Ross Jami-Lee: Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeRoss Jami-Lee: Countering Terrorist Fighters Legislation Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 25 November 2014. Volume:702;Page:808. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]JAMI-LEE ROSS (National—Botany):It is a shame that an issue like this has descended into the hyperbole and the naked politicking that we have seen in the last few speeches. It is true that this is an unusual step that the House is looking to take—to reduce the report-back period down to a week—but this extraordinary step is being taken because this is an extraordinary issue that our country and the world is facing.There is going to be an opportunity for New Zealanders to have a say on this bill. I have confidence in the chairmanship of Mark Mitchell to ensure that New Zealanders will get a fair hearing on this bill. I also have confidence in the Opposition members who sit on the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee: Mr Goff Mr Shearer and Dr Graham. They are capable members and they are able to listen to New Zealanders and make constructive assessments as to the merits of this bill.The very reason why a shortened report-back period is being considered here by this House is that we are facing a situation in the world that we do not face very often. It is not a case of us being able to wait months and months. The normal report-back period is 6 months. We simply cannot do our part in the world if we are to wait that long. It is a case where waiting even weeks could be too long. The Government is very clear: we need to take decisive action. We are expected by our electors to take decisive action and that is exactly what is happening here. The time that the select committee will be sitting over the next week will be a good opportunity for New Zealanders to have a say but we do not take this action very lightly. We do this because this is such an important issue.I find it interesting that Mr Hipkins first talked about trying to get this done before the House rises for the Christmas break and then he went on to say that despite the fact that the Labour Party supports trying to get it done before the Christmas break it now wants to see the bill not be reported back until February. We see words like “arrogance” used by New Zealand First which is pretty sad given that it is very important that we take to New Zealanders a bipartisan approach on such important issues.These are extraordinary issues. These are important matters that this bill is dealing with and I think New Zealanders deserve to know in a timely manner what the position of this Parliament is when it comes to these issues and we can achieve that properly through the select committee process over the next week. It can be done. It will be done properly. There are good quality members sitting on either side of the House who sit on that select committee.Denis O’Rourke: How can it be done properly in 1 week?JAMI-LEE ROSS: Mr O’Rourke is not a member of that committee of course. We will do a good job on this bill and I have confidence in the select committee to get it done properly for New Zealanders so that we can do our bit in the world on this very important issue.