"\u003C!DOCTYPE html\u003E\u003Chtml xmlns:xlink=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink\u0022 xmlns:xsi=\u0022http://www.w3.org/2007/XMLSchema-instance\u0022 xmlns:mml=\u0022http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Chead\u003E\n    \u003CMETA http-equiv=\u0022Content-Type\u0022 content=\u0022text/html; charset=utf-16\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cmeta name=\u0022viewport\u0022 content=\u0022width=device-width, initial-scale=1\u0022\u003E\n  \u003C/head\u003E\n  \u003Cbody style=\u0022font-family:sans-serif; font-size:100%;\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002280144d8c1b834c4ab623a320be41ad8f\u0022\u003ETuesday, 18 December 2007\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00223bc4f357997e417b86dcdd899f47576d\u0022\u003ETuesday, 18 December 2007\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000002\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00228a5d8d0a75ae4812ba9938de2361a1ef\u0022\u003EAppointments\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bb32a6d89e4d47c1a968f355444a277d\u0022\u003EClerk of the House of Representatives\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022 data-id=\u0022f3442f7746ac42d09eb37362e8fb7983\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f3442f7746ac42d09eb37362e8fb7983\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am pleased to advise the House that, pursuant to section 7 of the Clerk of the House of Representatives Act 1988, His Excellency the Governor-General has appointed Mary Winifred Harris as the Clerk of the House of Representatives for a term commencing on 10 December 2007. [Applause]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022e021a44e09c24c9e8b9b5d7d549330dd\u0022\u003EQuestions for Oral Answer\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022617bc25109c34f41a72fea8218ebb73a\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c81f30765c8f43d2829bc2642050050f\u0022\u003EElectoral Finance Bill\u2014Prime Minister\u2019s Comments\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022695c037471e94ae2993128e35e27dc9b\u0022\u003E1. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she still stand by her statement, when asked how she expects well-intentioned, honest, ordinary New Zealanders to understand the Electoral Finance Bill, that \u201COne expects people to read it carefully and to consult lawyers\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022 data-id=\u00229902f01241304f6dbfb974085d7037c4\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229902f01241304f6dbfb974085d7037c4\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, if they expect to spend big money like the member does on electioneering.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae4b6b69e4c143adb028717a6af0fc0f\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister accept that what constitutes an electoral advertisement is so unclear and so highly debatable that groups opposed to Government policies are going to be told by their lawyers to shut up completely over the whole of the election year; and is that not exactly what the Government wanted all the way along, to silence its critics?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1dc588434104f0a909b5054960fd07c\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: No; and no.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260a18c721cf84dd0bbfdf33faa1fb72b\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: Why is it her Government\u2019s policy that for someone like Tim Shadbolt to spend $300,000 in January next year using the slogan \u201CBring down the Government\u201D will constitute a corrupt practice in the law, for which Mr Shadbolt could lose his mayoralty, be sent to prison for up to 2 years, and be fined up to $100,000?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f24ed7b9479642cd94b755367ae9ff98\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I am sure that when Mayor Tim is more fully acquainted with the facts, there will be no such need.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200fac663ecf54a0d97f9d96e1d5f2215\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: Why will Tim Shadbolt not be subject to the law this Government is going to pass this afternoon, which quite clearly says that if someone, as a third party, spends over $120,000 in the electoral period using the slogan \u201CBring down the Government\u201D\u2014which the Electoral Commission has already indicated would mean the Labour Government\u2014that person would be in breach of the law; and maybe the person who does not understand the law is not Tim Shadbolt but is actually the Prime Minister?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222b10d049744d4894af7e32682d9691b8\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: I would hope that the Leader of the Opposition would be advising people to follow the law, not dodge it as he did with regard to the Exclusive Brethren.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022871e9ff55534479e961c8384f95cce6a\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: Well, is that not exactly the point: if Mr Shadbolt follows the law he can spend $120,000, and if he spends more than $120,000 he will be subject to a fine of $40,000, will potentially go to jail for 2 years, and will lose his mayoralty; and is that because the Government cannot hack criticism any more?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232d4109c43c04296b50b42f4e1b5b124\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: The National Party managed to exceed the allowable limit last time and, as far as I can see, the Leader of the Opposition is not in jail.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002220cda74558c349eb96b41d0564d087ba\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: If the Prime Minister wants New Zealanders to have freedom of speech, and if she is happy for people like Tim Shadbolt to run their cases in the court of public opinion, why is she going to have legislation passed this afternoon that will limit Tim Shadbolt\u2019s campaign to $120,000 or less\u2014and she should not shake her head, because she knows that that is the truth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b9cb7dc97e346f8846875fe0bdd7c3c\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: What I know about the truth is that Tim Shadbolt can run as many issues as he likes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000023\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002244891ea600d9487680aeefcc490d915d\u0022\u003EMetiria Turei\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister agree that any concerns held by the community about campaign finance law reform are best resolved by a wide-ranging, open, and primarily democratic process of review?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eca20175625a47318b05acd153da5bcc\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: As the member knows, it is the Government\u2019s intention, supported by the Greens and New Zealand First, I understand, and by United Future, to have a review of campaign funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d94e4d8126bb4453baf8a045ce970b99\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: Where has this country got to, when a blind vendetta led by her Government sees somebody like Tim Shadbolt, a man standing up for his community, potentially being packed off to jail; and is that the reason this Government is increasingly becoming so unpopular that even its own supporters do not like it any more?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dfeb9eee7be14853a9ad4e29bcb3c6bd\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: If the Leader of the Opposition wants to give the Mayor of Invercargill some advice, he should please tell him that he can spend as much as he likes on issues advertising. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a66051f4af87479990247a27e8dce262\u0022\u003EJohn Key\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Prime Minister explain, then, why Mr Shadbolt will not be in breach of the law if next year he spends in excess of $120,000 on a campaign where his advertisements are headed with the slogan \u201CBring down the Government\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b77f753fe58a49988e413701688f0b54\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: If Mayor Tim sticks to the issues, he will be within the law.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a65800a4167a4b25a09d304c0aa91f2e\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Madam Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0b98bf6363c46f1baf708c676f32c01\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Pay it back.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd90ba539df04609aaeac888aef352e1\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: You can pay the GST back now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022727f1890b53542159ae6b188d764bc56\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: I did.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f61b4554e92144c190a97794ea2a5073\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: No, you did not, and the Inland Revenue Department should be prosecuting you. The Inland Revenue Department should be prosecuting you, because you have not paid it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e36eeab3d0fc4bd0b94596ce11833985\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Would the member please be seated; I am on my feet. This cross-chat across the Chamber leads to disorder. Would the member please just ask his supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289225942416b4397a66836d42852e0b0\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I am very happy to\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab07f0c513a14968b45c1373d4ad212a\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Do you support Tim Shadbolt?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b7e32719ced4809b520b472be7e7e09\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I have just said that that sort of behaviour leads to disorder. I will be asking members to leave the House if it happens again.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e763de681d8046b4b0da817b579e0280\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Which division of law covers the issue of free speech: the electoral law, or the censorship, copyright, and defamation laws of this country; which of the two divisions are we talking about when we talk about free speech in New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228ff55f5e-9237-45e2-8e15-24228a10320e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ef833ab520640bcbbab201021758395\u0022\u003ERt Hon HELEN CLARK\u003C/span\u003E: What the electoral law talks about is paid speech. The National Party, with its secret donors and trusts, wants to be able to spend whatever it likes in order to buy an election, as Mr Key tried to do last time with the Exclusive Brethren.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d38ac853638849dfb4923790c4f39684\u0022\u003EPaediatric Oncology Service\u2014Wellington Hospital\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3f0cf0c0dd042c79c91f6bf4b6e1ca0\u0022\u003EBARBARA STEWART (NZ First)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: Can he assure the House that a decision on the future of Wellington\u2019s paediatric oncology service will be reached today and that the matter will not be subject to further time-wasting reviews?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022 data-id=\u0022edffb894ccb643dbb6b3119c0c8f3a6f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022edffb894ccb643dbb6b3119c0c8f3a6f\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Health: I am pleased to inform the House that the management of the Canterbury District Health Board and the Capital and Coast District Health Board have today reached an agreement on the delivery of paediatric oncology services. This agreement will now go before the boards for formal ratification. The full announcement of details will be made at 4 o\u2019clock today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225bcbdbe44411463e86fd824228dcd545\u0022\u003EBarbara Stewart\u003C/span\u003E: Is it true that the provision of other specialist services at Wellington, such as paediatric neurology and paediatric surgery, are also under review; if so, when will these reviews be completed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223933c0c0746e4a81a6f8215e379d9918\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: I have no advice on that, but I can say to the member and to the House that managers and clinicians from both boards believe that, in this case, one joint service will be better than two smaller units, making better use of resources and expertise, and that collaboration between the boards in setting up the new service has been positive and could offer a new way of working for all other small, specialist services.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220caf35cd5d4e4811a3e6d966551ca135\u0022\u003ESue Kedgley\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister believe that the majority of New Zealanders would prefer to have a $10 per week tax cut or fully functioning paediatric, neurology, oncology, and other health services for children?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296451d7a35c84041ba0877a2d91f03bd\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: Most of the surveys I have seen and most of the personal conversations one has with people would indicate that the priority is for high-quality services such as health and education.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226adf9bf571774ef99a714b9b5075273b\u0022\u003EHon Peter Dunne\u003C/span\u003E: In the event that the announcement this afternoon is for a single service located on the Christchurch campus, what advice has he received about patients coming from the lower end of the North Island, the period of travel time involved, and the impact on their medication as they travel south for treatment in Christchurch?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228334cedb51f040a79557b6d0d0251164\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: I cannot give the member that detail; I understand that it will be announced at 4 o\u2019clock. But my impression from the reports I have had late in the afternoon is that there will be a service administered in Wellington.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1aae3256c5f4e238c0fc7245da0a4f0\u0022\u003EBarbara Stewart\u003C/span\u003E: Would he agree that children who require such specialist services do not have the luxury of having time on their side, and can he assure their families that treatment will be available immediately, if not in Wellington, then in Christchurch or Auckland?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227df8fd5794b64efea5c7d76430863d8e\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: The full details of timing will be given this afternoon, at 4 o\u2019clock\u2014and I am not privy to them\u2014and they have to be ratified between now and then by boards. But I can say that I know that the previous Minister and the current Minister have pressed very vigorously for this high-quality service. I expect that that will be the service that is implemented.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220daaf9fb-1a1f-4d31-848a-fd13cb1a2c5a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225031806d169b48409f3fb2dd724278d6\u0022\u003EBarbara Stewart\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Government increase funding for travel and accommodation for the parents and siblings of affected children who have to travel to other centres for treatment; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223944fe5ec07455f8c73ffebe23d5701\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: My experience in the health system is that where it is necessary for patients to travel to another district health board area for services that have been approved, the travel is funded by the district health board.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00225fe5c1b914314e3dba59d5a455870d9c\u0022\u003EElectoral Finance Bill\u2014Consequences of Overspending\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223e740b5d6a7043929485bed2cf82e678\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader\u2014National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Justice: Is it the Government\u2019s policy that any person who knowingly spends more than $120,000 in an election year encouraging people not to vote for the Government should be liable for imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of up to $100,000?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022 data-id=\u002289a09e1879a64e66bd5e516e57ed1ca3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002289a09e1879a64e66bd5e516e57ed1ca3\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E Any person who knowingly breaks any law must be prepared to face the consequences.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a37cc67b0d04b1d93671dfaa1a6bc5c\u0022\u003ERodney Hide\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I ask you to rule on whether the Minister has addressed that question, which was put down on notice. It is an important issue for the debate to be held later today, for all the parties in this House. I suggest to you that that answer was a bit light, because it could be an answer to any particular question about any particular law, when the question was quite specific.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224814a89d7d744fbdb498093893669261\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think the Minister did address the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222048b8b55c345afb762ce4a484f627b\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Is it the Government\u2019s policy that any person who intends to spend over $12,000 in an election year on publicity that could be construed as political advertising must register as a third party, appoint a financial agent, and meet a number of other requirements, and if that person does not do that, then he or she will also be liable for imprisonment of up to 2 years and a fine of $100,000?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b684575b6ca43b08835fa6c6a84a515\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f958ffd07d564e638fd2769a88fc8803\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister confirm that if Southland interests want to continue their campaign of criticism of the Government policy for the funding of polytechs, then they will be bound to register as a third party if they intend to run one more advertisement after 1 January, because the threshold is in fact $12,000 of spending?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b72a37c7750847268a621b323f343313\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: If Southland and Mayor Tim wish to undertake advertising and stick with the issues, none of this will apply to them, any more than it would apply to their saying do not privatise accident compensation, do not privatise the roads, do not privatise our prisons, do not privatise our schools\u2014all of which are National Party policy. As long as they stick with the issues, they are not covered.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280bc714086554a16b598a76828be4d15\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware that if the police suspect that Southland interests are going to spend over $12,000 and are not registered as a third party, then the police have powers under the Electoral Finance Bill to search the Invercargill City Council or Mr Shadbolt\u2019s home to find evidence of whether they have broken the law?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022120594959a0d47b696d12e9344ed770a\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I do not believe that Mayor Tim or his council would be so silly as to get themselves in that situation. They will stick with the issues. I suggest that the member should stop scaremongering.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ae5af76a8eec49ec8127723322028eac\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister intend to read the bill, or to advise the Prime Minister to read the bill, where it defines a political advertisement as any form of words that encourages voters to vote for or against a party by reference to views, positions, or policies, which would certainly include a campaign that refers to the Government and criticises its policy over funding polytechs, thereby making Southland interests liable to up to 2 years\u2019 imprisonment and a fine of $100,000, even if they are spending only $12,000?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bfe042c427a841e493ba77c4596510ab\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Both the Prime Minister and I have read the bill. I can say to the member\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228d0114110a7e43c3974342515eea9ecf\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s about time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f7b7fd865dd649109deac278f889bb87\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, \u201CMr Nasty\u201D!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022051fa3c32032471aa861dc3da3b52806\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Be seated, please! This is the last warning. I do not care whether you are on the front bench of either side of the House, you will be asked to leave. Would the Minister please just stick to the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c1bbb71293c0430bb0849fdc20291723\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I am very happy to. Both the Prime Minister and I have read the bill. I say to the member that the Electoral Commission will be charged with making decisions on whether publications by third parties fall into the definition of an election advertisement, not Mr English and not me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226807288582f4b1fbc73c7e7cd628678\u0022\u003EHon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E: Is it the Government\u2019s policy that the definition of an election advertisement is so wide and so uncertain, and that the liabilities for breaking the law are so severe, that they will have a chilling effect on criticism of the Government, and it will take brave leadership, such as that of Mayor Tim Shadbolt, to run a campaign against the Government in an election year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f89ed3ce19043098a783e069bd01858\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214f4784e00d0408fbc2428d999e7e342\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: What is the special feature of this law that suggests that in the 3 months out from an election the activity would be legal\u2014and, therefore, within the electoral law of this country\u2014and soundly placed, but if it is in the 9 or 10 months before an election, it is somehow wrongly placed; what is the special feature that gets it from one position, which the National Party supports, to one that it does not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220afb6fe4f915482a9536196d2d25feda\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: It is a simple matter of a large amount of money that the National Party intended to spend, pretending that it would not have influenced the vote before the 3 months were up but would have influenced it after the 3 months. That is the nonsense we have had from the National Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c36e7a252a13416fba7f7ce3543553f6\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Just to get this clear, is the Minister saying that if an activity was undertaken in, say, next September, for a November election, then it would be OK, but, under the National Party interpretation, if it happened in April it would not be OK; what is the special feature about that, which is so much a matter of angst in the Opposition ranks today?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef9e9a7d69d6430fb890d91342bb0d4d\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: That is a very good question; it goes right to the heart of this debate. The answer is that the National Party had planned to spend a lot of money between January and September\u2014and therefore not counting in terms of an election\u2014but once it got to the magical 3 months it would spend in that period, and say that was OK. Everyone knows that was a nonsense.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0e9b2f326e04975bd1cad40be177c8f\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Notwithstanding which month the expenditure occurs in, is it a fact that in 2008 such expenditure will attract GST, and therefore must be paid?