O'Connor Damien: Wool Industry Restructuring Bill — Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
O'Connor Damien: Wool Industry Restructuring Bill — Second Reading Instruction to CommitteeCWH In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:609;Page:7120] 
Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Associate Minister for Rural Affairs) 
: 
 I understand the good intent of the member’s amendment the principles of which were discussed at the select committee. The proposal which is very similar to one put forward to the committee by Mr Phil Verry is one that was considered. The background to it was put very thoroughly to the committee. As the previous speaker has said on balance the committee—and the Government is happy to support that position—decided that the proposals as laid out and put to the select committee and the process for dissolution of the board are sound and have the backing of the farmers and to intervene at this late stage with such a proposal is simply not warranted. That is why the Government will not be supporting Mr Woolerton’s amendment. 
The question was put that the following amendment in the name of R Doug Woolerton to clauses 14 and 15 be agreed to: 
to omit these clauses and substitute the following clauses: 
14Administration and governance of company 
The Minister must appoint a statutory manager to the company on the restructuring day to take full control of the company. 
15Powers and responsibilities of statutory manager 
The statutory manager shall have all the powers of the directors of the company and in addition shall have these powers and responsibilities: 
(a)to review the conduct and policies of the former Wool Board since 1996 to determine whether or not the actions taken by the Board and/or entities controlled by the Board including Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ) conform to the provisions intent and spirit of the Wool Board Act 1997; 
(b)to take such action as is necessary to remedy any actions or omissions that do not conform to the provisions intent and spirit of the Wool Board Act 1997; 
(c)to forthwith resolve all outstanding issues affecting the Board including claims against it on a fair and equitable basis respectively preferably by mediated negotiation but failing that by court processes pursued expeditiously; 
(d)to review whether or not the past and intended treatment of and/or disposal of assets of the Board and/or WRONZ including intellectual property assets has given proper consideration to: prior rightful proprietary interests in those assets; the best utilisation of those assets on behalf of their rightful owners; and such rightful owners’ entitlement to fair recognition of and recompense for the value of such assets; 
(e)to resolve any issues arising from these reviews as he/she shall deem appropriate; 
(f)to institute an appropriate procedure as he/she shall determine whereby wool growers: are fully informed of the options for the future structure of their industry that are practicably possible; are informed of the relative merits of each option; and are allowed to freely make an informed decision by referendum of the structure they prefer for their industry; 
(g)to facilitate and oversee the introduction of the industry structure preferred by wool growers; and to the extent that he/she deems appropriate to make available the assets of the former Board to support the establishment of that new structure.