Jones Dail: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Jones Dail: Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:615;Page:11622] 
DAIL JONES (NZ First) 
: 
 I stand on behalf of my colleague the Hon Brian Donnelly who chaired the Education and Science Committee which processed the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Transitional Provisions and Controls) Amendment Bill. I wish to make a number of points. This legislation was dumped on to the select committee in a most unsatisfactory way. The chair was informed on the very day of the first reading that the bill would be put to the Education and Science Committee. That in itself was not problematic but the first reading was on 18 November last year and it was not until the Minister Rick Barker gave a speech during that reading that it was announced that the report-back date was to be 14 February. I wish to say on my colleague’s behalf that that is not satisfactory; it treats Parliament with contempt. The closing date for submissions was only 16 January and there was an expectation for a report back 4 sitting days into the new year. There was no consultation whatsoever about that; Parliament was simply told what to do. Everyone else has to consult—except seemingly the Ministers of this minority Labour Government. That is the sign of an arrogant Government which treats this House as a rubber stamp and it is a credit to my colleague the Hon Brian Donnelly that he would not tolerate such challenges to the sovereignty of the House. 
The second point is that there are 80000 hazardous substances. The legislation itself took effect in 2001 and has set a deadline of 2006 to transfer all those substances to the controls that apply under the principal Act. At this moment only 10000 of the 80000 hazardous substances have been transferred. There were 80000 hazardous substances to transfer the legislation was enacted in 2001 and today in 2004 only 10000 of the 80000 have been transferred. What has the Minister been doing? What needs to be done to jolt her out of her stupor? New Zealand First will be voting for this legislation but we say to the Minister that for heaven’s sake she must get a move on. 
The next point is that the select committee heard two very potent submissions that this legislation would not be necessary if the regulations were fixed up. The suggestion that we should shelve the legislation and work on getting the regulations right is not viable. That would simply take too long and certain deadlines would not be met. This legislation and serious remediation of the regulations are both needed. The committee was informed that the work is under way but we in New Zealand First will monitor that work very very closely to make sure it happens. On the basis of present work efforts by this minority Labour Government we have grave doubts as to whether it will be able to complete that work in time. 
One situation that was uncovered during the select committee process was to do with compressed gases. Many gases—for example nitrogen and oxygen—are not in themselves hazardous. However every compressed gas is hazardous because of its compressed state. The committee has recommended amendments to the bill in order to accommodate compressed gases. 
Finally my colleague the Hon Brian Donnelly wishes to thank members of the select committee for going beyond the call of duty and not dancing to the Minister’s tune in order to ensure that this bill has been able to be progressed in a speedy fashion. New Zealand First will be voting for this bill because it is the only sensible thing to do. To frustrate this process would compromise the safety of New Zealanders and put them at risk while using hazardous substances and that is not in the nature of our party. We support this stage of the bill.