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225f16ae34aab54fabb6e06c2058a0e19a\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: We have explicitly put into the bill that the expenditure does incur GST. You see, the National Party did not pay it, and has not paid it, but we have made sure that it cannot make the mistake next time. It is in the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2cd64f99eb8462092165365f3207a81\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister of Justice\u2014seeing as she occupies that most distinguished and important role\u2014made submissions to the Minister of Revenue, because, clearly, the head of the Inland Revenue Department is not enforcing the law? If GST is outstanding, then legal action should have been taken against the National Party.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228aa14b75eb9240fa9f9b8a6f87074dce\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: No, I have not made such representations, but I suggest that maybe the member, having raised the issue in front of the Minister of Revenue, might like to take it up with him.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002285453a7c3b404530b109a43efc85659f\u0022\u003ETreaty of Waitangi\u2014Settlement Progress\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002225c22a83-ff2c-474c-a092-883be2dd63d3\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230604c2128404c8c8b5cd2bc0528f032\u0022\u003EDAVE HEREORA (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: What recent progress has been made on Treaty of Waitangi settlements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u00228aa27f95a7764857b82f43128aa38799\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228aa27f95a7764857b82f43128aa38799\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations):\u003C/span\u003E Very good progress has been made. On Sunday an agreement in principle was signed with Waikato-Tainui relating to the tribe\u2019s Waikato River claim. Last week an agreement was signed in principle with the Port Nicholson Block Claims Team to settle all outstanding historical claims of Taranaki Wh\u0101nui (Wellington). The way in which we settle historical grievances in a peaceful and constructive way is something we should be proud of as a nation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002225c22a83-ff2c-474c-a092-883be2dd63d3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e0b1a028628f41f4a84edba6b4b0ea20\u0022\u003EDave Hereora\u003C/span\u003E: What other recent progress has been made in settling Treaty of Waitangi claims?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022276e82aa8e434352b83410268713141e\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: We have signed four agreements in principle in the last 6 months and we are due to sign another one this coming Saturday. Attempts are also being made to put together a comprehensive settlement to the central North Island forest claim. With each of these settlements we move forward, looking to the future to consolidate our gains, and take full advantage of our growing prosperity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283096d378b594e99bd0186786ad834ff\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Speaker. Kia ora t\u0101tou. What formal negotiations took place with other Waikato River iwi who have significant rights to the Waikato River when the Crown was reaching agreement with Waikato-Tainui?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022285414d1bb904c5ca2e71e77e7d7a81d\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Waikato-Tainui negotiators led a process that covered all other iwi with claims to the Waikato River. Agreement was arrived at in terms of structures that involve those iwi at crucial levels of the proposals. One part of the river where Waikato-Tainui have pretty much exclusive claims is dealt with separately in the settlement, but all those other iwi have been involved in the process in recent weeks.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295eee37768124bd5977f1eb892fb15df\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister consider that those discussions are sufficient enough to protect the interests of other Waikato River iwi?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265a5d0c45aa1455d920213669be2acb3\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I do. There has been very broad agreement, involving a meeting that I was at, as well. Of course, if any residual issues remain, they can be dealt with through the ongoing negotiations towards the deed of settlement and then in the process of the bill proceeding through the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ec266512-9fe8-47da-883e-48f046ee5059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002266a72c2219a94963a02901833ce8ae26\u0022\u003ETe Ururoa Flavell\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware of any concerns from any other Waikato River iwi that they have not been adequately consulted with and that their interests have not been protected in the agreement in principle; if so, what would he consider they should do to address that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279f96a7d57f849828fef9eec02baa7fc\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Any iwi with remaining concerns certainly can approach myself directly as the Minister, or the two lead negotiators for Waikato-Tainui, Tuku Morgan and Lady Raih\u0101 M\u0101huta. But I would suggest that one must not keep looking for some extremely small dissident group. One can find such groups anywhere, whether in P\u0101keh\u0101 or M\u0101ori, and they cannot stand in the way of the vast majority consenting to an agreed solution.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002253b1b2d0b2e94ddca0bc2be36e5c35ab\u0022\u003EEnvironment, Ministry\u2014Curran Appointment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5ab59df7d28483cb255b2fe755bd16a\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Justice: When will the State Services Commission publicly release its investigation into the engagement of Clare Curran by the Ministry for the Environment?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022 data-id=\u00220343aa17761041d38a817e6cec1ab93e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220343aa17761041d38a817e6cec1ab93e\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E When the report is completed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223164c011aa2f445db19b81b0000b7b57\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Has the Minister seen a draft of the report; if so, does it detail evidence from the Hon David Parker and from the former Minister David Benson-Pope; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022555f5ac2e5144daabbab3c4ac7577cea\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: No, I have not seen a draft of the report.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5e0e7ed16e040f8ab98671f00a2c21c\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware of whether the State Services Commission has heard evidence from Heather Simpson, or any other ministerial staff, to determine the role of the Labour Government in the appointment of Clare Curran by the Ministry for the Environment; if not, why not?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222a3fcb6961ed43898b5ad4ea2acf84c3\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: No.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ee244ba4d96940f8968083b9460d527c\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Is it true that the Labour Government has required that this report is not released while the House is sitting and is determined to have this report released right under the eve of Christmas in order to avoid the sort of scrutiny that it should come under?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002232f3c6c01894463e8395d8cf8f5711b8\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: No, and I quote back to the member his own comments he made on Radio Live on 5 December: \u201CWe expect a factual document to get right to the heart of it, and I think we have got to give Mr Rennie and those who are putting the report together a bit of space.\u201D That is what they have got. We have not seen the report. The Government has not received it, and we have not had input into it in the way the member is implying.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ba8b30aa6ed841408b3a9ac2bb408223\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: Does it concern the Minister that at the time I made my statements Mr Rennie had been on the job for quite some time, and, in fact, had indicated that this would be a report that took perhaps 2 or 3 weeks, but it is now well over that time, and it therefore looks very much as though this Government has decided that this report will not see the light of day while there is likely to be severe scrutiny of it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002242d5a837fcfd4f4cadf4176de7818792\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: No. The terms of reference for this inquiry were released by the State Services Commission just over 3 weeks ago on 23 November. I am told there are a number of people who needed to be interviewed, and the State Services Commission wanted time to interview, and complete the report\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298121038dcd244399773f6e3f0d2fb9a\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re hiding it!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ede9361064a746a5a2207aea0a88cb85\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take great exception to that interjection from the member. It goes right to the heart of my integrity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222090d4d8af5145469b8336630af0156b\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is the member asking for the member to withdraw that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228558297d95b47f0a62128386e13a0f7\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING\u003C/span\u003E: I certainly am asking him to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aed139b694e844ceb4016f4b88df8b16\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002257d6509c46d743eab21a9ed90a123dc5\u0022\u003ETertiary Education\u2014Funding\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c45684c6-7137-45b3-b30c-46206236e88b\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022df16ae276a3748c89ef1d9e053012312\u0022\u003ELESLEY SOPER (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Tertiary Education: What recent reports has he received on tertiary education funding?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022 data-id=\u002265c56c8235a048b1a8056aedb4e58b94\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002265c56c8235a048b1a8056aedb4e58b94\u0022\u003EHon PETE HODGSON (Minister for Tertiary Education):\u003C/span\u003E I have seen many, many reports. Last Friday the Tertiary Education Commission published its investment plans for eight universities, 20 polytechs, 38 industry training organisations, three w\u0101nanga, and dozens of private training organisations. This marks a major change in the way tertiary education is funded in this country. Public comment to date has been very positive indeed, although members will note that the Mayor of Invercargill is troubled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c45684c6-7137-45b3-b30c-46206236e88b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e79571b002444551a237180d7faa7cdd\u0022\u003ELesley Soper\u003C/span\u003E: Why is Mayor Tim Shadbolt troubled, and would the Minister care to comment on his meeting with representatives from the Southern Institute of Technology earlier today?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa6779067c9e4b549ed9afd5ce53dc0e\u0022\u003EHon PETE HODGSON\u003C/span\u003E: Mayor Tim Shadbolt thinks that we are cutting the out of region provision of distance learning too hard, when, in fact, we are investing to about the same extent next year as we were last year. Furthermore, the Tertiary Education Commission has decided to increase provision\u2014listen to that\u2014in Southland by 12 percent. That decision is not covered in the media and is not to be found on the airwaves, but everyone seems to think it is a good thing. As for the meeting with those from the Southern Institute of Technology, I think they would say it was a good one and an honest one. However, honest differences remain, and I see we need to build more trust between the Government and the Southern Institute of Technology than exists at present to better resolve issues, and we will do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfdabe42-521a-4dca-afab-3e781731a130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022273af00634d34d8a8faac59afc3eb262\u0022\u003EDr Paul Hutchison\u003C/span\u003E: Is rebel Cabinet Minister Damien O\u2019Connor going to be punished for contradicting Government policy when he told the Sunday Star-Times that provincial polytechs should be able to offer courses outside their regions, and why has the Minister punished four South Island polytechs serving rural areas\u2014the Southern Institute of Technology, Tai Poutini Polytechnic, Aoraki Polytechnic, and Telford Rural Polytechnic\u2014when all have offered quality, relevance, innovation, and value for money?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022486a85b240484cb3bd9990f953b65545\u0022\u003EHon PETE HODGSON\u003C/span\u003E: Changes for each of the polytechs have been happily negotiated; they are happy about them. Aoraki Polytechnic says it is happy. Telford Rural Polytechnic says it is happy. The Southern Institute of Technology is not happy because we reduced its out of region provision by more than it had anticipated. We are in discussion, differences remain, and it is really important that we get a better idea of one another\u2019s point of view. National\u2019s Southland MPs keep putting out press statements saying they are on to it, but I have yet to hear from either of them\u2014not one of them. Neither of them has rung me, written to me, or been in touch with the Tertiary Education Commission. They have not done anything except put out press statements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfdabe42-521a-4dca-afab-3e781731a130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265fbfd0180e34dde898c4be19a1b6e18\u0022\u003EDr Paul Hutchison\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the Southland Times article that states: \u201C\u2026 Lesley Soper has accused Southern Institute of Technology chief executive Penny Simmonds of \u2018game-playing\u2019 \u2026\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfdabe42-521a-4dca-afab-3e781731a130\u0022\u003EDocument not tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfdabe42-521a-4dca-afab-3e781731a130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb305301d3c647a48fcaff997b3f8fad\u0022\u003EDr Paul Hutchison\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the Tertiary Education Commission\u2019s report of 14 December, demonstrating that five rural polytechs are losing money.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfdabe42-521a-4dca-afab-3e781731a130\u0022\u003EDocument not tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cfdabe42-521a-4dca-afab-3e781731a130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222423ad0151ac4b17b604c12cac7cbeab\u0022\u003EDr Paul Hutchison\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the latest Sunday Star-Times, in which Damien O\u2019Connor contradicts his own Government\u2019s tertiary education policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022192eb4851f124231bdf8d9d097d26f1a\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Is there any objection? Yes, there is objection.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e9973436defd487d870192d3b6d2dc72\u0022\u003EEric Roy\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table 28 letters I have received from students who are gravely concerned about the restrictions of the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f4112fc5-c53f-4aa9-bf6d-5a05ce6252cf\u0022\u003EDocuments, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224793855aaf6a4d5e948cf673706de657\u0022\u003EHon Dr Michael Cullen\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table a copy of Mayor Tim\u2019s most famous book, which adequately sums up this entire issue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EDocument not tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00228b8db1e65c264e8a8e1269e15b50fa52\u0022\u003ECorrections, Department\u2014Confidence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279d08b1e351845fb8cdce4477240c42c\u0022\u003ESIMON POWER (National\u2014Rangitikei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Corrections: Does he have confidence in his department; if so, why?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022 data-id=\u00227713c6cbed9b409aa7f998d7b243c566\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227713c6cbed9b409aa7f998d7b243c566\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Corrections):\u003C/span\u003E Yes; much more so than I would have had when the department was underfunded and in crisis under the former National Government. Escapes are down to one-sixth of what they were under National. Drug taking has more than halved and effective action has been taken to secure prisons, provide effective programmes, and expand employment\u2014to name just a few improvements.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9503bd439844f54b5af0ce89f0872b3\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Why was it that trainee prison guards were able to twig that one of the other trainees had served jail time because she \u201Cknew a bit too much about prison\u201D, yet the Minister\u2019s department had no idea of that, at a time when there is a year-long inquiry into corruption amongst prison staff at Rimutaka Prison that has already seen 12 officers suspended\u2014and by the way, when is the report on that inquiry coming?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f6b6e159e364851b3818fcac75b37f8\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I guess one of the ironies of life is that the newspaper that ran that story had employed a journalist for a long time, and then subsequently found out he had been making up stories rather than doing interviews. Look, it is a sad fact of life that some people are very dishonest. That woman was dishonest. She changed her name, and she did not reveal, as she was required to, her criminal convictions. That matter was drawn to the attention of the Department of Corrections, which sacked the woman before she set foot back within a prison again. That could have happened to any Government department that follows the same lines as the Department of Corrections. The Department of Corrections behaved absolutely appropriately.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f253334f37cb44359035ad638ca7cb36\u0022\u003EDavid Benson-Pope\u003C/span\u003E: What progress has been made in reducing the level of serious assaults in prisons?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255174fea02bd4636bcf40001230cd1a9\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I was surprised to see a beat-up on Television One on Saturday night on prison assaults, when the facts, as given to the television channel, were that serious assaults are down by 69 percent on the rate that occurred a decade ago, and that New Zealand prisons have one of the best records in the world, notwithstanding the fact, of course, that the people we put in prison are often dangerous, violent offenders\u2014that is why they are there. Let me make one last comment. The corrections department is now recording every assault, however minor it is and even if it is alleged, with the help of 3,000 closed-circuit television cameras that have been put into prisons since 2001. So the department now knows exactly what is happening within the prisons.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022706cd23dc0454dfcb0b53e49fd1da884\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Why has it taken a coroner\u2019s hearing for corrections to reveal that it failed to pass on to the Parole Board genuine information that offending by Graeme Burton was occurring in prison and that his probation officer was overloaded with too many high-risk offenders for one person to manage, and for the department to admit, despite previous denials from Barry Matthews, that had it not lost a week then Karl Kuchenbecker may still be alive\u2014or does the Minister disagree with Paul Kuchenbecker\u2019s reported comments in the weekend\u2019s Dominion Post that they \u201Cmight [as well] have just pulled the trigger themselves.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022186943cff9544529ae6949c8cb4c4c3a\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I acknowledge that serious faults in both the Department of Corrections and the New Zealand Police led to Mr Kuchenbecker\u2019s death. I think that it is absolutely unfair to say that was a matter of intent on the part of the department. A bad mistake was made. But if the member wants to worry about Mr Burton, I will tell him P\u0101remoremo prison\u2019s security was so bad under the former National Government that Graeme Burton was one of the many prisoners who escaped from that prison. Nowadays nobody escapes from it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bce94fd8843548bbac93e8ba926a694a\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: What does he think of the former Minister of Justice who passed legislation through this House that allowed offenders to be paroled after serving only one-third of their sentences, which has meant that Peter McNamara will be freed after serving just over 2 years of a 7-year sentence, even though the Parole Board report indicates he has shown no remorse and continues to maintain that he is innocent?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296784495a9de4f14ad96d92d3a41dfa0\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: What I think of the former Minister of Justice is that there were a great many things that were extraordinarily beneficial in the Sentencing Act and the Parole Act. For example, somebody like Burton\u2014to use that example again\u2014would once have been given 7 years\u2019 and then 10 years\u2019 imprisonment. He is now serving for the whole of his natural life, as, indeed, William Bell is. I think the former Minister made a very wise decision when saying that safety needed to be the paramount consideration, because what happened under the National Government was that even if a prisoner was regarded as extraordinarily dangerous, the prison system was compelled to release that person at two-thirds of his or her sentence, regardless of the risk of reoffending. That risk is now the paramount consideration.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d39971b4c8664aef817360046f7002d9\u0022\u003EDavid Benson-Pope\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister aware of evidence of cellphones continuing to be smuggled into prisons and of their misuse; if so, what is being done to address that issue?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab5fba3a0f2349188a45f45f3520b416\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: Cellphones have been a serious problem. In fact, the overall use of telephones has been associated with the commission or organisation of crimes from within prison. Not only has the prison system cracked down on contraband\u2014I think that over the last 3 or 4 years it has probably quadrupled the amount of confiscated contraband\u2014but also it is now bringing in a cellphone jamming system that will be progressively implemented in every prison in the country, which will prevent that practice happening. Again, that is something that never happened under a National Government.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022803002d1-e810-4bd8-b8e7-2e97d0d6f626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225ab32915580544d2879f6c795eadbca7\u0022\u003ESimon Power\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the Minister claim in the House last week that the current prison muster of 7,828 is \u201Cpractically identical\u201D and \u201Ctracking very close to those predicted\u201D for December, when the Ministry of Justice has advised that it is actually 214 above the level forecast?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226148099150384def8b43a67184cd9fd4\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF\u003C/span\u003E: I have news for the member: not only is the prison muster tracking the level that was forecast very closely but it is now, actually, below the level forecast. The member is absolutely wrong in what he is saying, and he needs to put up the evidence instead of making opportunistic claims that very rarely ever see the light of day in terms of the evidence needed to back them up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cbe66d2f8f2747debd4830bec18ac0b2\u0022\u003ECapital and Coast District Health Board\u2014Ministerial Intervention\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ed9f4c30eeda4fd7ac962543c56d256d\u0022\u003EHon TONY RYALL (National\u2014Bay of Plenty)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: What was the \u201Cdirect ministerial intervention\u201D that the then chair of the Capital and Coast District Health Board sought to ensure did not arise again, as referred to in her letter to the Minister of 14 June 2007?