McNair Craig: Maritime Security Bill — First Reading 
McNair Craig: Maritime Security Bill — First Reading 
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CRAIG McNAIR (NZ First) 
: 
 I am glad that my party lets me speak for a lot longer than that party allowed that member to speak. On behalf of my New Zealand First colleagues I want to support this bill to the select committee. 
Jill Pettis 
: That’s all we want to know. The member can sit down. 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: Labour members make speeches like that but I am allowed to speak a little bit longer so I say to the junior Government whip that that is what I will do. 
It is sad that we are addressing a bill called the Maritime Security Bill. It reflects the kind of environment and world we live in these days. Even 10 or 20 years ago we would not have had to address the security breaches the terror attacks and everything that has gone on in the last few years. Things like that have happened in the past and there have been hijackings and so on. In 1982 when I was just a kid at school I remember very clearly the hijacking of the TWA Boeing 727 in the Middle East. I was in standard 2—under the old grading system—and remember looking at the television and seeing dead bodies being dropped out of the plane. It horrified me and it horrified the rest of the Western World but that is absolutely nothing compared with what we saw on 9/11 in 2001. The Hon Taito Phillip Field mentioned that we are approaching the very sad anniversary of the terrorist attacks on those beautiful World Trade Center buildings in New York. I am sure that will be a moment in history that will strike every age group from 5-year-olds upwards. 
It is a sad state of affairs that we as a country and as a Parliament have to introduce a bill like this but it is reality and it is facing up to what our obligations are as mentioned earlier under the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the International Code for the Security of Ships and of Port Facilities. 
I want to read the purpose of the bill and then go on and build from there. As stated in the explanatory notes the purpose of this bill is to establish in New Zealand a maritime security framework that will reduce the risk of security incidents affecting merchant ships or port facilities particularly those used in international trade. In doing so the bill enables New Zealand to fulfil its obligations under a new international agreement for maritime security. It is a shame that we as a country do not live in a benign strategic environment. It is a shame that this country needs to get itself in line with this international agreement. 
Obviously this bill is one of three pieces of legislation being brought to the House to address security problems and the problems we have had over the last few years as a global community. The reason that New Zealand First supports this bill to the select committee is that we pride ourselves as a strong law and order party. We also pride ourselves as a strong security party and that is one reason that my leader the Rt Hon Winston Peters and many other members of my caucus often speak out about the immigration problems we have in this country and some of the problems they lead to as far as crime and security breaches are concerned. 
New Zealand First will always support good legislation and oppose bad legislation. In saying that we do not agree with everything in this legislation. We are open to sending it to the select committee but we want to look at the different costs involved. I note that the United States—and I looked at it before John Key talked about it—is spending $29.8 billion on homeland security. That is a massive amount of money to spend but once again it shows how important homeland security is. Beyond a shadow of doubt the United States is in an environment that causes it to be on edge and to make sure that it does everything possible in terms of its security—especially after the 11 September terror attacks by the al-Qaeda network initiated by people like Osama bin Laden. The United States has every right to be on edge and to put as many resources as absolutely possible into making sure that not only are its airports secure and safe but also its ports. 
A few years ago I worked for the airlines in the United States— 
Darren Hughes 
: Which one? 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: I worked for Continental Airlines. I remember walking through airports with the pilots on some days and saying: “What an absolute joke the security screening is.” People were being paid something like $5.20 an hour— 
Simon Power 
: US dollars though! 
CRAIG McNAIR 
: Yes but they had to pay for health benefits and everything else in case they had a crash or something like that. At that time security screening was an absolute joke. I remember saying to pilots and other crew members how ridiculous it was to see how little money resources and time were being spent on security. As we all know that obviously led to the shameful and disgraceful attacks on the twin towers. Security was so lenient and that is what we have to address in this bill. In the same way that members of the al-Qaeda network got on to American Airlines and United Airlines 767 and 757 planes we have to ask how this bill will address the problems of people like that planting bombs on ships and other security breaches in respect of ships and the maritime industry. A lot of issues need to be raised here. 
Bill read a first time.