Watts Simon; Mallard TrevorSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Thank you very much for providing an opportunity to take a call on the Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Bill second reading.I'd firstly obviously like to acknowledge Louisa Wall for this member's bill. As a member of the Health Committee it was as has been noted by many speakers in this House a thorough and comprehensive process that was undertaken by that committee. And at all times I would commend you in terms of the pragmatism and willingness to listen and work with the committee in order to work through what were a number of significant challenges. I think that as has been highlighted by other members of the committee is for us as a group taking aside our positions and our views and opinions around the bill to unanimously support this through does send a really quite inspiring message around an element of collegiality particularly around this bill. So thank you for what you have done. Obviously this bill and I think it's an element that really needs to be reinforced is really to be putting in place—to protect primarily women going through the process of abortion and the reality of the type of woman is it's generally young women. The age of 20 to 24 is sort of the highest proportion. Around 51 percent of women that have abortions are in their 20s and for 65 percent of them this will be their first child. So I think that was never lost on the committee in terms of you know the importance around why we were doing this. And I think the element or the issue around compassion—I think it's probably the right word in terms of this bill providing a purpose which is to protect those individuals. I think we listened to what were 890 submissions. We obviously saw 97 of those come through but there was a number of submissions that I remember from young women across this country that gave their personal reflections and experiences of going through that process. I cannot imagine what that would be like but it was definitely something that the committee took on board and I think that carried through with the recommendations that we made. I was someone who went into this process and while supporting it at first reading I had concerns. I had concerns particularly around clause 5 of the bill in regards to the conflict it had with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act section 14. I am absolutely very proud actually in terms of when Louisa read out the statement this evening from the Hon David Parker the Attorney-General in terms of what the bill was going into this process what the select committee as a team contributed and did and the outcome that we received. I think it cannot be underestimated that the outcome that the committee did in conjunction with all of those advisers the Ministry of Health Justice Police and all of the submitters is significant. I think as a result we've been able to bring a bill to this House that was significantly better than what it was before. So I just wanted to acknowledge that element of the process. For me personally that was definitely a highlight of the process when I look back on it.I think the other aspects—we've obviously made a number of changes in terms of the bill in terms of what are the defined elements the behaviours that this bill would prohibit. We've heard about visual recording which we're aware causes emotional distress. We've heard about prohibiting certain activities in safe areas and we've heard about only the need to testify in the cases of visual recording. I think that was a thorough process. I think the process also to expedite and get those safe areas put in place was an area that the committee spent a lot of time discussing.The concept of a blanket application offset with a case by case basis—I think where we landed as Sarah Pallett outlined before around case by case I think is the best approach. It balances really well I think the difference between some of the challenges around if a private home sits within 150 metres of the abortion clinic—and these are the practicalities that that we worked through with the committee—and if someone was standing on their fence yelling across or putting a sign up in their backyard. How do we balance those issues around the importance of private property and the freedoms around that with the young women that we heard coming in that are wanting to be protected and feel safe going through this health procedure? So I think we landed in a good position there. I think I've acknowledged as I said why this bill is so important in terms of the women that it protects and keeps safe. I think the element around the committee acting with compassion was very clear. And I think just finally I wanted to thank Louisa Wall again for her contribution in terms of bringing this member's bill to the House. As a member of that committee alongside all my colleagues in this House from across the political parties I'm proud in terms of what we've brought back here. I commend this bill to the House.SPEAKER: The time has come for me to leave the Chair. This bill is set down for further consideration next sitting day. The House stands adjourned until 2 p.m. tomorrow.Debate interrupted.The House adjourned at 10.03 p.m.