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022 data-id=\u0022670e416aabf24492977ed321c3127ab5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022670e416aabf24492977ed321c3127ab5\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Health: The letter that the member is referring to, and does not quote fully, from the chair of Capital and Coast District Health Board to the Minister of Health, states: \u201CI am very appreciative of your decision\u201D\u2014that is the point that the member did not quote\u2014\u201Cbut at the same time determined to take steps to ensure that the need to seek direct ministerial intervention does not arise again.\u201D The chair of the Capital and Coast District Health Board was referring to support of its projected deficit, which at that time was around $11 million for 2007-08, and appears to be thanking the Minister, and the Government, for their help.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf5ec91ba1ee4f6988f5aa6bbcd39ed3\u0022\u003EHon Tony Ryall\u003C/span\u003E: Why was the Government prepared, 6 months ago, to act to approve a blowout in the Capital and Coast District Health Board deficit, but was not prepared to act to fix the problems at the district health board?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aecac5ab549f47f8bd73c935d558820b\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: The chair, at the time of writing that letter, did not wish to seek additional deficit support, but the Minister signalled that, if necessary, further deficit support would be provided. The Government has acted to support the district health board with a review of clinical governance and the implementation of the recommendations arising from that review. The Ministry of Health has commissioned an independent review of the district health board\u2019s financial systems. Ministry of Health officials are part of the steering group for the regional clinical services, and, as everyone is well aware, the Government has added additional support to the new board, a new chair, a Crown monitor, deficit support as needed, and assistance from the Ministry of Health. That, I dare say, is more support than the previous National Government ever gave in its whole term of office.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e3dd7b9af2d4998a85bc68b3d91ca4c\u0022\u003EHon Tony Ryall\u003C/span\u003E: Were any other Ministers involved in the approval to extend the deficit?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022785f1a87125848ab8860a8e0fe00e086\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: I do not have any advice on that, but, normally speaking, in these matters the Minister of Finance would, of course, be consulted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228214abd163144cf4a6707af65a3ed63f\u0022\u003EHon Tony Ryall\u003C/span\u003E: As the Minister has now given the Capital and Coast District Health Board\u2019s new board 4 months to fix the problems at Wellington Hospital, what are the benchmarks that he will measure the new performance of the board against?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225d665e7a4695456a9b853578bb8ace20\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: I do not have the details in front of me, but if the member wants to have that information I am perfectly happy to see that he gets the details.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002260200136-9d63-4a82-b4f5-c00411adb1fd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a348373f950b4b3cad1cac5581f01338\u0022\u003EJo Goodhew\u003C/span\u003E: Is it likely that Mr Hodgson was too busy acting illegally by intervening in aged-care negotiations, in a manner described by the judge of the judicial review as \u201Cwrecking the ship\u201D, and that his priority was to attempt to force unionisation on the aged-care workforce, rather than spending time on the woes of the Capital and Coast District Health Board?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b566e23759c4fb2a6d397c108d57848\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: It is interesting that a party that claims that it will represent all New Zealanders is actually making a statement that it is illegal in some way to try to assist among the lowest-paid workers in the community. This Government is always proud to do that, and it is interesting that the National Party is staking itself out in a position of opposition to that kind of action. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224172fbb2e05e44b3adf526ab5d34060e\u0022\u003EHon Tony Ryall\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table the declaration of the High Court that Mr Hodgson acted unlawfully in forcing unionism on aged-care workers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a83ea07a-806c-45ad-95bb-eb2c481cd0e2\u0022\u003EDocument not tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022de7a610d679144c4a61b207fbdf55abf\u0022\u003EEarly Childhood Education\u2014New Centres\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223f9434eeffaf4dd891ba74ac114196d3\u0022\u003EPAULA BENNETT (National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Education: How many early childhood education centres have opened this year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022 data-id=\u002294f15dc9b5074d8fae63711565e601ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002294f15dc9b5074d8fae63711565e601ca\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER (Minister of Education):\u003C/span\u003E I am advised that 132 early childhood centres have been licensed this year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0f7b9ead164427887bcb6e3f33b0615\u0022\u003EPaula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the Prime Minister officially open the Jump and Jive centre in Manukau in March this year, in a flourish of staged publicity, only to have it still closed today because of air pollution concerns that cannot be substantiated?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4236165879141af80be7040d4768e96\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: Our Prime Minister is a very regular visitor to early childhood centres and schools. This year, for example, the Prime Minister has visited over 40 schools or early childhood centres, including opening Whangamata\u2019s free kindy in June, Mount Albert kindy\u2019s new playground centre in September, and the Cambridge early learning centre in November. We are very fortunate to have a Prime Minister who is so interested in education. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022be7e81ca907b45af96b365881974a9a4\u0022\u003EPaula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: What are the regulations around air pollution standards for early childhood centres, and why is Jump and Jive not open when it has had an independent report done that states that it is all clear?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295c09ebf47394cb7a53bd07f77aafb83\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: All early childhood centres are required to have a health clearance. The Jump and Jive childcare centre, which the member refers to, has undergone that. There were concerns about air quality. The location of that particular centre, on an intersection, has raised those concerns, but I am pleased to tell the member that the ministry will be meeting with that centre tomorrow to discuss a health report that has just been done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022749a724d-1ef9-49cb-9ba2-2610403653ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227332e7f5d11e495c9742b6d46d4bb75e\u0022\u003EDianne Yates\u003C/span\u003E: What support is the Labour-led Government making available this year to increase access to early childhood education?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cf030e64d5734a5e9a548eec85efa072\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: We are doing a great deal. We are providing $16 million this year to build new and expanded community-based early childhood services. We have, so far this year, allocated $9.6 million to create an additional 385 places. In the next few weeks I will be announcing further grants across the country for more spaces, in our very active programme of creating early childhood education for Kiwi kids. And, of course, we have our very popular and effective 20 free hours policy, which all 3 and 4-year-olds in New Zealand can access.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221a59d3ae-788b-4b19-b7dd-7d0e29a626fc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e6b5afe5ce44a38bb7fdff150f71b68\u0022\u003EHon Brian Donnelly\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister tell the House what effects upon the early childhood participation rates of 3 and 4-year-olds the implementation of the 20 free hours policy has had at this point in time?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227701758acf9347c198946a56089c562b\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: I am delighted to do so. Over 77,000 children and their families are accessing the 20 free hours\u2014[Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022681c002533434eec9a45875a2a76fb79\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is impossible to hear. I will have to ask for the answer to heard in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d05548cee8549be95051be937efb04a\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: All kindergartens are now offering this service. Forty-five k\u014Dhanga reo have now opted into the free early childhood education scheme, as well. Eighty-three percent of all 3 and 4-year olds enrolled in early childhood education are accessing the 20 free hours. This is a great policy, benefiting thousands of Kiwi families. Of course, the member who asked me a question earlier, Paula Bennett, said on Radio New Zealand National on 24 June that the National Party would get rid of the 20 free hours policy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f86885d1a9d644978c1ffc5f104ce10d\u0022\u003EPaula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Did the Prime Minister insist that she would open the Jump and Jive childcare centre on 16 March only if stunt children were bussed in for her photo opportunity?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022427d7348a8a0407780d2179b86bd0680\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: That is from the member who would abolish the 20 free hours policy! I remind the House again that our very busy Prime Minister has visited over 40 early childhood centres and schools this year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f730466aa5b242349f7b66c847e8d2ad\u0022\u003ERodney Hide\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. The entire ACT caucus is sitting here quietly, and we would just love to hear the answer to that question. We could not hear a thing, and we want to know about the stunt children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5bd0ac386ef432bb55b6717d068b464\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I am sorry. I could hear the answer that time. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a15e046e34144743b202337b68df78db\u0022\u003ERodney Hide\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002234a7cd1681e14eec84d655df9a971132\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Please be seated, Mr Hide. The member who is about to ask a question unfortunately has an extraordinarily loud voice, which does make it very difficult, on occasions, for others to hear. If members would please get themselves under control, I would ask Paula Bennett to ask the question, please.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8f78a0cef244755816c24efebf91b74\u0022\u003ERodney Hide\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. With the greatest respect, the test is not whether you can hear the answer\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5ccfb7f8e654d61a587e40b90e769ab\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, it is partially, Mr Hide. Please sit down. Would the Minister please, in summary, address the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002218beee44ba7a4b32a40462aeb7dbcc38\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: The only stunt being pulled is the silly question from the member. The Prime Minister was responding to a request from a private early childhood provider to open its centre. All arrangements to do with that were made by the owners of the early childhood centre.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eac3f42f8e4e487abd8f8fbfa7f6db59\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think it is not unreasonable that the Minister does answer this question, and he is avoiding it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a11a81ac446e4f2ab33fadafe732f601\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry, Mr Brownlee, but I think that on this occasion he did actually address the question. He did address the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222037a5356a23438cb90f17e896804c91\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: With all due respect, Madam Speaker, this childcare centre is not open because the ministry will not allow it to be. So the question relates to what happened on the day it was opened by the Prime Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225cf215f9e1bd446abcf44ab933f2e5f1\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am sorry, Mr Brownlee. Please be seated. Members are not always satisfied with the answers given by Ministers. The Standing Orders do not require them to be so. On this occasion the Minister did actually address the question. It may not have been to the satisfaction of the member, or it may not have been the answer the member wanted, but the Minister did address it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229028fb744c4743bfb4da4b130d375f02\u0022\u003EPaula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Can he confirm that the Government used Jump and Jive childcare centre as a photo opportunity for its leader, even busing in stunt kids to try to make the photos look good, but will do nothing to help the centre, which has been closed for 9 months despite having met all the regulations?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fcfd5914eec7414f85e7df627ecfa6e8\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I cannot.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022052abc121d05446dab0d622a3776c0ee\u0022\u003EPaula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table a photo of those stunt children on the opening day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229b224582b9ce486bbfacb6bcacaa05cf\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes, there is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a753e9e32e274f8ba190332c571989d8\u0022\u003EHon CHRIS CARTER\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table a transcript from Radio New Zealand National on 24 June 2007, which states that the National Party\u2019s early childhood spokesperson, Paula Bennett\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022d4506109-be18-4b9d-9a79-1e15e2e2cd41\u0022\u003EDocument not tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022744b735be86d4ec1aac4c624e7bd18b0\u0022\u003EFamily Violence\u2014Campaign for Action Programme\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a40f5af7-f9b0-4b44-9669-9e63be1c3ced\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3d4a7de76654c6ca7c69a524e3c2410\u0022\u003EDARIEN FENTON (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What reports has she received regarding the Government\u2019s Campaign for Action on Family Violence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u0022d33bf31beafa4d02bfe461799c4b9db5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d33bf31beafa4d02bfe461799c4b9db5\u0022\u003EHon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Social Development and Employment):\u003C/span\u003E I have seen reports that say that the campaign has a lot of New Zealanders thinking, talking, and acting against family violence. Of the 900 people surveyed, 87 percent recalled the campaign and, of those, 94 percent agreed with the campaign message. Over half had discussed the ads with someone, and one in five reported taking some direct action as a result. Just 3 months since the launch of the campaign, individuals and communities across our country are coming together to say that family violence is not OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a40f5af7-f9b0-4b44-9669-9e63be1c3ced\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab19fdbdc66c41fa8723ec91db0c9b7e\u0022\u003EDarien Fenton\u003C/span\u003E: What additional investment has the Government made to support services that prevent and reduce the impact of family violence?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246e7f49668f34b66833c9d8912074969\u0022\u003EHon RUTH DYSON\u003C/span\u003E: Our Government has invested heavily in child and family services to ensure that all those who are affected by family violence are supported to rebuild their lives. Additional funding just this year includes a $5 million campaign response fund to support family violence services that are experiencing a higher demand as a result of the campaign, over $20 million to boost the ability of community organisations to deliver those services, and over $11 million to enhance the health sector response to family violence. Ongoing investment is a key priority, and we will continue to work with the sector to ensure that needs are met.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaaad191-62cf-43e8-a772-63a71dbf4d4a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255da2e8112584d08b40e4868df5b4cf5\u0022\u003ESue Kedgley\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree that it is ironic that the excellent advertisements being screened on television as part of the Government\u2019s anti-violence campaign are being interspersed around television programmes that are literally packed full of violence\u2014up to 18 episodes of violence an hour in some programmes\u2014and given the overwhelming evidence that high levels of violence on television increase the culture of violence, why will the Government not take action to reduce the amount of violence on television as part of its anti-violence campaign?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296aa5bf44aad457ab6d6be3b15f4572a\u0022\u003EHon RUTH DYSON\u003C/span\u003E: I think it is important for people to differentiate between violence that is part of a news programme that reflects reality and violence that is part of a drama or other situation. We all must get clear that any real violence, particularly that inside a family, is not OK.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002262b31c9dd76143a495e86ac43087ff56\u0022\u003EGreenhouse Gas Emissions\u2014Comparative Statistics\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a31dd4a7f0f44bc09ef7985e2d4cb384\u0022\u003EHon Dr NICK SMITH (National\u2014Nelson)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues: How does the expected level of greenhouse gas emissions, including those from deforestation, for this year compare with net emissions in 1999 when Labour took office and the Kyoto base year of 1990?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u0022a262e77cff4f4d2eaffa1f86b6a77c6e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a262e77cff4f4d2eaffa1f86b6a77c6e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister responsible for Climate Change Issues):\u003C/span\u003E A spike in deforestation of Pinus radiata is expected over the Christmas period. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a47ef77349b4c25a851d361445290b0\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think the Minister has made his point, but he should address the question. [Interruption] I know it is Christmas, but we will now have the supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f856bad9b914163bee500d9a6db2dbc\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister think it is a joke that New Zealand\u2019s net emissions have gone up 12 million tonnes over the last 4 years and that New Zealand got a near-bottom ranking in the climate change index report issued at the United Nations conference in Bali; and how is that consistent with his Government claiming that it is to be a world leader on climate change and that somehow we are on track to carbon neutrality\u2014does this graph I am holding look as if we are on track to carbon neutrality?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ce7dc0d0736041c2b1afffe429189f54\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: I confidently expect that deforestation will decrease very significantly next year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002272e48ab0-e7ae-427f-bedc-793b7a91adba\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022346b841030694b0ea60c02b837c0ba01\u0022\u003EHon Mark Burton\u003C/span\u003E: Can the Minister please indicate to the House what the Labour-led Government is doing to reduce emissions, including those from deforestation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b399dca5e6b4d4683ef2493c9418289\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Labour-led Government has, of course, introduced an emissions trading scheme, which every party but ACT has supported in its first reading. Of course, the first sector to enter the emissions trading scheme will be forestry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c8733661ffd44e168194c8cacd92bd1d\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Why is it that for every year since records began in 1951 New Zealand planted more trees than we felled, but in 2004, 2005, and 2006 we lost 3 million trees each year, and this year we are projected to lose an expected 6 million trees; and with this appalling record at home, how can New Zealand have any credibility in international negotiations when trying to persuade developing countries to stop deforestation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6c4a38073e2431b9eaeed192ab68f9e\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: Despite the deforestation the member refers to, the total number of hectares in forestry in New Zealand has increased. When we compare 1999 with now we see that the number of hectares in forestry is higher. Further, as I said previously, deforestation will decrease substantially next year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229041e71b601248cda2a6bb981e252e6e\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: How is it that not only is Australia delivering higher incomes to its citizens but also its net emissions from 1990 are 4 percent and it is on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations, whereas in New Zealand net emissions are 23 percent over their 1990 levels, and every official agrees that we will not be able to meet those Kyoto Protocol targets?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d259c32df52f4ed2b6744af532ae48ff\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: Australia\u2019s carbon dioxide emissions have increased by more than New Zealand\u2019s, except in respect of deforestation. The Australian Federal Government has been able to take advantage of some very severe rules against deforestation in Queensland. I repeat what I said earlier, which is that deforestation emissions from New Zealand will decrease substantially next year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ecfd8b03278f4192a9f8b38313227874\u0022\u003EHon Dr Michael Cullen\u003C/span\u003E: Is it correct that Australia\u2019s prosperity has been largely built on growing coal and gas exports and that under the Kyoto Protocol the liability of exports lies with the countries importing the coal and gas, not with Australia, whereas with New Zealand and our exports such as dairy, the liability obviously lies with New Zealand?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b4cd8057a27644f1b6a14aa3a4a4c9be\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: I can indeed confirm that. The very large amounts of emissions that are caused by Australian exports of coal and gas are not counted by Australia in its Kyoto Protocol balance; our emissions from increasing agriculture are.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d5a3a28d45a44319af72876b9adafe59\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: To the Minister\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e51466ef0f74b74af664a84fca36bb9\u0022\u003EHon Phil Goff\u003C/span\u003E: Why doesn\u2019t the member stick up for New Zealand for once instead of trying to knock it?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b0de8774a62d423d8816c6b51276a638\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I just want some basic answers from a Government that has failed. They are a bunch of failures across there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bfd41146cb1461c9d8afcf56fe1cf3a\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Would the member please be seated. We will have this question and answer in silence.