Sio William: Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Sio William: Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 27 June 2012. Volume:681;Page:3444. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO (Labour—Mangere) 
: 
 Malo le soifua i lau afioga le fofoga fetalai. Let me begin by saying some preliminary comments about the context that leads up to this bill the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill. There has been quite a lot of debate this week about the asset sales public servants losing jobs and having to do more and more for less and less and the proposed $1 billion cut from the Public Service which is going to put a lot of pressure on people— 
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think you know where I am going with this. This has got nothing to do with this bill this context that he is going down. He is obviously making some political statements about events unrelated to this bill. I suggest the member comes back to the bill. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Although the member is technically correct the member often is allowed a little bit of leeway in making counter-objections to previous speakers. But I am sure that the member is coming closer to the bill. 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO 
: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker. I was bringing in the context of what is happening in the community. People are unemployed and people are being squeezed left right and centre. So what I am saying is that given that context the context to this bill is that people are suffering under this Government’s leadership. [ 
Interruption 
] With job losses—absolutely. All that this Government has been able to come up with is the sale of State assets. When I look at this bill the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill I have to say that I agree with Amy Adams and I agree with Michael Woodhouse bringing this bill forward. When you consider the wider community who are suffering as a result of this Government I am hopeful that this bill will give some light and support to the wider community. [ 
Interruption 
]  
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: Oh come on be charitable you guys. 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO 
: I am trying to be charitable. It has been my experience that in communities such as Mangere communities such as in Manukau and in South Auckland those who are suffering the most under this Government often contribute the most to charities. It could be $5 it could be $10 or it could be $20 but those people in Mangere South Auckland and Manukau consistently contribute to charities year in and year out. Admittedly we could have a family out in Remuera in the leafy suburbs who contribute $1000 in a year probably. But what is $1000 if you have $50 million in the bank account? For people who are struggling to make ends meet a $5 $10 or $20 contribution is a significant amount. Most people who make that kind of contribution expect that that $5 goes directly to those charities to those people who are seeking the donation. That has been our expectation. All I am saying—and I know the members opposite do not like that—is that I acknowledge Amy Adams for bringing in this legislation. It also makes you wonder why this bill is not a Government bill because it just goes against the grain of doing something that benefits the community. I am saying that I am particularly pleased that this particular bill does now enable the full disclosure of how people’s donations are spent. It is of concern when you see that 25 percent of the money donated to charities is kept by those who are raising the funds. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: More. 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO 
: Or more—more in those cases. I am hopeful that this bill does provide some confidence to communities such as ours who regularly donate a huge percentage of their income. You have to look at the fact that they are earning less and less since this Government has come into power so $5 $10 or $20 is a significant amount. 
I want to say that I also share the concerns raised by the New Zealand First member Denis O’Rourke and in particular with the new clause 28A. I am glad that it seems that this bill compared with when it was first put in has been completely rewritten by the Commerce Committee. I note that my colleague Lianne Dalziel was the chair of that committee a wonderful chair and no doubt it was probably because of her leadership that we have had this bill completely rewritten. 
I am also concerned that the committee received submissions from large charities that as I read the report seemed to oppose this particular bill— 
Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga 
: Did you read the report? 
Su’a WILLIAM SIO 
: —unlike members on the other side who just follow blindly Mr Key and do not read that when they sell those State assets; they are actually selling Aotearoa and the rest of the future for our young people. So it concerns me that large charities reputable charities submitted against the bill. For me I think it is important that this bill passes to try to give confidence to those people who are contributing to charities. 
I am also wondering about the regulation-making powers in this bill. I am pleased to see that regulations can be made by Order in Council on the recommendation of the Minister of Consumer Affairs but I am wondering why that particular Minister is still sitting on his hands and has not done anything about the loan sharks that National has continued to say that it would do something about. 
 So although I am appreciative of the bill I do still say that it should have been a Government bill. But I know how difficult it would have been for this Government to bring a bill that would support communities because the track record of this Government so far has been to kick the community in the guts and not give a damn. The Government has consistently lived a pattern of making promises that it could not deliver and had no intention of delivering. Take for example the 170000 jobs that it promised—none of that promise was kept at all. 
I recommend to this House the Fair Trading (Soliciting on Behalf of Charities) Amendment Bill and commend Amy Adams for having the courage to proceed with this bill despite any opposition that the Government may have had. Thank you very much.