Donald Rod: Standing Orders—Suspension 
Donald Rod: Standing Orders—Suspension 
[Volume:609;Page:6237] 
ROD DONALD (Co-Leader—Green) 
: 
 I note that you found the New Zealand First member’s arguments as compelling as I did Mr Speaker. I do defend his right to object to the introduction of the Business Law Reform Bill notwithstanding the fact that I found the arguments for objecting to it rather specious. Firstly I would say that it is vital for the Business Committee to maintain a policy of unanimity or near unanimity in making decisions. Therefore if one party of significance is not happy with the decision that the rest of us agree with then it is entitled to have its objection heard. Having said that I line up with the Labour Party the National Party and every other party in this House in saying that this bill is a good bill and that it should be allowed to proceed to select committee in the form in which the Government wants to introduce it. 
I ask New Zealand First why it is objecting to the bill now when it is substantially the same as the bill that was put before the Business Committee in May 2002 when the committee agreed to the bill being introduced under Standing Order 259. I wonder why it has subsequently changed its position on the bill. 
I also ask New Zealand First to explain to all the small-business people out there listening to Parliament today why it is slowing down the process of this Parliament reducing the compliance cost to business that a number of the amendments in this bill will achieve because that is really the point of an omnibus bill in the business law area. It is designed to bring together a number of small and often technical changes to a variety of pieces of legislation and to package them together so that they can move through the House swiftly without having to have several separate pieces of legislation involving a lot more time of Parliament and the select committees. 
 Another question to New Zealand First is why is it trying to discourage employees being able to— 
Dail Jones 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I do not mind a series of questions but I presume I will be given a call to answer them otherwise it is out of order. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No the member cannot presume anything. He has had his call. 
Dail Jones 
: But he cannot keep asking me questions all the time knowing I cannot answer them. That is out of order. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Please be seated. He is not addressing the questions to the member. He is addressing them to the party. 
ROD DONALD 
: In that case I will invite New Zealand First to reflect on the fact that opposing the passage of this bill puts off removing significant impediments to people saving for their retirement because there is some very good content in this bill which removes or reduces compliance costs for employer superannuation schemes. A party that I thought was keen on people saving should reflect on why it is stopping people from saving. 
As far as the detail of the bill goes I am looking forward to the introduction of the bill when I can talk in a more fulsome fashion about the contents of the bill. I would just like to note before the House that many of the amendments contained in the bill have been at the initiative of the organisations directly affected. The friendly societies credit unions building societies and the Investment Savings and Insurance Association are all seeking improvements to their legislation and I am pleased that Parliament will be able to get on with helping them do a better job for their constituencies and for the country at large. I would like to confirm again that the Green Party will be voting in support of this motion. 
Debate interrupted.