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd068f71d4d84ee8a3152fcda0ccf3bc\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister accept the advice of officials that there is no realistic way that New Zealand can now get emissions back to 1990 levels; if so, can he state how New Zealand will meet its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol, noting that it comes into effect in just 14 days\u2019 time?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e28ecd8eb9c541ab84068b26ea591745\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: As I have said previously to this House, the current estimate prior to emissions trading of our deficit during the first commitment period is 45 million tonnes. We expect, as a consequence of the emissions trading and other proposals we have brought into effect this year, that that deficit will decrease to a tonnage in the high 20 millions or early 30 millions - plus.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226a82201c871f4d5c9624b15cfc7fa4d5\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: So how will you do that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ac992e2157a6440993522eebc8f044e4\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Would the member please leave the Chamber. I have warned members so many times, and the courtesy was given to that member\u2014no one interrupted when he was asking his question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022abcb0cbb7f164e76a2b55a5f20970843\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: He still hasn\u2019t answered it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220115c3085c6649b3a06bc59169599ce2\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The Minister can continue answering his question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith withdrew from the Chamber. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220cf325fd13684b7c9024b11dff0bfb79\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: In respect of that balance of 25 to 30 million tonnes, New Zealand will take responsibility for those emissions by purchasing emission reductions using Kyoto Protocol mechanisms.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e91f273ddeb64b13b56e28b0780ec4ff\u0022\u003EJeanette Fitzsimons\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Minister\u2019s reply to Dr Cullen\u2019s question about coal exports not rather inconsistent with New Zealand\u2019s position, whereby our coal exports, for which other countries have to take responsibility, are increasing all the time and the Government is giving a subsidy to the coal industry by not requiring its coal seam methane emissions to come into the emissions trading scheme ever, despite the fact that under the Kyoto Protocol New Zealand is accountable for those coal seam methane emissions; and will the Minister reconsider that part of the emissions trading system?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f6b6f1316c8a473d834c7d672a241b90\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: In respect of the first part of the member\u2019s question, it is, of course, necessary to have a global agreement in respect of emissions reduction for it to be effective. Some of our coal exports go to Japan and it takes responsibility for the emissions that result. Increasingly in the future other countries will also be taking responsibility for their emissions from burning coal, including the coal that they import from New Zealand. In respect of the question about methane seam gas in coalfields, that is an issue I am willing to look at again. I would say that the preliminary advice I have had on that since the member\u2019s questions to me outside the House, is that the quantity of coal seam methane emissions is very low and that the cost of measuring might exceed the environmental benefit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f928fa19ce164ef19a1a73e854e23208\u0022\u003ECapital and Coast District Health Board\u2014Deaths of Hawke\u2019s Bay Patients\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226c1d5df8-ac1d-4ce1-a778-202845cfc69f\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022498fab53d8db4a789fce239eaf38cb8b\u0022\u003EHEATHER ROY (Deputy Leader\u2014ACT)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: On what date did he first learn of any of the deaths of the three Hawke\u2019s Bay District Health Board patients who died in Hawke\u2019s Bay Hospital while on Wellington Hospital\u2019s waiting list for heart surgery, as reported on the front page of the Hawke\u2019s Bay Today newspaper on 8 December 2007, and what action, if any, did he take?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022 data-id=\u0022e381e174175f485a8cc2a0196a69a836\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e381e174175f485a8cc2a0196a69a836\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Health: I am advised that the chair of the Hawke\u2019s Bay District Health Board indicated in a telephone conversation with the Minister on 13 November that the chair held information relating to deaths in Hawke\u2019s Bay. The Minister indicated this to his officials on the same day. The officials began immediately following up with the Hawke\u2019s Bay District Health Board. On Monday, 19 November both the Hawke\u2019s Bay District Health Board and the Capital and Coast District Health Board provided written reports to the Ministry of Health that indicated that actions were already in place to increase access to cardiothoracic surgery at the Capital and Coast District Health Board.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226c1d5df8-ac1d-4ce1-a778-202845cfc69f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002298ac19f2957b441d9685c4d88509091b\u0022\u003EHeather Roy\u003C/span\u003E: Why has the Minister\u2019s response to these tragic deaths been to attack me for not passing on details, when there is a mandatory reporting requirement for any death of a person on a waiting list?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022eb69a4171e0a4630becc3e53b7b5e2a7\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: As far as I am aware, the member was claiming publicly to have information that would have been of assistance to officials in any investigation into these matters. As I said to her the last time she asked this question, she actually then instigated an Official Information Act request to the hospital board that she claimed she had information on in the first place. That seemed to be entirely inconsistent, and not very responsible for a member of this Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00226c1d5df8-ac1d-4ce1-a778-202845cfc69f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6e072c205c04c75af26f0e021d1c69d\u0022\u003EHeather Roy\u003C/span\u003E: Is the state of the health system so poor that it takes an Opposition MP and a Hawke\u2019s Bay Today journalist, Kate Newton, to bring such serious failures at Capital and Coast District Health Board to light, because the Minister\u2019s approach is to cover up, and to attack those who are exposing the truth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226149bdb1493e4c2e9e76e87cf6bc1d9f\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: I think it is irresponsible of any member of this House to define a hospital, to describe a hospital in the New Zealand health system, as a \u201Ckiller hospital\u201D; that is what I think is irresponsible. The Minister acted immediately. There was no delay in that. The reports were made back to the Ministry of Health. That is on the public record. The plans that were made by the Capital and Coast District Health Board have been implemented, and more operations are actually being delivered. I must say, as a New Zealander, that I am proud of the hospital system in this country. My experience and the experience of thousands of my constituents who have gone through it have been universally good. We can expect incidents in our hospitals from time to time\u2014of course we can\u2014but, by and large, we have an excellent hospital system and we should be proud of it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002228ec777b3869471cbe6ff1bfa28346ca\u0022\u003EPoints of Order\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f89366620d764082bad4c69ced14f0a3\u0022\u003EQuestion Time\u2014Ministerial Delegations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022a193257051694fbf8c9fb8052273c0df\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a193257051694fbf8c9fb8052273c0df\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I raise this point of order under Standing Order 369 and Speaker\u2019s rulings 140/4-6. This deals with the issue of ministerial delegations. It has now been some 6 weeks since the ministerial reshuffle, yet there is still no official delegation list laid on the Table of the House. Under the Standing Orders we are required to ask questions of Ministers according to their delegations. Speaker\u2019s ruling 140/5 in particular instructs that the delegations should be laid on the Table \u201Cat once\u201D. Six weeks later hardly seems to be \u201Cat once\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u002296b02c0c7c974516bb6686e2a3659cf0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002296b02c0c7c974516bb6686e2a3659cf0\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Obviously I do not have the data before me, and clearly we have finished question time for the year, but I give an undertaking to the House that that letter will be available to be tabled at the start of next year so that it will be available for question time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc93db0e267d42778cce0f769028fecd\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I hope that satisfies the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b0401fdd2991464181cf8ec1b07d0738\u0022\u003EUrgent Debates Declined\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229134627d50804b598f23629c095cf059\u0022\u003ECapital and Coast District Health Board\u2014Governance Changes\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022 data-id=\u0022f34283e723804498a0563f2f99d39557\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f34283e723804498a0563f2f99d39557\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I have received a letter from the Hon Tony Ryall seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the Government\u2019s announcement of governance changes at Capital and Coast District Health Board. I have also received a similar application from Heather Roy. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. However, not every announcement by the Government can give grounds for a debate. There must be an element of urgency whereby the matter must take precedence over other business. The announcement was made on 13 December 2007 by the Minister of Health, and the Leader of the House informed the House of this by way of a ministerial statement. Both Mr Ryall and Ms Roy took the opportunity to debate that matter in the House at the time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EThe Minister has made governance changes, but the board is still in place. The board has been given further time to work through the issues. Those issues can be considered by the House in a number of ways, in particular through the financial review process. The financial review is currently before the Health Committee, and when the committee reports back, the issues may be considered by the House in the financial review debate. Both applications are therefore declined.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221c2b9a11eaf6442d8e616324fe7c3030\u0022\u003EElectoral Finance Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221c2b9a11eaf6442d8e616324fe7c3030\u0022\u003EBroadcasting Amendment Bill (No 3)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00221c2b9a11eaf6442d8e616324fe7c3030\u0022\u003EElectoral Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00222591fdc45b7e405fa1d5a0c9b4dd5cc2\u0022\u003EThird Readings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022 data-id=\u0022c54e1193ef094ed48d3726107a639c72\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c54e1193ef094ed48d3726107a639c72\u0022\u003EHon ANNETTE KING (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the Electoral Finance Bill, the Broadcasting Amendment Bill (No 3), and the Electoral Amendment Bill be now read a third time. This legislation has been contentious, with its passage marked by acrimonious debate and a campaign of misinformation. A major newspaper the New Zealand Herald devoted almost a month to attacking the legislation and the Government, in a campaign the like of which has not been seen since a Labour Government legislated to stop tobacco advertising. One cannot help but wonder whether the motives for the current campaign are not very similar to the last one. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EMuch has been said and written about the legislation. A letter to the editor in yesterday\u2019s Dominion Post summed it up for many people when it said: \u201CDemocracy\u2019s not one dollar, one vote\u201D. An article in last week\u2019s Otago Daily Times also made some relevant points: \u201CAs much as we like to imagine that freedom of speech is an absolute, it isn\u2019t. There are several laws that proscribe it.\u201D The article went on to say that a leading opponent of the legislation believed that an ideal democracy would let money be free to talk whenever and however loud it likes. The article stated further that the truth was that this man has \u201Cbags of money and no hesitation in using any amount of it to try to influence the course of our future democracy.\u201D Freedom of speech and the freedom to buy speech are not the same things. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EThis legislation demonstrates the Government\u2019s commitment to democratic and transparent elections. The Justice and Electoral Committee, the Government, and the Parliament, during the Committee stage, listened to the concerns about the Electoral Finance Bill and made a number of changes that improve the legislation considerably. This legislation is about creating a fair, transparent electoral system that puts all parties on a level playing field, with clearly defined rules and safeguards to protect the electoral system from abuse. We do not want to see the Americanisation of our electoral system. This legislation does not restrict free speech; it simply restricts the right to purchase speech through advertising. This is being done to safeguard our democracy by keeping to a minimum the undue influence of money in politics. That is what a level playing field means, and the Government believes that most New Zealanders understand and support this principle. The legislation makes changes that will help to bring New Zealand in line with other comparable democracies, such as Canada and the United Kingdom. These reforms are important, and are fair and transparent for our elections, and that is fundamental to our democracy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EThis legislation has been debated extensively. The public engaged with it through the select committee process, and the committee sent the summary of its recommendations to the submitters. That was a suggestion made by the Human Rights Commission about further public consultation. Members of this House have also made important contributions to the discussions. During the Committee of the whole House the Government made a number of clarifications and amendments to the legislation, both to improve its workability and in response to matters raised following the select committee report. We have worked with the Chief Electoral Office, the Electoral Commission, the Law Commission, and the Crown Law Office to make this legislation work. There has been favourable feedback from many submitters who had concerns with the bill as it was introduced. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EIn addition, the Government carefully considered the changes proposed by Mr Christopher Finlayson in his Supplementary Order Papers. I thank the member for his considered proposals for amendments\u2014some of which have been incorporated into the legislation. The most significant clarifications and amendments proposed by the Government include narrowing the definition of \u201Cpublished\u201D, amending the cut-off date for listing as a third party, ensuring full disclosure when donations are made by trusts, and creating a mechanism for indexing expenditure limits. I will talk more about these in a moment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EOne area received attention during the final stages of this debate\u2014that is, the meaning of the phrase about an MP acting \u201Cin his or her capacity as a member of Parliament\u201D. I realise from the debate that the view I expressed in my second reading speech about the interpretation of that phrase was too narrow. Although acting in our capacity as an MP clearly includes participation in the business of the House and electorate and other representational duties, work in our capacity as members of the Executive, and other party spokespeople, it clearly also includes the provision of information and critical analysis to the electorate on issues, policy options, and services. This is clearly not a strict definition and that would be undesirable. However, the lack of a strict definition does not mean there is not other guidance. MPs\u2019 behaviour is also governed by the Appropriation (2007/08 Estimates) Act 2007 and the Speaker\u2019s directions and determinations. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003ENarrowing the definition of \u201Cpublish\u201D, particularly by removing the part of the definition that would have encompassed advertisements that were brought \u201Cto the notice of the public in any other manner\u201D, has helped to remove many concerns. The amendment makes it clear that the definition captures only advertisements that are distributed to the general public, not door-knocking or speeches at public meetings and so on. In addition to these changes, the select committee ensured that the definition of an election advertisement does not affect the issues-based related advocacy that non-governmental organisations carry out. Alongside this amendment, a new and important change made during the debate has been a common-sense clarification that when a suspected offence is inconsequential, and there is no public interest in doing so, the Electoral Commission and the Chief Electoral Office have the discretion not to report the matter to the police. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EA third substantive change to the legislation is the cut-off date by which a third party can list with the Electoral Commission. It will be a fixed date. Submitters, including the Human Rights Commission, were concerned that the period during which third parties were unable to list as a third party was too long and therefore created a restriction on the freedom of expression. The bill as introduced and reported back from the select committee had writ day as the day after which listing was prohibited\u2014around 5 or 7 weeks before an election. This has been changed to 21 days before an election. The Human Rights Commission has said it is now largely happy with the legislation. The purpose of this change is to ensure that there is a balance between the date from which all participants in an election are known and the ability for people or groups to respond to issues that arise close to an election. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EAnother change to the legislation during the last stages is a new clause that will ensure that there is full disclosure when donations are received from secret trusts. The new clause ensures that a chain of trusts cannot be used to circumvent the legislation. If the recipient of the donation cannot identify the contributors of a trust donation, when the contribution is over $1,000, the whole donation will be sent back to the donors either for them to remove the contribution or to identify the contributors. Ultimately, greater transparency about the source of political funding will lead to increased public confidence in our democracy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EThere are a number of other changes, including an indexation mechanism, whereby political party, candidate, or third-party expenditure limits will be increased by the rate of inflation. This will occur every 3 years by Order in Council and will come into force on 1 October in the year before a Parliament is due to expire. In the departmental report on the legislation, the Electoral Commission advised the Justice and Electoral Committee to adopt a proposal like this in relation to the election expenditure. The amendments I put forward did not index the donation thresholds in the legislation, but this was not something that the royal commission or the Electoral Commissioner recommended. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209a5b71a-ca7e-4e7c-9e09-f9e63f18aa12\u0022\u003EThis legislation does not restrict free speech; it simply restricts the rights to purchase speech through advertising. This has been done to safeguard our democracy by keeping to a minimum the undue influence of money in politics. We want to protect the ability of all New Zealanders to participate in democracy. We must ensure that those with limited resources can realistically compete with those who have very deep pockets. I commend this legislation to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022 data-id=\u0022f0a9aa2acabd4bd89b5247d98c9fd37f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f0a9aa2acabd4bd89b5247d98c9fd37f\u0022\u003EJOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition):\u003C/span\u003E \u201CIf you\u2019re in favour of free speech, then you\u2019re in favour of freedom of speech precisely for the views you despise. Otherwise, you\u2019re not in favour of free speech.\u201D They are not the words of a random right-winger. They are not the words of a former treasurer of the ACT party. They are not the words of the media, for whom Helen Clark no longer has any respect because, according to her, they are too young to understand history. They are the words of Noam Chomsky, a man who is not from the left but from the far left. He is somebody with whom Helen Clark probably used to agree, before she totally lost all objectivity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EToday Helen Clark, against the wishes of the majority of New Zealanders, is passing legislation that threatens our democracy. Years and years of bipartisan support of electoral reform will be sacrificed for one reason and one reason alone: so that Helen Clark can try to cling on to power. I say her actions cannot go unrecorded. They threaten the rights of New Zealanders to participate in elections while, at exactly the same time, extending the rights of those in a political party. This law is not designed to strengthen our democracy. It is deliberately designed by Helen Clark to weaken our democracy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EIn much of New Zealand\u2019s history we have enjoyed a full democracy\u2014a democracy that has seen universal suffrage, where free and fair elections are held, where there is a freedom of association, and where there is freedom of speech. One of the key planks of our democracy is the freedom to participate\u2014to speak out when one is in agreement with the Government and to speak out with abhorrence to the Government, to speak out when one agrees with the Opposition and to speak out with abhorrence to the Opposition. It is the freedom to make one\u2019s case on the strength of one\u2019s argument and to let others judge it for what it is worth. Our democracy is not weaker because of the scrutiny; it is stronger because of its democracy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EHealthy democracy does not tolerate dissenting voices, it demands them, because when they are silenced, slowly but surely we are all silenced. Democracy is about participation for everyone, but it comes at a price. We have to be prepared to hear opinions that we do not like from people we cannot stand, on topics we might not want to debate. That is what participation in a democracy is all about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EThis legislation today is designed for one reason alone, and that is to silence democracy, reduce participation, and put a legalised gagging order on the people that Helen Clark and her travellers do not like. There can be no other explanation for a law that will see New Zealanders spending one-third of their adult life subject to a law that is so bureaucratic, where the hoops are so bad, and that is so muddled that the Prime Minister has told people to consult a lawyer if they want to try to understand it. The Government cannot explain the legislation. What sort of democracy are we creating in this country when we are creating law so muddled that the Electoral Commission is confused by it, the Law Society is against it, former Prime Ministers have come out speaking against it, and the Minister has said the only hope for it is to apply common sense to law that has no fundamental common sense in itself? