Street Maryan: Electoral Amendment Bill — Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeStreet Maryan: Electoral Amendment Bill — Third Reading[Sitting date: 18 March 2014. Volume:697;Page:16735. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]Hon MARYAN STREET (Labour):In the prayer that starts every sitting day the words are “laying aside all private and personal interest”—laying aside all private and personal interest. The Minister in charge of the Electoral Amendment Bill is Judith Collins. Judith Collins has already been proven not to understand the meaning of the words “laying aside all private and personal interest”. The issue with this bill to which Labour takes such exception is the behaviour in the bill now that is required in order for people to turn up to a polling booth and vote. [Interruption]The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson): Order! Members leaving the Chamber should show some respect to the member addressing the House and all contributions will be made with respect shown to the traditions of the House as enshrined in the Standing Orders. That is why I am standing—because I represent those Standing Orders. I crave your respect for them and your understanding when a member is trying to address the House.Hon MARYAN STREET: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I was talking about putting aside all private and personal interest. Judith Collins the Minister in charge of this bill—which has come back to the House with provisions deleted that would have cemented in place the EasyVote card practice—is the one who also does not seem to understand the significance of the words “laying aside all private and personal interest”. Judith Collins had the opportunity to reinstate those words by agreeing to first an amendment put up by Holly Walker of the Green Party; second an amendment put up by Andrew Little of the Labour Party; and third an amendment put up by me. She turned down the opportunity each time to make it easy for people to vote. And why is that? All I can say about that is it must have occurred to National members that it is in their private and personal interest to make sure this piece of legislation does not make it easier for people to vote. In fact it puts obstacles in the way.This should have been a piece of legislation that was agreed on by the whole House. It could have been that. But now with the way it has transpired and with the Minister’s unwillingness to reinstate clauses that were deleted simply by agreeing to amendments by other parties we see a bill on electoral procedure that will advance the interests only of those for whom it is already easy to cast a vote. Those for whom it is not easy—those of different ethnicities those who are disabled who are unable to speak for example like the man I referred to when I was last speaking on this issue—now have to say their name and provide additional information to show that they are on the roll. It says that they must do both of those things. If they have a disability that prevents them from doing that then they must rely on another person. People want to get up and make their own votes. It is incumbent on this House to make it possible for them to do that and to make it as easy as possible. This bill does not do that.I would say that in another country behaviour of the Minister both the in her other portfolios and while in charge of this bill in particular might be called corruption. That is not too far from the truth. So this needs to be addressed. It should have been addressed by the Minister in charge of the bill and it is a shame that it has not been.