Grigg NicolaNICOLA GRIGG (National—Selwyn): Thank you Madam Speaker—we are all still learning. I'd like to begin my contribution to this third reading of the Harmful Digital Communications (Unauthorised Posting of Intimate Visual Recording) Amendment Bill by congratulating once again Louisa Wall who does apparently have the Midas touch when it comes to having member's bills drawn from the ballot. The National Party is happy to support this bill. We do believe it is a very important change to a piece of legislation by closing an existing gap. We're happy to see the passing of it today because it will now make it an offence for a person to post online an intimate visual recording of another person who by definition is naked or engaged in an intimate act" without their consent. I think the member who spoke previously Ginny Andersen canvased very well the issues of consent and that power imbalance and the coercive nature that often occurs in these scenarios.As the Opposition spokesperson for women I am firmly in support of this bill. It goes without saying that the unauthorised disclosure of intimate visual recordings is a form of gender-based violence and very shamefully for this country it affects women at a significantly higher rate. I think as has been canvased already the societal consequences tend to fall more heavily on the female victim. I personally could not imagine a more traumatising form of manipulation or abuse but sadly though studies have also indicated that it's our rainbow community and those youth that Ginny Andersen mentioned—the 16- to 29-year-olds who are at a very high risk of experiencing this type of what can only be described as sexual exploitation. I understand—and I didn't sit on the Justice Committee but having read some of the submissions—that throughout the select committee hearing as was canvased by many many submitters it is clear that any non-consensual sharing of intimate recordings could cause harm and should therefore be an offence. It is very clear that if there is no consent then this is a crime.So the purpose of this Harmful Digital Communications Act which this bill would amend is very clear: it deters it prevents and it mitigates harm caused by individuals through any form of digital communication or platforms—of which there is a proliferation online. Importantly it provides victims of these harmful digital communications with a means of redress but it is also a deterrent and we know already the numbers are starting to climb. I understand that in December two years ago around about 420 people were charged with the offence while 270 were actually convicted. In 2020 alone there were 106 charges with 74 convictions. So it is good to see that this is being enacted upon. Madam Speaker as I'm sure you'll know National has a very strong record on recognising and updating law to reflect harmful behaviour in specifically a digital age. It is—as other speakers have referred to—an ever-evolving space and it is so important that we legislators in this House ensure laws are modernised at every possible opportunity. So with this bill we will be able to further the work started by the previous National Government to limit the harm caused by actions such as this. Where people are made victims to posting of intimate visual recordings—or is often referred to as "revenge porn"—it can have disastrous consequences on those individuals. It causes irreparable harm. They're often exposed to bullying stalking attacks and being stigmatised. As Louisa Wall said it does "shatter lives". This bill is a great example of a select committee process that further improves law changes. A Supplementary Order Paper that was put forward further closes some of those technical gaps that were found in the bill's initial drafting which give more clarity to definitions and add the ability for the courts to impose interim orders that can order takedowns or disable materials. So I would urge members of this House and particularly of the Government to continue work in this area and to make sure that laws remain relevant to the times of technology—and of course do also serve to protect people in our society who are more vulnerable to crimes such as this. Thank you Madam Speaker."