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EHelen Clark does not care. She does not care for one reason: for blatant self-interest she will pass this law, because she thinks nobody will notice. According to Helen Clark, when issues get tough they are inside the beltway and nobody notices. Well, I have news for Helen Clark. Everybody has noticed, and the vast, overwhelming majority are opposed to this legislation. The only thing Helen Clark has been able to hide behind throughout this entire debate is some sinister kind of plot that is all about big money. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EIf there is big money involved in New Zealand politics, it is the big money of the Labour Party. These are the people who spent $50 million through Government agencies in a non - election year but nearly $70 million when an election was under control. That is the reason they no longer care about neutrality of the Public Service. You see, with Labour and an election the role of a communications manager is a political appointment. That is why Madeleine Setchell\u2019s face did not fit. That is why Clare Curran\u2019s face did fit. That is why Erin Leigh was defamed in this House by a Minister who used advice for which that ministry has apologised, and for which he will not. That is the reason why. And this\u2014the audacity of this\u2014from a party that got caught in the last election flogging $800,000! It has the audacity to lecture New Zealanders about big money. Labour did not break the law once\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222a849ed4-a817-45a7-8b86-dbc9dd210193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f5062b6aa6574556b49c14ee022880b2\u0022\u003EJill Pettis\u003C/span\u003E: Pay back the GST!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a8f590cafa7420c81d4f9a68f1e09b6\u0022\u003EJOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: Actually, I say to Jill Pettis, Labour broke the law twice. It broke the electoral cap, as well. If anyone is involved in big money, it is the Labour Party. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003ESo there can be only two explanations for this legislation, and they are quite simple. One is desperation and the other is breathtaking arrogance. One of them is a good reason to boot Labour out; with both of them combined it is a necessity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003ELet me say this to the people of New Zealand who are engaged in this debate and who are interested: National will repeal this legislation. We will go back to basics. We will go back to the way it was. We will ask independent people to go out there and come up with electoral law. You see, electoral law is not owned by the Labour Party for the benefit of the Labour Party. Electoral law is owned by the people of New Zealand so that we can have a democracy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EThis is a sad day for New Zealand. It is the day the Labour Party admitted publicly, and through legislation, that it cannot win unless it changes the law. That is what happened today. National will repeal the law. We will go back to a bipartisan basis where independent people will come up with some recommendations. I say this, and this alone: history will mark this day. This is the day when Helen Clark arrogantly inflicted anti-democratic legislation upon the people of New Zealand, and when the collective voters of New Zealand know once and for all that it is time for a change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022 data-id=\u0022067132bfe1454c099c0ccd85be66d4fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022067132bfe1454c099c0ccd85be66d4fb\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON (Leader\u2014Progressive):\u003C/span\u003E My experience in politics is that leaders who need standing ovations\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca4467f1bef14fde824a6de3facc8520\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. This may well be the last sitting day for 2007, but no political party should be allowed to show the contempt for a parliamentary officer that the National Party members just did. You had asked them to come to order, and they decided to put on a stunt of clapping and applause. That is OK, but when you asked them to stop\u2014[Interruption] There is Paula Bennett again, dressed up in her karate suit and shouting as though she is at a karate lesson. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker, my point is that when you asked those members to sit down, they paid no attention whatsoever; they just carried on. If we go into 2008 with that sort of behaviour, there will be problems in this House, because that is not a fair representation of the Standing Orders when it comes to members of Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288b06eb5fb744a8bb2e4864e5ac44202\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: The member is quite right\u2014that was excessive. Now, I am going to ask Paula Bennett to leave the Chamber. She has continually interrupted the member during his point of order, and she knows that that is out of order. Please leave.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003EPaula Bennett withdrew from the Chamber. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249a466d06c3641b9b92a675fefc32fa0\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think your ruling is perfectly appropriate, but there were about four other members who were talking at the same time. They know precisely who they are, and I suggest that if you ask them they will, no doubt, vacate as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002213bf2e471f954099b39a47c566388a69\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: I have asked one member to leave, and I think that is sufficient at this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227594433cbbe941e3ba6ccafed96b6a3a\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I wonder whether you might tell us what Mr Peters\u2019 point of order was and where we can refer to the matter in the Standing Orders that he brought to your attention.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223da1b48890e045ddae59cf8c73735bcf\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: The member quite correctly raised a point of order about the order of the House. It was my call, and my call to order. He was properly speaking to that. Members should always resume their seats when the Speaker stands.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002296ab421a5a0a49c68626f8030328728e\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: My experience in politics is that leaders who need standing ovations are usually in big trouble. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab01174661e148e192117a2d736d3a15\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I would like to challenge the member speaking to provide the Hansard that shows any occasion during any of the five party leaderships he has had when he has had a standing ovation, because, clearly, he has got into a lot of trouble without that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f6b704ebb094ef588e6754d3c4ee4c0\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: As the member knows, that was not a point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a6f79782a8e43c3aa1871b807ffb21c\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: I want to address this debate because I represent the only party in this House that did not breach the electoral expenditure rules and laws at the last election. It sticks in the throat a bit to hear so many people striking a high moral tone, when their own hands are not clean in this matter. National members cannot get up in this House and demurely claim they are interested only in democracy when they flouted the electoral laws at the last election. National cannot claim to be pure when it has a record showing it set aside the electoral laws that did not suit it. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EOnly one party did not flout the law, and I am leading it in this House. We did not use public money for our advertisements, we did not run a GST rort, and we did not try to use public money voted for one purpose to pay for our own purposes. Undoubtedly, the Progressives were disadvantaged when we opted to play within the rules. I have not come into this Chamber and trumpeted that we alone were obeying the laws, because we did only what was right. It sticks in the throat to hear the National Party pretending it cares about democracy, when its record is sleazy and opportunistic. I say to the National members that they should not get on their high horses about democracy until they have clean hands. This legislation makes a simple choice about our democracy. Who should own our democracy: big money or the people of New Zealand? We cannot have it both ways. Where the anonymous big money goes, the interests of the people come second. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EI want to ask everyone who is opposed to this bill a question: why should anyone be allowed to do what the Exclusive Brethren did in my electorate in the last election? They came into my electorate on the Friday before the election, the day before that Saturday, and they bought a full page ad in the local newspaper. The ad told complete lies about my record in the electorate and my political position on policy matters. They distributed that false advertisement on that Friday night to every household in the electorate. The address given in the ad was fake and the people behind it tried to remain anonymous, but we found out that they were church people. That ad was published the day before the election when it was far too late to respond and reply. It was an attempt to buy an election with money instead of with truth and ideas. I want to know how fair that is. How is that democratic? How is it fair and democratic that people who do not identify themselves can spend as much as they like to sway the result of an election? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EI support the Electoral Finance Bill because elections should not be decided by the largest wallet. I support the Electoral Finance Bill because it is about ensuring that no one can buy an election result. I support the Electoral Finance Bill because the best ideas should win, not the best-funded ones. I want to remind this House of what happened when money had its way in New Zealand in the 1980s and 1990s. We saw a fire sale of our assets. Was it just a coincidence that the people who were buying those assets at knock-down, fire-sale prices were the same people who handed out tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars to the political parties doing the selling? We saw the interests of New Zealand put in second place, and we are still paying the price for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003ESome of us sat in this Chamber right through that period. John Key might have been offered overseas cocktails parties with the donors he now wants to let buy as many votes as they can afford; some of us were not. We have not forgotten what was done to New Zealand and the enormous cost of it. What an amazing coincidence that the same people who bought the assets were the people who paid enormous sums of money to the political parties of the day. What a coincidence that whatever those donors wanted, they got. The interests of New Zealanders were relegated behind the interests of the companies of the rich buyers of our assets. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EEven if one does not believe that the policy was bought, look at the perceptions that policy followed money. Look at the damage those perceptions did to the fabric of our democracy and to the respect for the political process. That sort of politics has no place in New Zealand. This legislation helps to erect a wall against the anti-democratic sale and purchase of electoral influence. The bill says that parties that take huge secret donations must tell us to whom they are in hock, whom they owe favours to, and what they are going to do in order to get the money. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EWhen Deep Throat exposed Richard Nixon and Watergate, he told the reporters at the Washington Post to follow the money. This principle is as old as wisdom. We used to say: \u201CHe who pays the piper calls the tune.\u201D We want to know who is paying so that we might better understand what the electoral tune is. If Watergate had happened here, the New Zealand Herald would have praised the money that paid for the conspiracy. Instead of Woodward and Bernstein, we would have had editorials praising the President for protecting the rights of anyone to buy political favours. Instead of sending reporters out to expose the scandal, the New Zealand Herald\u2019s editor would have sent out a sales team to ask for a cut.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EI wish we could rely on an independent news media to expose the influence of big money in this country, but the record shows that we cannot. The record shows that newspapers take the money in advertising and then shut up about it. Look at the New Zealand Herald letting its greed get in the way of its objectivity. The New Zealand Herald campaigns to let anyone buy elections. The New Zealand Herald campaigns because it knows what side its bread is buttered on. It knows that it does not raise concerns when its pages are being used to buy votes. It does not object when its own pages are used unfairly. It takes 30 pieces of silver and sits compromised to the core of its soul. If members look at the editorials of the New Zealand Herald over 100 years, they will find exactly the same kind of stand as now. Members will find that the New Zealand Herald was wrong when it did it then and it is wrong when it does it now. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EIf newspapers will not do the job of making elections fair, someone else has to. We need to limit the role of big money, to protect our democracy. This bill puts a cap on the amount of money anyone can spend to lobby for their point of view. So it poses a question to opponents of this bill: how much money is too much to spend influencing an election? Is it $1 million? Is it $5 million? Is it $10 million? Is it $20 million? If there is no cap on the amount that should be spent, then we are saying our democracy should be for sale. If there is no cap, then we do not have a democracy; we have an auction. If there is no cap on election spending, then we might as well turn Parliament over to TradeMe. If we accept that there should be some limit on the amount people are spending, then we are merely debating the quantum. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EMembers cannot tell me that fundamental issues of democracy are not at stake here. If I say the limit should be $1 and those members say it should be $2, what is fundamental about that? No; the fundamental issue is whether there should be any cap, at all. I want National members to state plainly during this debate that they believe there should be no limit on anonymous donations\u2014that there should be no limit to what can be bought with those sacks full of cash. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EI wonder what the National members have in mind. It is no coincidence that National has only announced one policy for next year\u2019s election\u2014selling assets. Here we go again\u2014unlimited money in our politics and an unlimited fire sale of the public\u2019s family silver. The pigs are trying to get into the trough again. They cannot wait to get their noses into it. The National Party has already sold its policy. When National members say they will repeal this legislation, what do they mean? Do they mean that National will not have any electoral finance laws, at all? Do they mean that people will be able to spend as much as they like? Do they mean that anyone will be able to give any amount of cash to the National Party without declaring it? I wonder what the National Party wants. If National members are saying that there should not be some limit on the ability of anonymous people to buy elections, then\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002272a7f267dcd34d3eaa8092d95b31d26c\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: Tell us about Mike Moore\u2019s view.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022235ec8dc4e73466d992ff525f0b227d5\u0022\u003EHon JIM ANDERTON\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah\u2014think about it. Yes, I have heard Mike Moore. I was in this House when Mike Moore was here. I know about Mike Moore. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228415e962-886d-47b9-9356-3fdce746891f\u0022\u003EIf National members are saying that people should be able to spend what they like in an election, then they are saying that people who spend more money should have more say. That is not democracy; that is a disgrace against the most fundamental ideas of civilised organisation. This bill should be supported by all members of this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022 data-id=\u00229b18e37f4365498c992a8e9ee4cfef83\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229b18e37f4365498c992a8e9ee4cfef83\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH (Deputy Leader\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E Where is the leadership of the Labour Government, when it is under more pressure than it has been for 8 years? Where is Helen Clark, who should be backing the legislation that her Cabinet signed off? Where is the brave rising star, Phil Goff? Where is the ever-angry and principled Dr Cullen? It is typical of Helen Clark that the organ grinder has sent the monkey today to articulate the visceral disgust that Labour has of anyone who criticises it. I have never heard such vitriol about the media in this House\u2014even from the former member for Tauranga. This vitriol came from a member whose party has accepted anonymous donations and who was president of the Labour Party that funded its 1987 campaign through all of the people he condemns today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EI advise the member Jim Anderton of one inconvenient fact. Today he talked about the fact that the Electoral Finance Bill stops anonymous donors buying elections. He sat in a Cabinet that approved the original draft of the bill that had no restrictions in it on anonymous donations\u2014despite the fact that the National Party had said publicly for months that it supported restrictions on anonymous donations. That is a measure of how insincere Labour\u2019s arguments are. It presented legislation with no restrictions on anonymous donations, and now it is using the restrictions forced on it by the Greens as being the sole reason for the legislation. That is why the Labour leadership will not front up to defend this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EThe member also talked about big money and buying votes. Well, who would be experts on that but Labour? He said $1 million was big money. Today the Government gave us a Budget update. It has $3.5 billion that it will use to buy the next election. So it does not matter which way we look at it: this legislation is all about entrenching the right of Government and the political establishment to use big public money to buy elections, and no one will be able to stop it. The Government can give hundreds of millions of dollars in tertiary funding, and it can use Government political advertising to promote this\u2014as the Government will do next year. An MP has a big public budget and can say that he or she has the hundreds of millions of dollars for polytechs and universities. But if one wants to oppose it\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221c818ce2-6ca3-4c4a-9e6a-2e3a67d070e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231c60cfcbedc4e57bc39f4fdae0631bc\u0022\u003EShane Ardern\u003C/span\u003E: You can\u2019t!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247ba9367987440e18b15e3d3ee380b78\u0022\u003EHon BILL ENGLISH\u003C/span\u003E: Well, one can, but if one spends more than $12,000, one has to register as a third party and appoint a financial agent. One has to present returns of donations and returns of expenses, and one can be personally subject to a search warrant. If someone is suspected of spending more than $12,000\u2014when the Government is spending $1 billion\u2014the police can search that person\u2019s house under this legislation. If someone broke the law, that person could be fined $100,000 or be locked up for 2 years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003ESo what will happen is that people who want to oppose this Government will ask their lawyers, and their lawyers will explain just the process I have explained. Well-meaning, well-intentioned people\u2014like the people of my home province of Southland\u2014will be worried. In this small democracy, this great democracy, the good citizens of Southland will be worried about whether they can legally hold a political opinion in an election year without facing the threat of imprisonment. The former member for Tauranga\u2014the great radical, anti-establishment figure\u2014is all in favour of that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EThe other ridiculous thing about this legislation is that if I stand up in Southland, or if my colleague Eric Roy stands up, and we say \u201CVote Labour out. They are trying to shut down the Southern Institute of Technology.\u201D, that will be legal. If Tim Shadbolt gets up and says it, it could be illegal and he could be arrested. That is how ridiculous this legislation is. It says that a private citizen or a community organisation faces tight rules and less money, but a politician or a Government has no rules and a lot more money. That is the ultimate arrogance.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EYou see, this is not about big money from the citizenship or from the community; this is about entrenching and defending the right of politicians to spend someone else\u2019s money on influencing elections. If we listened to Jim Anderton, we would think that it had never occurred to a politician to use public money to influence an election, that politicians are purely motivated by the good of the country, and that everyone else is a rip-off merchant trying to do something secretly to influence people in corrupt ways. That is what New Zealand First and Labour believe. They believe that the people running the campaign from Southland about the Southern Institute of Technology are venal, self-interested, and probably trying to corrupt the system. They believe that the Minister who is flying up and down spending millions of dollars of public money is purely motivated, and that he or she should have more say. For every election that I have stood in, and the dozens that went before it, MPs and people\u2014normal public people\u2014were subject to the same law. For 3 months before the election it was one law for the politicians and the same law for everyone else, but Labour has decided to exempt MPs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EWhat a mess Annette King has made of this legislation. The public have trampled all over the Electoral Finance Bill, but the Electoral Finance Bill has trampled all over her reputation. To show the paranoia of the Labour Government, Annette King tried to define the use of public money in a way that would prevent the Opposition from telling the public what it would do after the election. And these are the people who say we have no policy! Labour was going to make having a policy almost illegal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EHere is another little pearler. [Interruption] The member who is yelling down the back there, Jill Pettis, got $9,500 of anonymous donations in the last election. This legislation tells us much more about the character of the Labour Government than it does about anything else. It shows that it cannot take criticism. It shows that it wants to extend its culture of bullying and manipulation in the civil service to the rest of the public. But it tells us something else that is very important. The Labour Party and Helen Clark cannot conceive of a public good that is separate from the good of the Labour Party. They cannot conceive of it. Their belief is that people who criticise them are against the Labour Government, and that is why they criticise them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EI want to tell Labour, from my experience in politics, that often one\u2019s critics are right. Often they are advocating a public good that one cannot see oneself. I am sure that right now Labour members are saying that the people who run the Southern Institute of Technology spend all their time planning to get Labour. Well, actually they do not. It has a community interest in what happens to its own institutions, as communities right through the country do. That is the ultimate arrogance. Labour cannot see a public good that is separate from what is good for Labour. Well, this legislation is bad for Labour\u2014that is obvious\u2014but it is terrible for New Zealand. It is an anti-democratic drift-net. It will not do what Labour says it will do. We will repeal the legislation because it is a case of the Government using its constitutional majority for partisan advantage, and it has to go.