Dean JacquiHon JACQUI DEAN (National—Waitaki): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I'm very happy to speak in support at the third reading of the Local Electoral Matters Bill but do wonder why it is that such a minor bill which makes two maybe three minor changes to a couple of Acts needs to have such fulsome time given to it in the House—if consideration of the previous bill is any guide. On this side of the House we understand the contents of this bill very well. We've spoken extensively in all the readings and given this bill very good consideration in select committee as have Government members. So I don't plan to traverse the contents of the bill too carefully but I would like to make a couple of comments on perhaps the shortcomings that we see in this bill. The bill does make minor changes to both the Local Electoral Act and the Electoral Act. The misgivings and the concerns that I might have are around the first part of the bill which relates to better enabling trials of internet voting. I agree with the Minister in the chair who brought the bill forward that internet voting could well be a part of the suite of options for local councils and indeed the general election in a voting method which best suits the times. I disagree with the member and I disagree with the Government that this is the panacea for low voter turnout. I don't believe that for a moment. New Zealand is a very diverse country. Paul Eagle noted in a previous speech on a previous bill that in greater Wellington there was a turnout of something like 40 percent in local body elections and quite rightly he lamented that. But in places like Mackenzie which is a small South Island local authority they have a much much higher voter turnout in the 60s. Indeed a number of smaller provincial centres do have a much better turnout and I'd venture to say that there are other factors at play other than the potential for online voting which is going to bring the larger centres literally up to what is a better rate of participating in local elections. So I think a wider discussion needs to be had around that rather than just pinning the Government's hopes on internet voting. I also have concerns about the security of online voting. I acknowledge that yes postal ballot papers can fall out of letter boxes and be swept away by the wind and there might be occasions where people go round collecting them up and indulging in fraudulent behaviour. I acknowledge all that but I do think that the councils who were proposing to undertake a trial—and that is a provision in the bill where an internet trial wouldn't have to be across a whole local authority area but could be confined to a ward—is a good step forward. But again that's laying the legislative framework. I am pleased to see that the local councils who were considering as part of the working group a trial of internet voting have determined that it is not yet secure enough so I think that's very important. The second part of the bill makes very minor changes to enable age-related data to be provided in statistical format by age bands to local authorities. Surely that is the most minor of minor amendments and whether it deserves full 10-minute speeches on a Thursday afternoon where the Government are proposing that this is a significant and major piece of work and part of the year of delivery"—not buying it. Thanks Mr Assistant Speaker."