Sosene Lemauga LydiaINSPECTOR-GENERAL OF DEFENCE BILLFirst ReadingDebate resumed from 8 November.LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker for the opportunity to take the call and rise to speak to the Inspector-General of Defence Bill. It is a privilege to do so. Can I begin by thanking the public for their submissions for taking an interest and for providing their feedback. I also want to thank the officials for their work.Minister Henare outlined the intention of this bill: the establishment of the Inspector-General of Defence to provide the independent oversight of the New Zealand Defence Force. It fits into the New Zealand democratic civil/military relations construct as the objective to allow civilian control through allowing military to carry out operations here at home in Aotearoa and abroad as part of a coalition without undermining the system of government. Consequently it is what the New Zealand Defence Force asked for.I want to pay particular acknowledgment to our men and women in our armed forces. In my former life at the Auckland Council as an elected member there are two significant days in the calendar every year that we recognise our servicemen and servicewomen. I'm going to share very quickly a few comments because I'm able to do so. The first is Anzac Day 25 April every year where we commemorate and we mourn the loss of our loved men and women who gave up their lives for the freedoms we have today. The second is Armistice Day which is tomorrow 11 November where again across the motu services are held and we remember our armed forces soldiers and we stand and we commemorate them for their bravery their efforts for the freedoms we have today.The armistice was the truce signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiégne France and we remember them. Courageous men and women of the armed forces gave up their lives and some of them were lost and never came home. So I want to pay tribute to them the whānau we lost because only recently we've discovered that the Pacific contingent lost soldiers—Cook Islands soldiers Niue soldiers as well as soldiers from Tonga Fiji and the Gilbert Islands now known as Kiribati and part of our Maori Battalion in their valiant efforts in the New Zealand contingent.This bill will achieve the ethos of New Zealand values in the New Zealand Defence Force. The inquiry into Operation Burnham recommended in terms of the shortcomings that New Zealanders must be confident when scrutiny is required and available and that the role of the Inspector-General of Defence as outlined in the bill will have the necessary powers to carry out the tasks and be able to pivot when improvements are required. The functions are critical if we are to achieve our military obligations to have clear guidelines in the New Zealand context as to who is responsible for what and what process and under what scrutiny in our response.The role of the inspector-general will be complementary in its operations to avoid duplication of specific processes. Just as I wrap up I note that the bill is a result of key recommendations as we've heard to address a range of problems identified by the inquiry into Operation Burnham. Strengthening ministerial and public trust and confidence in the New Zealand Defence Force is a key focus for this Government in the aftermath of Operation Burnham. The budget has been set aside—over $5 million additional to the $90 million investment in the Defence Force which was to help remuneration and address the pay challenges. It is the largest capability investment that Defence has ever received. This bill will help keep civilians in control. I commend this bill to the House.