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bb158206-360b-4757-8d72-f7d0994e1fb3\u0022\u003EDebate interrupted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002256cff8fef6584ce4b0b26ed9eea74526\u0022\u003EPersonal Explanations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022c3ce18246a07492a9fd5edb2e14c0175\u0022\u003EPersonal Comments\u2014Erin Leigh\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u0022978dcf19fbba4b749b2c50a6de113f41\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022978dcf19fbba4b749b2c50a6de113f41\u0022\u003EHon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister for the Environment):\u003C/span\u003E On 22 November, in response to two questions, I made comments in relation to Ms Erin Leigh. On reflection I now believe it was not wise to make those comments. I apologise to her.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00223897e12e524d4520be2964ac4eda749c\u0022\u003ETabling of Documents\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002224931ca112aa47669af35be1fc519fdd\u0022\u003EFerguson Lecture, 2006\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022 data-id=\u0022c1f563f66344481499175b1ec768f22f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c1f563f66344481499175b1ec768f22f\u0022\u003EDAVID BENSON-POPE (Labour\u2014Dunedin South):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave to table the Ferguson Lecture of 2006 by Marion Maddox.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022330c030b-99be-4461-8aaa-9a10ee5bd889\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022\u003EBills\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bd54aaa304864c7b9fc67341d40ee5a7\u0022\u003EElectoral Finance Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bd54aaa304864c7b9fc67341d40ee5a7\u0022\u003EBroadcasting Amendment Bill (No 3)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bd54aaa304864c7b9fc67341d40ee5a7\u0022\u003EElectoral Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00227d753ebe5f8b44f29d04e6d28e0a9add\u0022\u003EThird Readings\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000311\u0022\u003EDebate resumed.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u00227da70bb2470d4a9d889394227d88f169\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227da70bb2470d4a9d889394227d88f169\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader\u2014NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E The New Zealand First Party believes in capitalism as the best way, socially and economically, to organise the affairs of society. But when we talk about capitalism we talk about responsible capitalism of the type articulated by men like Benjamin Disraeli, and Keith Holyoake in the 1950s and 1960s in New Zealand. We do not talk about the elitism, the autocracy, the oligarchy, or the special interests that certain people in this Parliament represent today and nothing else. That is the modern National Party. It is light years away from what it used to be, and Mr English had the audacity to stand up here today repeating myths and shibboleths that are not true. He knows that they are absurd, but because he has an attentive audience from the foreign-owned principal media of this country, namely the Christchurch Press, the Dominion Post, and the New Zealand Herald, he knows he can get coverage. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003ELet me ask members this question. Did the New Zealand Herald complain back in 1993 when the National Party shut down another political party from advertising on any occasion in the campaign on radio or TV? Did the New Zealand Herald complain? Did the Dominion Post complain? Did that great doyen of the free and the faithful, the Christchurch Press, complain? Not a word, not a sound, not a mutter, not a murmur. That is what principle is about in this Parliament. This party over here got $1.4 million in the last campaign in secret trusts. Where did it come from? This party gets more than $7 million every year now. The taxpayer pays the National Party, above all other parties, $7 million - plus to prosecute its parliamentary business. Now tell me, why would a party want an uncapped fund after getting $7 million from the taxpayers? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWhat is mysterious about this whole campaign over the Electoral Finance Bill is this. We are trying to find out whose freedom of speech is going to be suppressed. Has anybody told members whose freedom of speech is going to be suppressed? Well, I have not heard. Here comes the second mystery. What do the opponents of the bill want to say from now until the next election, and why would they want to spend millions of dollars buying space to say it? What do the opponents of this bill want to say from now until the next election, and why would they want millions of dollars to say that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea0c8e3b081243fe83eee9dc6fbb3c0d\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: They shouldn\u2019t need it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002204f31d3bb92943639c0f94d22fd87198\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: They should not need it; that is exactly right. If National members\u2019 attention span can manage it, they should think about this. There is so much free speech around that we are swamped with it. We hear it all the time, whether or not we want to listen. Listen to the talkback shows. There is enough free speech to keep a small town going 24 hours a day\u2014there is so much hot air. Everybody has a view from the All Blacks to, dare I say it, Nicky Watson. Everybody has a view about everything. We have never had so much free speech in this country\u2019s history. Why are we being warned every day by the National Party and its rich friends that this freedom of speech is to be taken away from us? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f7182ec2b4c458da39165af151a72ff\u0022\u003ECharles Chauvel\u003C/span\u003E: Mendacious civil rights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223af8c73687ff4c3d9f956c89f527da1e\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Mendacious civil rights? They still do not know what that means. They could be given millions in a campaign on literacy and they would still not be any wiser at the end of the process. But here is my point. What is it that has been taken away from New Zealanders that these paragons of democratic virtue\u2014in the National Party of all parties\u2014are seeking to defend? Bill English gets up in a right lather, posturing as he does, and giving his legal views, which are not worth the paper they are written on. They are wrong, they are false; nobody is going to be denied a chance to speak up at the next election. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EI just want to say this to my friend Tim Shadbolt before he makes a mistake. It was a New Zealand First Treasurer who uncapped the funding to tertiary institutions in this country back in 1998. That is a fact. For the first time the funding was uncapped. He should read the fine print and he will not be so alarmed. But if he thinks he has a friend in the National Party he has lost it\u2014he has lost his fine political instincts. If he thinks the National Party will help him, my poor friend Tim has lost his political touch, so I say to Tim: \u201CBe careful.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First is happy for the National Party to have all the opportunity it needs for freedom of speech, because we just might hear a policy. Can I ask these questions? What is the National Party\u2019s policy on Working for Families? What is its policy on medical care for all ages? What is its policy on the Reserve Bank legislation? What is its policy on, for example, KiwiSaver? What is its policy on tertiary education funding, or latchkey kids? What is its policy on asset sales? What is its policy on foreign banks price gouging New Zealanders? What is its policy on business taxes to come? The National Party does not have a policy. I have some little doubts about this, because I would like National to have enough money to sell its policies. But, of course, it will not cost much, because right now we have not heard one\u2014on anything. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225a76cfb7aa7e44cdb890761131dee0cd\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: What does Garth McVicar think of this?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228d59ff56213a4251b69639b180c0eff4\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Let me tell the member that if Garth McVicar thinks he is helping the sensible sentencing cause by lining up with the National Party, then he has sold the cause down the drain. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f9a0690656e946ce8d7cdbed1ab5ed32\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d24a54048300431eb7445dafd0ac822a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, yes! I remember the National Party\u2019s last policy on law and order. Do members know what it was? National spent $340 million on a computer called INCIS. That computer was such a brilliant piece of technology, it would go out and arrest all the lawless in our society! Garth McVicar should know that $340 million was the cost of the last law and order policy that the National Party put up before the country. Do members know what happened? The computer\u2019s operators could not get it to work. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226dcff9a338944effba1ad57ce0efc5e2\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: What does Grey Power say? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b59ba12a3dbc4e7f825a41ca5aff2107\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I was down at Nelson with Grey Power last Friday, and I say to Maurice Williamson that its members are still cheering.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ef4704e301e6492d83a978b0f9046b43\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: Oh yeah?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002287727ea28c804aebab2374c5078c9d29\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: They are still cheering, because, for the first time, they heard the truth. Up until then they had been hearing the shibboleths from one Nick Smith. So we can see why they were confused. What is the National Party\u2019s policy on Fonterra\u2014come on\u2014or on Television New Zealand\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223b8510bb7b594b138f85d5838858ffb7\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: What has this to do with the Electoral Finance Bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222aa479506b64f45854cb77b75d755ab\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: It has everything to do with it. I say to Dr Mapp that is why we want to know who is backing National, because we are not going to have the kind of covert money that is destroying democracy in some countries in the Pacific today. Oh yes! Dr Mapp from Auckland University used to understand this, at one time. Does he remember when the National Party was selling the BNZ? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022df788c48-b9be-42fd-b8f2-76629a5572b8\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022915d45a2bb30491aa2b0944a8e494a61\u0022\u003EDr Wayne Mapp\u003C/span\u003E: Get back on the topic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022650185c872704678bc12a16571d5f097\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Does he remember that the National Party sold the BNZ? He was a councillor for the National Party, was he not? [Interruption] Yes he was. So the National Party sold the BNZ\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6ab1a27b3474723b5defccc3217d18a\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: They did not \u201Csell\u201D the BNZ; they bailed it out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c94eae0a07724819a41c8465a5b3ab19\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, it did. It was 22 October 1992\u2014do members not remember? The BNZ, 30 percent\u2014[Interruption] No, no. Who sold it to the National Australia Bank? The sale of the BNZ to the National Australia Bank was effected by the National Party, yet the front bench of the National Party are denying it. There is Maurice Williamson, a front-bench member of the National Party, who cannot remember yesterday. What is its policy today? It is still the same old policy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003ENational says that if this law were only for the 3 months out from an election, it would be OK. What an amazing confession! If the law were only for the last 3 months of an election campaign, then National says it would be OK. So what is the issue here? The issue is that National could not spend all the money that it has been given, over and above the $7 million the taxpayer gives it every year. Can we imagine Holyoake worrying about this legislation? Can we imagine Marshall worrying about this legislation? Can we imagine Adam Hamilton worrying about the legislation? Can we even imagine Muldoon being concerned about this? Of course, he would not, because he would be out there doing some real campaigning at public meetings, not organising photo opportunities at the New Zealand Herald, and advertising, and DVDs, and stealing somebody else\u2019s copyright on songs. That is what has happened here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EThe National Party has lost it! It needs this money to disguise the inability of its front bench. It is the worst, most hopeless, untalented front bench the National Party has ever had. Come on! I ask Doug Woolerton, because he and I have been around a long time, we had been in the National Party for a long time\u2014long before these current guys\u2014whether that front bench is the worst he has ever seen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220168f8a4608f4ea4b1c3b2cf84654299\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: Absolutely!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002208271779f45b4bb39d02b90ac08f1231\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: There you are; that is the voice of an expert. So we all agree. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022 data-id=\u00226c471c4c03234360b5aa1b12adf1e8ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226c471c4c03234360b5aa1b12adf1e8ca\u0022\u003EMETIRIA TUREI (Green):\u003C/span\u003E The Green Party is pleased with the changes that the House is making to the financing of election campaigns. The Greens respect the fact that there are good reasons for the boundaries this legislation places on the purchase of advertising and other campaign material. We are proud to have severely limited the anonymous donations that political parties can receive for electioneering purposes. We agree that such constraints are necessary in a free and democratic society that values a level playing field and fairer elections.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EIt is somewhat ironic that those who purport to be champions of individualism and freedom of speech are the ones opposing the bill, because they are opposing the very precepts on which this modern democratic system we participate in was built. They are opposing the principles of equality that their, and my, forebears sought to honour when they first arrived in this country. My ancestors, Susannah and Henry Hawes, arrived in Karamea, from the ship Michelangelo, which left Gravesend in 1874. Susannah was a pioneer of the West Coast. She came to this country to build a new life for herself and for her children. We can see in her writings, many of which have survived, that she had a great deal of hope and enthusiasm for her new life and her new country. She built her life here as part of a migration that sought to escape the inequality of the old country\u2014the inequality of birth, wealth, and privilege.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EWhen she arrived here the representative Government had been in place for about 22 years, and from the outset the potential for money to corrupt the political process in New Zealand had been both recognised and countered, and the need for restraints had begun to be incorporated into law. As early as 1858 a law was passed to prohibit treating, bribery of, and the undue influence of money on, our politicians. Politicians were not to be bought in our young New Zealand. In 1881, just a few years after Susannah\u2019s arrival, the first rules to define campaign election spending were passed. They imposed caps on how much money candidates could spend on their campaign. In 1895 the cap was set at \u20A4200.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EThese early rules that constrained the ways that money would be allowed to influence politics and politicians, were integral to the new parliamentary system. Our ancestors knew exactly how the privilege of money and class could interfere with political expression, and they quickly created systems to prevent that interference. The clarity of our ancestors\u2019 thinking on that score puts the current debate on this bill to shame. As new arrivals, they could have been forgiven for creating a utopian system of unfettered liberties; instead, they tried to ensure that their intention of building a new system came to pass\u2014or at least they gave it their best shot. It was to be a system where money, class, the ownership of property, and accidents of gender were not left to become the iron determinants of political engagement. Instead, people built a system that elevated the place of opportunity and merit, that privileged openness and free speech and, above all, that sought to make fairness its distinguishing feature.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EThe Green Party is proud to uphold that principle. We are proud to have defended it against attacks on it by those who would interfere with its political expression through the privilege of wealth. Over the intervening years our rules have gradually been developed to take into account our growing nation and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The 1986 report from the Royal Commission on the Electoral System was a watershed report on the impacts of money on political campaigning. Its recommendations came 95 years after the first limits on campaign spending. The commission argued, and rightly I believe, that if there were one area where our community should reasonably tolerate some limitations on the freedom of expression, it would be in the systems of how we elect our Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EThis has been the defining question in the debate over the bill\u2014the question of whether it limits freedom of speech. Yes, the bill limits how much can be spent on advertising, thus extending the laws that New Zealand has had in place for over a century. We have two interesting examples of the use of money in such a context. We have the current example of the Southern Institute of Technology and its campaign in its newspaper advertisements. Under this bill, the institute\u2019s campaign advertisements are not electioneering; they are issues advertising so they are not covered by this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EWe also have a changing political process. We have got rid of door-knocking now\u2014that traditional practice. Instead, we have very expensive phone spamming by Canadian call centres, which will ring 70,000 households\u2014just like that\u2014in order to drum up support for a dying campaign. Yes, this legislation requires transparency by those who are engaged in the electioneering campaign, and the Greens are pleased we were able to expose the rort of 2005 before it could seriously contaminate the election process. This bill helps to protect us against that rort and that kind of corruption. We have obvious examples from other, similar jurisdictions overseas where corruption has infected the political system. US democracy has become a commodity that is routinely bought and sold.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EMembers should make no mistake: advertising works. In New Zealand the advertising industry is worth more than $2 billion a year. Nobody would spend that kind of money unless it was effective. Democracy in the US, in fact, relies on marketing for its very existence. Who can stand for election and whose message will prevail depends on the donors, and the ongoing flows of cash and donations have come to depend on the elective representatives remembering to pay the piper. It is a form of democracy that has virtually no life at all outside the classic examples, where donations determine who gets to stand and who gets to succeed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003ESo why do institutions and individuals donate? The driver is a hunger for money by political parties but, despite public funding in other comparable jurisdictions, the hunger explains the driver only in part, because donors want parties and, hopefully, Governments to be beholden to them and to be preferred over their business competitors. It is a neat, cosy arrangement and it grows more blatant. Parties in Australia now openly call for donations that provide access to the Prime Minister or Premier at rates of $10,000. It costs less to get to see a Minister. All of the donors want access, and, some would reasonably argue, favours.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EIn New Zealand we seem to have accepted that there is a situation of donations to political parties, provided that the donation, the giver, and the receiver are known\u2014that is, disclosure is the key for us. The Greens, to the best extent we could negotiate, have ensured that we have severely restricted the capacity for anonymous donations to be made to political parties, so that the public can know more about who is funding their political representatives and their political campaigns, and can then assess their policy positions in response. We have exposed the secret trusts to the disinfectant of sunlight. We have exposed the rorts of the 2005 election and we do not want those rorts to happen again. We have closed those loopholes. For parties that are in Government, such public scrutiny of funders and policy preferences is critical, and the Greens have made that scrutiny by the public easier through the provisions in this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fc8ab326-1806-41d3-8c41-cd58c95dcb45\u0022\u003EThe Greens will continue to work for better campaign funding law. This legislation does not do everything right, and we need better work done. That is why we have advocated so strongly for a citizens\u2019 assembly. A citizens\u2019 assembly would comprise two people selected from each electorate, who would work together as a group with advisers and a secretariat to consider New Zealand\u2019s historical situation and comparable jurisdictions. It would hold public hearings, and would work towards developing a new campaign funding law that is about the New Zealand situation. This is what we have been advocating for nearly a year. Such an assembly would enable the citizens of our country to devise election funding rules that meet the changing needs of a society that is sophisticated and technologically savvy, but that at heart upholds the founding principles of the parliamentary democracy our forebears brought to this country\u2014principles of transparency, equality, and fairness. In short, we need Kiwi politicians with no strings attached.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022 data-id=\u0022ecb5e9234a5a49c0866c6bad47df2463\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ecb5e9234a5a49c0866c6bad47df2463\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA (M\u0101ori Party\u2014Te Tai Tokerau):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Madam Assistant Speaker. Kia ora t\u0101tou e te Whare. Over these last few months of intense and passionate debate about the Electoral Finance Bill, one email stood out for me, because it said a lot about who we are as a M\u0101ori Party. I paraphrase part of that email here: \u201CWe are not members of the Exclusive Brethren. We are not members of the ACT party. We are not members of the National Party. We are not members of John Boscawen\u2019s team, as Helen Clark scathingly and incorrectly called those who marched in Auckland against this bill.