mandatory centralised identity regime. I want to reiterate at this point that the bill does no such thing. The trust framework does not establish a centralised identity system. In fact it enables users to choose what information is being stored and shared with third parties. It does not create any new powers for the Government to collect or share people's information without their express consent.The trust framework introduces minimum standards for security privacy information and identification management that must be met when people choose to share information through this mechanism. The bill and all actors within the trust framework system will be subject to the Privacy Act and the privacy requirements. The new regulatory framework will be overseen by the Trust Framework Authority Trust Framework Board and also the Māori Advisory Group. We are very proud of the Government's arrangements and particularly want to acknowledge the input of the Data Iwi Leaders Group in this area and the time they've put into refining this work. The debate on the make-up of the Trust Framework Board in the committee stage was particularly interesting but I am confident that we have a system that will ensure that there are diverse perspectives and expertise while also creating a board that has the appropriate technical understanding of digital identity—this is incredibly important. We are creating a system which through board appointments and consultation requirements will enable those to have an interest in specific issues and also be able to be heard on the matter. The trust framework regulations and rules being developed will round out the technical and administrative requirements to implement the trust framework. I would like to wrap up by saying that this bill introduces a regulatory framework that establishes standards for the provision of secure digital identity services and gives New Zealanders more control over their own data including what they choose to share about themselves and also most importantly who they share it with. It is a pleasure to commend this bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jenny Salesa): The question is that the motion be agreed to.