Baldock Larry: Families Commission Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Procedure 
Baldock Larry: Families Commission Bill — Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:614;Page:10316] 
LARRY BALDOCK (United Future) 
: 
 I will address my comments on the schedules first of all to the financial accountability that the commission will be required to maintain. That refers to the regular practices that any business or Government organisation would have to adhere to. But also I believe it refers to the issue of whether the money the commission is given is well spent. We have heard a great deal of criticism about the commission’s huge budget but we are very pleased that it is being given an adequate budget of $6 million a year to do its work. I believe that the commission will have no difficulty in seeing that the money is well spent. For years and years people have said it was time that we built fences at the top of the cliff instead of having ambulances at the bottom and that is exactly what the commission will be about. Spending $6 million a year in order to give the commission the opportunity and power to address some of the root causes of family breakdowns in our society is not in any way shape or form a waste of money when the results of family breakdowns cost us $5 billion to $6 billion. How could one ever suggest that spending $6 million is a waste of time if we can do something about reducing the huge amount of wastage that results from the breakdown of relationships and families throughout the country? 
The schedules also address the qualifications the commissioners need and the way they are to be appointed. It is thrilling to see the response in the community to the opportunity that is being provided by this legislation. That has been wonderful. I understand that at least 300 requests for the information packet have been received from people who want to apply to become commissioners. Unlike the Opposition parties which are just firing cheap shots at this legislation and saying it will be a waste of time a large number of good people out in the community see this bill as a fantastic opportunity not just to talk about the problems but to get involved roll up their sleeves apply for the job of commissioner and then be given the incredible responsibility and privilege of doing something for families in New Zealand. I applaud all of those who are beginning to engage now in the application process. I believe that some very very qualified people will be appointed as commissioners. 
I understand that the legislation provides for at least three full-time or part-time commissioners and that there can be a maximum of seven commissioners. They are the people who will make the difference. All the rest is just talk and hot air. All the discussion about the definition of “family” will mean absolutely nothing when it comes down to the rubber meeting the road and the commissioners begin to do what is needed in this country—that is to focus on the families and the situations that arise for many children across the country in terms of the appalling circumstances in which they live their lives. I believe that the commissioners will be able to interpret the requirements of this legislation. They will not be at a loss to know what their job is about. They will not be at a loss as to knowing the kind of family that produces the best kind of result. That is self-evident and has been so for thousands of years. But that is not the only task we are asking the commissioners to address; we are also asking them to address the needs of all children in New Zealand as has been said so very well already in this debate. I believe that the commissioners will serve this nation very well and we look forward to their final appointment. Good people I believe always know what to do. It is only some of those in this Chamber who spend their entire lives talking about what ought to be done and never actually accomplishing anything despite all the promises they have made who do not know what to do. 
Under Part 1 of this legislation the commissioners will even have the power to appoint committees to look into specific issues that need to be addressed. One of those issues is I believe the rate of marriage breakdown in our society. I believe that the commissioners—well-chosen people with a good background of experience in family matters perhaps in ministries that have been involved in helping people because I think that means a lot more than having a lot of academic qualifications—may well decide to use the powers given to them to appoint special committees that will look into ways of strengthening marriage in our society. They will look at ways to prevent the increasing rate of marriage breakdown and that will be an excellent thing. I believe the commissioners will also be able to use the powers given to them to address some of the consequences of family breakdowns. That is something that is not happening very well in society at this point and the Family Court definitely needs to have a committee that can look into it.