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EWe are the M\u0101ori Party, and I welcome this opportunity to set the record straight on our party\u2019s position on this legislation. We are the M\u0101ori Party, and, contrary to the Government\u2019s claims, this legislation is not being attacked only by those New Zealanders who are able to pour thousands of dollars into electioneering campaigns to buy influence in Government. We are the M\u0101ori Party, with nothing behind us save the tens of thousands of voters who put us here and our absolute commitment to the well-being of those voters, and I tell everyone now that we are opposed to the Electoral Finance Bill. We are the M\u0101ori Party with not a bean to our name\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002275af7f35a1c14e7dad6e41c96233f13a\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. There used to be a Standing Order in this Parliament, a Standing Order that I think still pertains. This is a debating chamber, and when someone brings a laptop down here, puts it on top of his desk, and reads out his or her speech from it word for word, then I think it diminishes this Parliament. It diminishes the whole debate, because it means that no matter what is said, we do not know whether it is the member\u2019s view or the research office\u2019s view. That is the point here. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWhat has happened to this Parliament when someone can get up in the House and read out his or her speech word for word from a laptop, particularly when that person is a M\u0101ori? M\u0101ori are meant to have oratorical skills. Why is a laptop needed? But here is the point: how does it help the debate? I think we should look seriously into what is going on here.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022738c5619e4924f17b11025cd179c6917\u0022\u003ERodney Hide\u003C/span\u003E: The Rt Hon Winston Peters is right, up to a point. Up until 1996 it was not possible for members to read out their speeches, but since then the Standing Orders have changed. I noticed that Mr Peters, throughout the delivery of his speech, made liberal use of papers in front of him. Indeed, it has been the case in this Parliament for well over 10 years that laptops have been able to be brought into the House and used in delivering speeches. I commend the M\u0101ori Party for being up with the times and making use of a laptop. Reading a speech from a laptop in this way is no different from reading out speeches written and printed off for a member by a researcher, as in Mr Peters\u2019 case.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002269b30050d4f84196a02dbdff04b51d45\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: It is very well and fine for Mr Hide to raise a point of order, but he knew the inaccuracies he was making as he articulated them. That can be proven by tabling both the Hansard of the Rt Hon Winston Peters\u2019 speech and a copy of the document he was holding while he was speaking. Mr Hide would then see that they do not match at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003EBut the point here is that we have heard a lot in this debate about the waste of taxpayers\u2019 money. The member on his feet is a man who is paid $130,000 to come here and speak, and to stand up here and read out from a laptop the words that a researcher has put before him is not actually to do his job; it is simply to read out what the researcher has given him to read out\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ddb5582cee8b4958aa790c09433608f4\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: I will rule on this point of order. The Standing Orders have been\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f1a7181a01542619bdec5ad16b504b6\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: I take exception to what the member just said.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b1fb02b23c64d2fab5381608b94ae12\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: Wait on, I am just dealing with the point of order that has been raised, specifically. I ask that there be silence while we are dealing with it. The Standing Orders have been changed. The member is allowed to do what he was doing. Furthermore, instructions from the Speaker on 15 August 2007 on the use of laptops and mobile devices in the Chamber state that these may be used after question time. The member is allowed to use a laptop. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c9f244cc93374789a946facb52a1f150\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I would like to confirm, for the benefit of those members from New Zealand First, that I wrote this speech myself, completely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e4c12075fd845c689a213934941e26b\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: No, that is not an issue, at all. It is not a point of order. Was that the member\u2019s point of order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260b3bb186fd748bf926e3107a2d8c4f7\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286d17c10116549448c0a8d9cb78ef264\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: OK, that is fine. Please continue.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209d97359e62249cbbab02e96479d2c1c\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: I hope this has not affected my time, Madam Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d7e18c5c57ce46e0bf227862f295335b\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: No, it has not.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5a96233bf4e439381405cb79c2a1544\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: Hei k\u014Drero an\u014D, m\u0113n\u0101 e hiahia ana a Winitana Pita kia k\u014Drero M\u0101ori m\u0101ua, ka pai t\u0113r\u0101; engari, e kore ia e m\u014Dhio ana ki taku reo.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E[An interpretation in English was given to the House.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E[In addition, should Winston Peters want us two to converse in M\u0101ori, that is fine; but he will not understand my language.]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ad31f6d797c4739ac42da23738bad2e\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: That was not a\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b24d00f4fa944b79241b52b660d46b6\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. First of all, the principal language this Parliament uses is English. The second thing I want to say is that if I wanted to consult an expert in te reo, I would not be consulting Hone Harawira; I would consult someone who is qualified. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a10f26487c34e00aa38943e4acd2a6d\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: That was not really a point of order, either.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022baaa0020f38d4664ba0859c2e8d2ef1d\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: I want to make the point that if I wish to speak in M\u0101ori at any time, I will do so. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EWe are the M\u0101ori Party, with not a bean to our name, but we still turned down $250,000 rather than compromise our independence, and for the same reasons we are opposed to this bill. We are the M\u0101ori Party, and we were angry with both the divisive \u201CIwi/Kiwi\u201D campaign run by National and the nasty \u201Ca vote for the M\u0101ori Party is a vote for National\u201D campaign run by Labour, because we did not have the wherewithal to counteract either. Yet still we are opposed to this bill. We are the M\u0101ori Party, with not a bean to our name, but we stand free in this House, answerable to no one but our own people, uncompromised by shady deals with either of the major parties, and we are proud to say that we are opposed to this electoral finance legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000374\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EYes, like most New Zealanders we were horrified at the revelations of secret trust accounts and the millions of dollars being spent by other groups in support of the campaigns of both Labour and National. And, yes, we agree that Parliament should pass laws to prevent the undue influence that lobbyists can have on our electoral process. But, unlike Labour, our focus is not only on the rich, the very rich, and the obscenely rich. We also saw unions spending heaps of money to undermine us at the last election. It was a classic third-party attack to try to link M\u0101ori Party votes with National, when in fact our voting pattern has always been more in line with that of the Greens. And I am proud to say that regardless of all the big money offered to us, and the nasty underhand tactics used against us, the M\u0101ori Party stands by its kaupapa of opposing corruption, opposing illegality, and opposing the abuse of power in all its forms. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EAnd, yes, the Exclusive Brethren\u2019s million-dollar anti-Labour - anti-Greens campaign was beyond the pale, but I cannot help but smell the filthy stench of hypocrisy from the Labour Party in its attack on the Brethren\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002238a12cdaea224f278a6c3559466bff72\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: No, the member must withdraw that comment. He cannot accuse a person or a party of hypocrisy. Please withdraw.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a0f4e2a0ace488ca94c09f2d480ffc4\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: I withdraw\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228dda2ade2f74b27a2026f0b9db6c296\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215ea70ca89c045eaad121d1ebffc704e\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: And apologise?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002240077dbaf77b4e53bf1f8253aef2989f\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d25c6f8305244660852538b52c46cdfe\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: I am happy to apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fae7af0d-c48d-4dd4-88f3-928ccaa3a984\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226c4ffabda787435bb4029a9163c86774\u0022\u003EThe ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Ann Hartley)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002220210ab78a104e0ca20131a12b6021e7\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: It was not the Exclusive Brethren on whom the police had prima facie evidence of electoral finance mismanagement, was it? Heck, no\u2014it was the Labour Party. Does everybody remember that? The cops said that they had a prima facie case of electoral mismanagement against the Prime Minister\u2019s very own private secretary, but they did not want to press charges against an individual for what was clearly the work of a group of people. And it was that very same Labour Party that then set up a special deal with its mates to rewrite the law to let the party keep doing what it did last time, while gagging the voices of the Opposition. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EMembers should make no mistake: the M\u0101ori Party stands firmly against the kind of overwhelming financial firepower that only parties like National can boast of. But as we sit here and listen to all the doomsayers from Labour prattle on about the destructive power of overseas influence, let me just point out to anyone who does not think that our Governments are not already controlled by overseas interests, that they need only look at the Waihopai spy base to realise that our nation\u2019s security\u2014indeed, our nation\u2019s very sovereignty\u2014is already compromised by the existence of a super-secret operation to spy on the people of the Pacific, right here on New Zealand soil, and controlled not from Wellington but from Washington. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003ETo those people who think that money wins elections, I say to take a look at the good old US of A, where 3 years ago billionaire Democrat Norman Lear and his mates spent more than $15 million to try to push George Bush out of office and buy the election for John Kerry. Well, that did not work too well, did it? George Bush is now President Bush and John Kerry is \u201CJohn Who?\u201D. What about the senior Republican senator who spent $42 million on his election race, and still came second? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EYes, folks\u2014money talks. But nothing talks quite like the truth, and the truth about this bill is that it is nothing but an arrogant dismissal by this Labour-led Government to deny the citizens of Aotearoa - New Zealand the right to participate in one of the fundamental rights of any so-called democratic society: how we elect our Government. And, no, we will not be fobbed off by any talk that this legislation is only about election finances, because it ain\u2019t. If this were only about election finances, then why did this Labour Government push through special legislation to validate its $800,000 overspend at the last election rather than let the legal process take its natural course? If this were only about election finances, then why did this Labour Government not ask the Auditor-General and the Electoral Commission to present a range of options for public consideration, and for presentation to this House? If this were only about election finances, then why does the Human Rights Commission say that this bill is a dramatic assault on fundamental human rights, freedom of expression, and the right to participate in the electoral process?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dccaa9def6df4aab86a53ecc56eed08e\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: Not in the second letter, they didn\u2019t.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022348ba9218170431abba6eda57b7b4913\u0022\u003EHONE HARAWIRA\u003C/span\u003E: That is right; they did not. If this were only about election finances, then why did the Human Rights Commission say that even this rewritten, flea-bitten, revised, patched-up, and unrecognised version should still have been given back to the public for full discussion and debate? I will tell the House why. Because this legislation is not just about election finances; it is about the sweet scent of power and the lust for control. It is about the decadence of corruption, the stench of deceit, and the refusal to accept the reality of impending defeat. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EYes, there have been amendments\u2014hell, we even voted for one of them. But, given the constitutional importance of legislation that will play a critical role in determining how the next election will be fought, stitching up this deal behind closed doors and then adding a veneer of democracy through a select committee process is nothing but a sick joke. Mind you, this Government\u2019s denying the people of Aotearoa the right to open a public debate on the process by which we manage the next election, is right up there with its changing the law to bypass any serious questioning of its expenditure at the last election. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EThe M\u0101ori Party will not be party to legislation that is clearly aimed at restricting freedom of speech. We will not be party to this desperate attempt by Labour to stay in power, at the expense of the fundamental human rights of the citizens of this country. We will not be party to legislation designed to put fear into those who would speak their mind, by forcing them to run the gauntlet of registration, audit, notification, financial agency, monitoring, reporting, scrutiny, and penalty. And we will not be party to a bill that slams the door on Opposition spending, while it allows the Government to continue to spend millions on promoting its own policies and programmes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227883c85e-a5bb-4a12-9962-80df55af0ecd\u0022\u003EThe M\u0101ori Party was born out of M\u0101oridom\u2019s absolute rejection of this Labour Government\u2019s arrogant denial of our basic human rights to the foreshore and seabed, and with the same vigour and determination we will reject this legislation that rewrites the law to allow this Government to stay in power. Money is not what drives people to vote; it is truth. I sincerely hope and pray that those who have sacrificed truth for the delusion of power that overwhelms this decadent and depraved legislation will come to see the folly of their ways when the people reject this sham, come election 2008. Kia ora t\u0101tou.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022 data-id=\u0022fa5d8f463e1543009e640168b5e85b2c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fa5d8f463e1543009e640168b5e85b2c\u0022\u003EHon PETER DUNNE (Leader\u2014United Future):\u003C/span\u003E United Future supported the introduction and development of the Electoral Finance Bill because we believed that it was important to tidy up the excesses of the last election in order to ensure that New Zealand continued to have a fair and open electoral system into the future. We still do believe that, which is why we have worked in the select committee and elsewhere to improve the legislation and to remove its most obnoxious features. We believe that that has been achieved, and we have continued to support the legislation through its second reading and the Committee of the whole House, despite our very deep concerns about the partisan way in which it has been developed. We would have strongly preferred there to be a genuine multi-party involvement in the development of this legislation, given that there was\u2014at least, initially\u2014a measure of common ground apparent on some of the issues it was likely to cover. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EOver recent weeks, partly but not solely in response to a well-orchestrated campaign, it has become clear that many New Zealanders have deep unease about the legislation and its provisions as they perceive them. Many hundreds of people have contacted me through letters, emails, our party website, and other sources to let me know what they think about this legislation and, contrary to what some may think, I have read personally every item of communication delivered to me. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EAlthough some of those measures have contained the usual outpourings of abuse and partisanship, which I have properly disregarded, and others have been plainly misinformed, many have also come from people within my electorate and around the country whose views I genuinely respect. In particular, I have been struck by the messages from individuals with no special political axe to grind, who genuinely fear that this legislation will limit their right to freedom of speech and expression. I am not talking about lobby interest groups that have a vested interest to pursue, but about average citizens who feel affronted by what they consider to be an attack on the essential freedoms they enjoy as New Zealanders. Various efforts made by me and others to persuade them that this is not the case have not succeeded, and it is pointless to continue attempting to do so. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EAll of this brings me to the legislation itself. No matter what it states, or how well it has been crafted, or what official interpretations are placed upon it, the court of public opinion is holding it to be a self-serving attack on the freedom of our electoral process. That perception has become the new reality, whatever we in this House may think of it. So the dilemma we as a party and I as an individual legislator face is this: should we continue to put in place legislation that we know is failing the test of public credibility? The answer we have come to is that we should not. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EDuring the life of a Parliament there are likely to be many pieces of legislation passed that are unpopular, and this legislation could be just another one of those. There will be those who say that members of Parliament need to be able to stand against the public pressure on these matters, in the wider interests of doing what is right. We are elected here to lead our country, not to blow aimlessly like straws in the wind, they would argue, and that is so. That is why United Future works constructively and cooperatively with the Labour-led Government, through our confidence and supply agreement, to achieve the policies we believe are in the best interests of the country, and that is why we remain committed to doing so for at least the balance of this parliamentary term. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EHowever, this legislation is not just another piece of unpopular legislation. Because of its nature and its content, it goes far beyond that. There comes an occasional time when a blind adherence to leading the country gives way to what some might see as a form of arrogance, and where the perception of being a straw in the wind is outweighed by the necessity of being seen to listen to what the people are saying. This legislation has become one of those occasions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EThe blunt truth is that New Zealanders have gone beyond caring about its content; they simply mistrust it. I immediately acknowledge the rich ironies here. Many of the same people were, and remain, properly horrified at the antics of the last election, and they would be appalled if our election process ever became subverted by big money. They do not want to know what secrets parties have; they do want to know who is pulling the party strings. But their mistrust has developed because, those views notwithstanding, they do not see this legislation so much as a genuine attempt to resolve those problems as more a case of political utu. Legislation perceived in that way cannot succeed. A more robust and transparent process of independent review of all aspects of election funding\u2014including the provisions of this legislation and vexed issues such as the State funding of political parties and maybe even a fixed election date\u2014is a far better way to proceed. United Future has listened carefully to the views and feelings of New Zealanders. Consequently, we have come to the conclusion that we can no longer support the passage of the legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022 data-id=\u00221dcf217e0a3441f5924b6cfc3d4902d9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00221dcf217e0a3441f5924b6cfc3d4902d9\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E I commend Mr Peter Dunne and United Future for the stand they have taken today and for saying that in their view the law is OK but public perception is against it and that, therefore, they will vote against this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EWhat we have had here, irrespective of one\u2019s view of this legislation, is a very poor process by which it has been developed. I think that the poor process is at the heart of the concern that Mr Dunne has identified. I look across to the Labour members, I look across to New Zealand First, and I look to the Greens\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222a849ed4-a817-45a7-8b86-dbc9dd210193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002285cc11a127df4516a16824b1eb5419f0\u0022\u003EJill Pettis\u003C/span\u003E: We looked for you once, but you were dancing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203562dc637b94767924275fd85995e4c\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and I would say to them that if we are to develop an electoral system, a donation regime for political parties, and a set of rules the citizens of New Zealand can follow that will stand the test of time, then we need a proper process. We need a process that is independent of the political parties, that engages with the public, and that then comes back to this Parliament for Parliament to consider.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EWe have here a mixture of revenge, envy, political partisanship, and political opportunism\u2014the worst possible process that we could have for developing our electoral law. The result of it, whatever we may think of the legislation, is a bad outcome from the point of view of public perception. We have already had the major Opposition party say that it will repeal it, so it will not last if there should be a change of Government. That is not the way to be developing electoral law in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2bcee65c37b4f95837442866740da4b\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: Who\u2019s going to help them?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f097fbfff95f4b3d9b643e63891aa139\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE\u003C/span\u003E: Let me turn here, I say to Mr Mark\u2014and I would tell Ms Pettis to listen to this\u2014to why the ACT party opposes this legislation. We oppose this legislation not only because of the process but also because of the law itself. I cannot believe that Labour, New Zealand First, and the Green Party would be passing, on the last day of the parliamentary year, a law of State censorship of New Zealanders\u2019 right to speak out to criticise a Government, a political party, or a policy. That is a fundamental right of every New Zealander.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222a849ed4-a817-45a7-8b86-dbc9dd210193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002286d8768021364eb7ab48a24a55329f3a\u0022\u003EJill Pettis\u003C/span\u003E: You lot just want to buy an election. Is it OK to buy an election?