Foster-Bell Paul: Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for RNZRSA Clubs from Special Licencing Requirements for Anzac Day) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeFoster-Bell Paul: Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for RNZRSA Clubs from Special Licencing Requirements for Anzac Day) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee[Sitting date: 06 April 2016. Volume:712;Page:10256. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]PAUL FOSTER-BELL (National): I move That the Sale and Supply of Alcohol (Exemption for RNZRSA Clubs from Special Licencing Requirements for Anzac Day) Amendment Bill be now read a first time. This very simple bill creates an exemption for RSAs from trading hour restrictions under the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 and local alcohol policies where these may also apply. It does not seek to confer any additional rights to sell or supply alcohol beyond those that an RSA’s licence would usually provide for. It simply removes the costs of up to $500 for special licences at the 181 clubs that serve around 105000 RSA members nationwide along with their families and wider communities.This is a measure that is very deliberately focused solely on the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association and includes those RSA clubs that may be embedded in other clubs as is the case in this region with the Petone Club. I may hold liberal views on alcohol licensing but I am very much more comfortable with a half-day on Anzac Day prior to lunchtime being reserved as a day for national commemoration in sober and solemn observance than I am with restrictions on alcohol on other days. I am unapologetic that this bill does not apply more widely for instance to sports clubs which still retain their current ability to apply for a special licence if they have a legitimate reason for doing so. It is also intended to apply only on 25 April Anzac Day itself and not the Mondayised holiday.It is ridiculous that RSAs have to pay for expensive special licences to serve a harmless tipple with gunfire breakfasts. The tradition of the gunfire breakfast following the dawn ceremony has been an integral part of Anzac Day since at least the 1920s and the addition of a shot of liquor often rum to the coffee at that breakfast recalls the repast taken by the soldiers before battle. This is an important tradition and it should be preserved not persecuted.We all know that the RSAs are highly trusted often small and voluntary organisations that serve a very valuable role in our communities. They commemorate the military service and sacrifices of hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders over the past century. We owe so much to our veterans: our very lives and lifestyle and status as a free and democratic country in which it is the people who have the real power. So I am delighted that we have been able to progress this legislation today.I want to put on record my thanks to other parties for their cooperation on this sensible and timely bill. In particular can I thank Kris Faafoi Trevor Mallard and Chris Hipkins; James Shaw and David Clendon; Clayton Mitchell and Barbara Stewart; Peter Dunne Marama Fox and David Seymour for their agreement and advocacy within their own parties so that this bill could be passed through a slightly abbreviated process to help RSA clubs save costs this year rather than waiting for another 12 months.I also pay tribute to the architect of the 2012 legislation the Hon Judith Collins; the current Minister of Justice the Hon Amy Adams who has been an excellent sounding board and very generous in tasking her officials; the Leader of the House the Hon Gerry Brownlee; and the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs the Hon Craig Foss for their support. The chief whip—never forget the chief whip—Tim Macindoe has been very supportive along with Nick Bryant Anna Mitchell James Christmas Lieutenant Colonel Gerard Wood Tim Workman Logan Morton Joshua Whitford Beth McEwan and my colleagues Brett Hudson Simon O’Connor and Scott Simpson who have been particularly supportive of this bill.I would also like to note that this bill has been strongly supported by the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association. When it was drawn last year the RSA had expressed a hope that it would pass in advance of Anzac Day this year. The year 2016 is the centennial of the RSA so this bill makes a very welcome 100thbirthday present for one of our most valued institutions.I would like to acknowledge Bruce Johnston the president of the Karori RSA where I am proud to be a member along with Nancy McDonald and Rick Steven who ensure that I remember to submit my membership renewal each year. I would like to thank David Moger the chief executive and also Grant Marris the business development manager at the RSA as well as their entire team at their national office who have assisted.Finally I want to concede that there were some drafting errors with the original bill. It did not take into account that RSAs operate predominantly under club licences so I intend to table a Supplementary Order Paper which I have had some assistance with in preparing from the Parliamentary Counsel Office and the Ministry of Justice at the Committee stage to correct deficiencies in this bill. Apart from those small tweaks I think it is an otherwise necessary and practical measure and I commend it to the House.