Waititi Rawiri; Bayly AndrewRAWIRI WAITITI (Co-Leader—Te Pāti Māori): Oh fine choice. Thank you very much. I rise for the first time in the committee of the whole House stage. I just also acknowledge the Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing for his attention I think during the speeches and also during this committee stage. Ngā mihi nui ki a koe.What we do know Minister is that this bill would adversely impact Māori Pasifika and vulnerable Pākehā communities. So a question is: which small Māori businesses has he consulted? There are 21000 Māori-run businesses here in Aotearoa and I'd just like to know if you've consulted one around this particular issue.I think that it's insulting to say that small businesses wouldn't know how to navigate through a particular process. I think that's insulting when you know these are intelligent professionals who are able to start a business and contribute. You said the Government contributes to 33 percent of this country's economy; 29 percent—over a quarter of New Zealand's GDP—is contributed by small businesses. So we've got to ask the question because that is a huge amount: over a quarter of the country's GDP is actually contributed by small business.So I just want to know which of these small businesses—and in particular Māori and Pasifika small businesses—has the Minister consulted to ensure that this bill helps those particular businesses to survive. Unfortunately 35 percent of companies year on year are filing for liquidation. Why? It's because they're not paid on time. Four months is a long time for any small business to wait. Like I said in one of my speeches it impacts on those who have to pay the bills on those who have to feed their whānau and on those who have to fill their vehicles.So the other question I have for the Minister is: how can he give assurance or security to those vulnerable communities and especially those firms that employ Māori Pasifika and vulnerable Pākehā people that they'll be able to pay their bills on time? That's what the impact is of this bill: it's not just small businesses but the impact of those who work for those small businesses. If there is no mechanism to hold big corporations to pay on time how does the Government ensure that those corporations pay on time? This gives them a back door out—it actually gives them a back door out. So I want to know: you've taken this mechanism out what is the mechanism that this Government is going to use to ensure that those companies pay those small businesses and those whānau who are working for those businesses on time and those who own those businesses are able to pay those who work for those businesses but also that those who are working for those small businesses are able to pay the bills feed the whānau put petrol in their car pay their medical bills?We're in a financial crisis at the moment in terms of it's really really difficult for our whānau out there at this particular time. This bill puts more pressure on those whānau. It's going to put more pressure on small businesses. So those are some of the questions that I ask the Minister. I respect the Minister. I look forward to the answers to those questions.Hon ANDREW BAYLY (Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing): Thank you Madam Chair. Thank you to the member Rawiri Waititi for those kind words. Just on the issue of failure of companies there are many reasons why nine out of 10 businesses fail over 10 years and a lot of it is due to undercapitalised businesses simply not having enough capital. A lot of it is to do with the fact of poor management and the way they market their companies. The reasons are varied. So to attribute it always to late payment is not actually correct. But I take your point. Late payment can affect businesses and cash flow is the lifeblood of any business and so I acknowledge that. That's why I'm very conscious of dealing with that specific issue. I think what we're proposing is actually a much more practical approach to actually getting a better outcome.In terms of Māori businesses I recently had dinner with some Pacific and Māori business leaders and the member might be interested to know that I have reestablished the ministerial small-business advisory group. I've had 40 people to a meeting three weeks ago and I've got another meeting with them I think the week after next where I'm actually seeking the view of many people from across the small-business sector whether they're in tourism whatever sector they are they are being represented and I'm asking these sorts of questions of them because I want to make sure that when we're responding as the Government to the issues we're responding to the needs that small businesses have identified not some Minister sitting in the chair opining on it and coming up with a view and imposing $3 billion worth of additional regulatory cost which we saw over the last six years.