Twyford Phil: Governor-General Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Twyford Phil: Governor-General Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:668;Page:14813] 
PHIL TWYFORD (Labour) 
: 
 Thank you Mr Chair. That is a powerful incentive to take this call. I will do my best to plough a fresh corner of the paddock. 
Grant Robertson 
: The furrowed brow. 
PHIL TWYFORD 
: The furrowed brow. 
We are now debating clauses 1 and 2 the title and commencement. This is the moment in the debate when traditionally we can recap and explore some of the broad themes in relation to this bill. The title of this Act is the Governor-General Act 2010. I think by now colleagues in the Committee will be clear that Labour’s position on this bill is that we support its passage. We have spent a considerable amount of time considering whether Keith Locke’s Supplementary Order Paper should be debated. If it had been adopted it would have seen the insertion of a mechanism for electing future Governors-General with a 75 percent majority of the House. I think we traversed the ground quite well. We are in favour of streamlining and bringing transparency and clarity to bear around the arrangements for remuneration for the office of Governor-General. 
Labour supports these measures. We see them as overdue reform. The bill is a modernisation of the arrangements. It amends the Civil List Act establishes its own legislation to deal with these matters recognises the importance of the office of Governor-General and updates and modernises for instance the definition of “family” and the way that family is recognised in the payment of the annuity for the Governor-General and the payment when the Governor-General has left office. We support all of those things. We think they are sound. 
But we believe that at this moment the Committee could go further. Now is the time we are debating the status of and the arrangements around the office of Governor-General so it would be a great time for Parliament to lead a national conversation about the future of the office of Governor-General. Keith Locke’s Supplementary Order Paper took us some way down that track towards considering how the Governor-General is appointed. But ultimately I think we need to have a debate as a country about the future status of and arrangements for our head of State. 
This bill is called the Governor-General Bill. When it is enacted it will be called the Governor-General Act 2010. It could be called the “Governor-General (Modernisation) Bill”. It could be called the “Governor-General (Transparency) Bill”. It could be called the “Arrangements for the Partners Spouses and Family of the Governor-General Bill”. I think we are indebted to the Hon Trevor Mallard for ploughing the paddock as you so eloquently put it Mr Chairperson. Trevor Mallard really shed light on the possibilities under this bill for future polygamous Governors-General to be adequately catered for by this legislation. I think within our multicultural modern New Zealand that is only appropriate. The law should recognise that. 
There are other possible names for the Governor-General Bill. It could be the “Tidying up of Arrangements around the Governor-General’s Remuneration Bill” but without the vision and the appetite for comprehensive reform in thinking through the long-term future of the office of Governor-General or the arrangements that we have for selecting and appointing heads of State. I will leave my contribution there.