Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee Third Reading 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill (No 2) — In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:626;Page:21657] 
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Labour—Mana) 
: 
 Kia ora talofa lava and warm Pacific greetings. I stand proudly not only as a member of this Labour-led Government but also as deputy chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee to support the third reading of the Terrorism Suppression Amendment Bill (No 2). 
While I am on my feet I would like to express my appreciation to the Hon Phil Goff the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and also more important to his chief legal adviser and to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Justice and to the 13 submitters who took the time to participate with their submissions. I also want to thank the Hon Peter Dunne the chairperson of our Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee and all my parliamentary colleagues including Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith and the Green member Keith Locke. Our select committee worked hard to address the complexity of these issues. I also thank others who have participated in the final stages of this debate and who support this very important legislation. 
I also feel very positive that the statutory review of the Terrorism Suppression Act conducted by our select committee will provide a suitable forum for all stakeholders to engage in addressing some of the complexities and issues like those that Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith has raised. That report is due back at the end of the year. 
This bill needs to be seen in context not in isolation. It is an element of a range of policies and programmes that this Labour Government has strengthened and supported by including increased funding in this year’s Budget for overseas development aid fairer and freer trade and defence and security—and we now have this legislation. All these initiatives work to address root causes of terrorism and to stop terrorism. 
The human rights theme was also evident throughout the deliberations of the select committee. I want to quote the link between human rights and the bill because it is an important one. The world’s human rights institutions’ joint statement declared in Seoul in 2004 stated: “Terrorism has a devastating impact on the full range of human rights most directly the right to life and personal security.” Our own Chief Human Rights Commissioner affirms that the role of the State is to protect its citizens and all of those within its borders from such violence. This is why we need the legal framework in place to further support terrorism suppression and why the passing of this terrorism amendment bill is another way to stamp out terrorism so as to protect our citizens and the citizens of the world. 
In summary at the time the original bill was first introduced there was uncertainty as to the nature and extent of the terrorism phenomenon. An assumption that some designations might be short-lived has since proved to be false and New Zealand now has over 420 designated terrorist organisations all on the United Nations security list and is considering adding more groups to that list. The bill also proposes extending two sections of the Act that prohibit the financing of terrorism acts and of designated terrorist entities so that they also cover the intentional financing of non-designated terrorist organisations. Given the fluidity of terrorist movements and the unpredictable emergence of new terrorist groups this change is the most practical way of ensuring that New Zealand will always remain compliant with international obligations prohibiting the funding of terrorist organisations. 
New Zealand although small has a critical role to play as a leader in the Pacific region and as a participant in the Asian region and must always be vigilant act consistent with its principles and remain pragmatic and compliant with international obligations prohibiting the funding of terrorist organisations and of all of those who fund and support their actions. The Terrorism Suppression Act has strengthened New Zealand’s ability to combat terrorism. Terrorism has become the greatest threat to the world’s peace prosperity and security. Our collaborative and concerted local national regional and international effort is needed on all fronts including addressing the root causes of terrorism. United we stand; divided we fall. The effective targeting of terrorist financing is a measure that can have potentially significant impact on the ability of terrorists to operate. In plain language we can identify or imagine what life must be like for them without money or an economic base. In passing this bill New Zealand continues to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to stop terrorism in all its forms in our global world.