Watts SimonSIMON WATTS (National—North Shore): Mr Speaker thank you very much for the opportunity this morning to talk on the Protected Disclosures (Protection of Whistleblowers) Bill second reading. I obviously rise on behalf of National and as the MP for North Shore. Two speeches in the last hour—well it's good to be back in the House. The purpose of this bill obviously is to replace the disclosure bill of 2000. Obviously a huge amount has changed since that point. But this bill covers two key aspects obviously in terms of its updates. One is around changing the definition of serious wrongdoing which is really important and also strengthens some of the disclosure elements within this bill and I'm going to go into a little bit of that detail this morning.Obviously as I said a lot has changed in 20 years. Actually a lot has changed in Auckland in the last 85 days but I'll come back to that later on today. National support a secure and effective mechanism for individuals to make disclosures within that. It is a hugely important aspect and it is a hugely important process in which people need to be able to make disclosures to highlight serious wrongdoings. It is without doubt that the current bill in place at the moment that this will replace does not have the thresholds at a high enough level in order to meet requirements and that's why it is so important that this bill comes into play. I must say while this bill doesn't vastly change the regime it does importantly I think simplify and make it easier for that process. And I tell you what we are all about simplicity on this side of the House and keeping things simple. I think we heard before from the Hon Mark Mitchell his personal experience—and obviously my background and experience in working for one of the largest banks overseas and also within the district health board system in New Zealand. I like Mark have seen a number of examples of individuals within both of those systems who have come forward who have taken a risk—a personal risk I think—in order to disclose wrongdoings and serious wrongdoings. I think one cannot underestimate the confidence and the concerns that those individuals have when they make a disclosure like that and having a system in place in order to protect them is so critically important and obviously why National support this bill. A couple of other aspects of why National is supportive—obviously those protections encourage others to make disclosures which is really really important. We also want to make sure that the bill or the legislation gives assurances to those that make disclosures that they are not going to be unduly impacted by making that disclosure. Lastly in terms of the key reasons why we support it it is because it is well known that effective disclosure mechanisms processes and procedures actually are one of the most effective ways in order to get identification of corrupt practices and behaviours. We're lucky enough here in New Zealand to have a country that is very much good in that regard but of course as we know that's not the case around the world.Actually the previous speaker mentioned a couple of real life examples and obviously ACC is a very timely example that was given around the privacy breaches of personal information. Personal injuries individuals' photos of their injuries on Snapchat would not have been brought to light without someone making some disclosures of which this type of bill covers. I think the other aspect as well is around Oranga Tamariki around some of the Newshub investigations that occurred earlier this year which highlighted the critical nature or the critical importance of whistleblowing in terms of highlighting some of the key areas of corruption and issues around that. I want to acknowledge the Education and Workforce Committee who did an absolutely sterling job—sterling job—on this bill. They did a really really good performance. I want to finish with a personal disclosure that won't be covered under this Act but I think is important for me to state in this House and that is this weekend the Thames Valley Swamp Foxes are playing South Canterbury in the Meads Cup final. My disclosure to this House is that I expect them to win and the Hon Scott Simpson and Tim van de Molen who are sitting at home and aren't able will obviously be pleased with that. I commend this bill to the House.