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bcdf0bb19d9c47bcb95f1c3120792a76\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE\u003C/span\u003E: I say to Ms Pettis that it is not about the financing of political parties; it is about the right of New Zealanders to speak out against a Government, against a political party, and against a policy that they oppose. It should be a free right of all New Zealanders to be able to speak out\u2014not just on talkback and by door-knocking but by spending their own money on organising, and by spending their own money on pamphlets. That should be the fundamental right of every New Zealander.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EIt may be that the Labour Party, the National Party, or the ACT party do not like the criticism, but each and every one of us in this Parliament should be standing up for the right of New Zealanders to express their political opinions. Regardless of whether we believe it is right, whether we believe it is wrong, or whether we believe it is true or untrue, we should be defending the right of New Zealanders to have their political views. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00222a849ed4-a817-45a7-8b86-dbc9dd210193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223bddd3ac3ca048929d1d554dc7ea54d4\u0022\u003EJill Pettis\u003C/span\u003E: So how come you didn\u2019t say anything when National closed off the rolls a month before the election in 1993? How come you didn\u2019t say anything then?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002249c6f408f01749c584d344ba3a94f6ce\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE\u003C/span\u003E: I can understand why Jill Pettis is against that, having listened to her yell and scream, and try to shut down the debate even in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI say to the Labour Party, New Zealand First, and to the Green Party that for me it has been a sad day to sit in this House and listen to the partisan views, and to hear the attacks on the New Zealand media when those members say the media is wrong because they do not agree with this legislation. I have listened to the attacks made on Mr John Boscawen, a citizen who stood up against this legislation, and on everyone who stands up against this legislation as though somehow those people are wrong or badly motivated.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI say that it is a sad day when the Prime Minister of New Zealand cannot be here, on this day, to debate this most vicious attack on New Zealanders\u2019 ability to express a political view. Why can New Zealanders not stand up, say what they believe about politics, and spend their own money doing so? What does Labour have to fear? What does New Zealand have to fear? What does the Green Party have to fear? Why is it that if a New Zealander wants to have a political view, he or she now has to register with the Government? How is it possible that we have to register with the Government to express a political view, and to spend our own money? That is what we are doing here, and we are capping what people can spend.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI say that the confusion on this legislation is simple. Somehow we have confused two great principles\u2014the principle of free speech and the principle of democracy. The principle of democracy is one person, one vote. That is the principle of a democratic country\u2014one person, one vote. That is what we should be standing up for here. There is another principle, and it is called the principle of free speech. That means that we should be able to speak our own minds. [Interruption] I say to Mr Mark that that also means we should be able to spend our own money. That is what those members hate. We should be able to spend our own money on printing a pamphlet that gives expression to our political views.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI say that under this law all the great campaigns of history would have to be registered with the Government. That is what this Government is doing to New Zealanders. It is saying that the campaigns to free the slaves, to abolish slavery, and to give women the vote would have to be registered with the Government before they could be run. Campaigns against apartheid would have to be registered with the Government. Campaigns against unpopular wars would have to be registered with the Government. I say that our forebears did not fight and die in wars so that we could live in a free country where to campaign for a political view we would have to register with the Government and have a cap on what we could do and what we could spend. I say that Mr Peter Dunne has listened to the people of New Zealand. Why does New Zealand First not do so? Why do the Greens not do so? Why does Labour not do so? Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u00222c6e03ec67b54e04b2d5a552c6a7f3dd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222c6e03ec67b54e04b2d5a552c6a7f3dd\u0022\u003EANNE TOLLEY (Senior Whip\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. A number of Labour members of Parliament have moved from their seats and have been constantly barracking throughout a number of speeches. I just draw that to your attention. I did not want to interrupt the previous speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220ed9ad81-05c1-4171-80c6-24fa02cade42\u0022 data-id=\u00225d912be53e8f437ea16f6b001da0cc15\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ed9ad81-05c1-4171-80c6-24fa02cade42\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225d912be53e8f437ea16f6b001da0cc15\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Ms Pettis has been rather vocal. I have tried to caution her, but she is sitting in her right seat. She is replacing the senior whip. But in the position of senior whip she should set an example, which is to enable orderly debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022 data-id=\u00220dc72eadda47464b81cbc2e3933ff6de\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220dc72eadda47464b81cbc2e3933ff6de\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E I am happy for Ms Pettis to be calling out. It is the only opportunity Labour gives her in this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022 data-id=\u002273410dd7796844ef97d79f4337799966\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002273410dd7796844ef97d79f4337799966\u0022\u003EHon PETE HODGSON (Minister for Economic Development):\u003C/span\u003E It seems to me that this House has come almost to the point of a headless chicken phase. We have a man who has just given a speech about things he apparently believes, in which he says that if this legislation had been passed earlier the abolition of slavery in the US would not have happened, and the universal suffrage movement might not have happened. He gave that speech with passion, so either he believed it, in which case he is deeply in trouble, or he did not believe it, in which case he ought not to have given it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EI say to a previous speaker, my colleague Hone Harawira from the M\u0101ori Party, that his assessment of history around electoral law is a different history from mine. I will give him my truth on what electoral law history is. Actually, our colleague Metiria Turei began it when she reminded us that over a hundred years ago our forebears put limits upon themselves as to what they might expend when they went for public office, simply because the culture of that moment, and the culture that persists today, is that we cannot buy public office in this land\u2014we cannot buy it. We can argue for it, we can cajole, and we can campaign, but we may not directly purchase public office in this land. We can purchase whatever else we wish. We can purchase an offshore island, a 14th motorcar, a third farm; we can purchase whatever we like in this market economy. But we may not purchase public office.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EThe member from the ACT party, Rodney Hide, said \u201Cone person, one vote\u201D, when he was arguing in the opposite direction. He was arguing for \u201Cone millionaire, one seat in public office\u201D. You see, the point is that the whole idea of one person, one vote is that we are equal\u2014I go down and cast a vote, the member goes down and casts a vote, the millionaire goes down and casts a vote, and the pauper goes down and casts a vote\u2014yet the member opposes this legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003ELet us take a little step back in history. First of all, a hundred years ago \u00A3200 was the limit, and it progressed. We got to the 1950s and we worked out how to draw boundaries fairly. We missed the gerrymandering season that infested all of the United States and still infests Australia to an extent, especially at State level; we missed that. We decided to do it properly, and the criteria we laid down in 1956 still prevails. Some of us have spent a bit of time on electoral law select committees. I have done 9 years, and a number of people around this House have done a similar amount of time and have a bit of experience, so they will support this history to date. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EThen we move to the point where we decided we would go for MMP. In 1993 we put law in front of the House, the third reading was given, and the assent was carried by the people in the 1993 election. They said \u201CWe want MMP.\u201D Not only did they say that but they said \u201CWe want MMP even though Peter Shirtcliffe has spent a lot of money on trying to dissuade us.\u201D We did not react then; we did not react as a Parliament. We said \u201CWe understand that the electoral coalition has to raffle chooks, and that Peter Shirtcliffe has to go and see his rough mates, but even then we will not react\u2014even then we don\u2019t mind a bit of money having a bit of a say.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003ESo we went through to 2005, and everything changed. In 2005 not only was there big money but the money came not from within but from without. Not only was it big money from without but it was big money that was covert and not overt. This was an attempt to buy an election anonymously. Peter Shirtcliffe put his head on the block and said \u201CI\u2019m doing this, and I\u2019m proud to be doing it.\u201D, and he went and spent all of his big money. We said \u201CThat\u2019s OK.\u201D But along came the Exclusive Brethren and said \u201CWe are not the Exclusive Brethren. We are not doing this. We have not spoken to the National Party. We have not gone to see the electoral law folk to see how we can get around the rules. We have done none of that. We are simply a group of business people.\u201D But the Greens outed them. Then, as the months went by\u2014in fact, as the weeks went by\u2014in the course of the election campaign 2005 Gerry Brownlee, who was being noisy a few minutes ago, went on radio and said that he knew nothing about it. He went on radio and said \u201CI don\u2019t know.\u201D Don Brash went on radio and said \u201CI don\u2019t know, either.\u201D Then he said \u201CI only know a little bit.\u201D Then he said \u201CI only met them once.\u201D Then he said \u201CI only met them once at a time. I might have met them more than once.\u201D And John Key said \u201CI don\u2019t know anything about it.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EBut, yes, they did. You see, it was a collusion. It was not a coincidence, it was not a bit of happy circumstance, and it was not serendipity; it was a planned collusion around the electoral law of this land. For more than a hundred years we did not try to put limits on third parties. We saw no reason to do that. Whoever had an interest\u2014be they the SPCA, the Chambers of Commerce, the unions, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Grey Power, or M\u0101ori\u2014could take part in the quest for the offices of the land, and could do so without any regulation, at all. All the while, through the first of our centuries, that was the way it was until the National Party\u2019s secret mates came along. If National members want to know why we are standing here in the third reading debate passing this law, I will tell them that they are the reason. National members did not say to the Exclusive Brethren \u201CThis is a step too far.\u201D They did not say \u201CCan you try to make it a quarter of a million instead of a million and a bit.\u201D They did not say \u201CDon\u2019t go trying overtly to get around the electoral law.\u201D And they did not tell the Brethren to out themselves. They did the opposite; they colluded. This was collusion in an attempt to win office. That is going too far; that is not tolerable.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003ESo we must join other Western democracies\u2014although we have not until now\u2014and start to regulate, more in sadness than in anger, I have to say. I do not think our country is better off for needing this regulation. But, given that we need it, we sure as hell are going to have it\u2014just as Canada and the UK do. They have had to go down this path. I am sure they have done it more in sadness than in anger, too.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EI will summarise. This country spent more than a hundred years not regulating third parties at all, but regulating only candidates. It always regulated candidates but never anyone else, and we got along OK. We got along with everyone\u2019s little or medium-sized campaigns. We got along with Mr Shirtcliffe\u2019s rich but overt, open, and out-there campaign. But the National Party decided that it would covertly use $1.2 million of someone else\u2019s money offshore to try to help itself into office. The National Party needs to understand that that is beyond the culture of New Zealand\u2019s electoral history.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EI ask my colleague from the M\u0101ori Party to hear that version of history and to understand it. I think his version of history is at variance with mine, but that is how I see it. I do not think it is OK for this country ever to go to the point where we Americanise our politics and put our offices up for sale in some way or other.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EMr Hide said that the truth will always out. Well, I ask Mr Hide how an ordinary person, a humble person, or a modest person can have free speech when the airwaves are full with capitalists\u2019 noise. That is what we were dealing with. Capitalism has its place because our market economy depends on it, but we cannot use the riches of capitalism to buy a place in Parliament. At that point, we have privatised the most public thing there is, which is public office. So the line must be drawn. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229c0eba1d-17a6-44e2-a9b3-2e2535339570\u0022\u003EBill English\u2019s contribution, which was a series of deliberate misinterpretations of the Electoral Act, took us no further, and John Key, who opened this debate with the high moral pitch, ended up sounding like a 13-year-old trying to read Shakespeare. It did not work. He got the round of applause that was pre-arranged, but I could tell that the guy had not written the speech. He did not know how to pronounce \u201Causpicious\u201D and a few other words along the way. The truth of the matter is that these guys have to front up to the fact that they are the authors of their own misfortune. That is the truth of it. If it had not been for the Exclusive Brethren covertly attempting to buy office in New Zealand, then we would not have had to be here. We have not been here until now.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223b1b5881-3b86-4894-ac77-72905f786141\u0022 data-id=\u00226ba120ff8faa4186ab39be48120fb442\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b1b5881-3b86-4894-ac77-72905f786141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226ba120ff8faa4186ab39be48120fb442\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH TIZARD (Minister of Consumer Affairs):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I did not want to interrupt my colleague but I bring your attention to an intervention made by the member who is about to take a call, Christopher Finlayson. He cast a comment to the Minister suggesting that he was a grandfather. The last time that sort of comment was ruled out of order in this House, Sonja Davies had been abused by an Opposition member in a human rights debate. The member had said: \u201CGo on, Granny. Have a go.\u201D That was ruled as being offensive. I urge you to ask the member to withdraw and apologise. Apart from anything else, the comment is ageist, and I believe that the member is probably older than the Minister he was trying to insult by calling him a grandfather.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022 data-id=\u002200aee420657848fab52fd0c9b1ef17af\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002200aee420657848fab52fd0c9b1ef17af\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E I think that the Standing Orders actually require Mr Hodgson to be upset. I am sure he is actually quite flattered by his great success.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ed9ad81-05c1-4171-80c6-24fa02cade42\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224096227ff6e44e8b90ce1b062260b3d5\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think you are right, but I thank the Hon Judith Tizard for raising the matter. I do not think the comment is offensive to the House. It does not help matters in the House, but the person who is the subject of the comment is the right person to raise an objection to it if he or she wishes. Of course, Ms Tizard, you finished off almost in the same vein as Mr Finlayson, by casting a reflection as to age.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223b1b5881-3b86-4894-ac77-72905f786141\u0022 data-id=\u0022e80d4149e7bf4e959e9faee71aec977d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223b1b5881-3b86-4894-ac77-72905f786141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e80d4149e7bf4e959e9faee71aec977d\u0022\u003EHon JUDITH TIZARD (Minister of Consumer Affairs):\u003C/span\u003E Mine was not a reflection of age; it was merely a comment. The member\u2019s reflection was intended to be insulting and derogatory to older people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220ed9ad81-05c1-4171-80c6-24fa02cade42\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279c81284d4da475d9a6fa8fe2d781cbc\u0022\u003EMr DEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I accept that. Thank you for raising the matter.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022 data-id=\u00228f8ac04930ba499e82bcb5c2d413d976\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228f8ac04930ba499e82bcb5c2d413d976\u0022\u003ECHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON (National):\u003C/span\u003E I am pleased the previous speaker mentioned Shakespeare, because if ever there was a King Lear rave upon the heath without descending to the detail of legislation\u2014as one should do in a third reading speech\u2014it was that speech made by Mr Hodgson. In my speech I will look at the Committee stage of the legislation, say something about what emerged from that, and emphasise what my leader and deputy leader have said about the commitment of the National Party to repeal this odious legislation as soon as we gain office. I will not dwell this afternoon on the failure of the Attorney-General to provide a report under section 7 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. He is a person who puts loyalty to party ahead of loyalty to country. His failings are well known. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThe system has failed. The safeguards one expects to work have not worked. If the select committee process was hopeless, then the Committee stage of the legislation was simply a disgrace. If ever there was legislation that required a clause by clause analysis it was this. But instead of focusing on the workability of the legislation, the Labour, New Zealand First, and Green members took calls on various parts of the legislation and had generalised raves about the last election. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThe Prime Minister\u2019s response to our careful analysis was revealing. She criticised Mr English and me for nit-picking. She does not seem to understand that when inevitably there is litigation on this legislation next year, judges will need to grapple with the words of a particular section to ascertain what the section means. I can predict one thing: Annette King\u2019s law of common sense will not assist; nor will it be possible for the courts to receive any assistance by looking at Hansard. Were they to do so they would see that National members had tried hard to look at the difficult issues, but that all Labour members, including, notably\u2014I say for Mr Woolerton\u2019s benefit\u2014the Minister of Justice, could only go on about the Exclusive Brethren. I predict there will be a great deal of litigation next year. This legislation contains so many uncertainties that litigation is inevitable. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003ESecondly, let us take a look at how the legislation emerged from the debate in the Committee stage. The National Party put forward a number of serious amendments\u2014some were principled, others were technical, but very few of the latter category were accepted by the Government. I predict there will be another amendment bill next year and that some of my proposed amendments will have to be adopted then, because the legislation that we are about to pass is unworkable. What about the regulated period provided for in clause 4? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThis legislation will shortly be signed into law and will take effect from 1 January. For 1 year out of 3, political discourse in New Zealand will be regulated. How does that further the interests of democracy, whether one looks at it from the point of view of the political class or, more important, from the point of view of the public? The new Labour candidate for Wellington Central has already distributed a brochure introducing himself, and he has done so to avoid the consequences of the regulated period and the cap that will apply after 1 January. Out in the field even the Labour Party is looking for ways to get around its own law. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThe supporters of this legislation have long said that it is designed to right the wrongs of 2005. That would be a noble goal if it was carried out with any sincerity, but sincerity, like public consultation during the select committee deliberations, has been lacking. Instead, this Government has chosen to be selective in the matters it has dealt with. It has conveniently ignored many of the wrongs that fell on its side of the ledger in 2005. The police decided they could not prosecute Heather Simpson because it would be unfair to tar an individual for a crime committed by a group. I proposed an amendment to the legislation that would have seen party liability introduced. Not only was this opposed by Labour, but it was not even referred to by its own speakers. The police showed themselves to be out of their depth in dealing with matters of electoral law, so we proposed the position of a chief electoral prosecutor who would be independent and who would have expertise to deal with this mess. Not only did Labour oppose this proposal, it vetoed any debate on it on the grounds it thought it would cost $3 million. Labour never wanted to debate the merits of a sound proposal, which was backed by many of the independent organisations that provided submissions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EFinally, at the very least, we thought that if it was to be left up to the police to prosecute, then they would need a reasonable amount of time to consider any prosecutions. The current version of the legislation says that prosecutions have to be undertaken within 6 months. We proposed an amendment that would give the police 2 years. But, again, Labour opposed this and, again, it failed to give us one single reason why it was a bad idea. The cynicism of this move to prevent any meaningful prosecutions under the new legislation would be extraordinary in itself, if it was not overwhelmed by the nature of the process through which the legislation has been so cynically pushed. On the three big issues that were raised by this legislation\u2014the position of third parties, the regulated period, and the definition of candidate advertisement\u2014there have been no improvements. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThere is a donations regime in the legislation, lauded by New Zealand First, but it is muddled. It was hastily drafted in the latter stages of the select committee\u2019s deliberations. If the Government had accepted the offer made by Mr English 12 months ago to talk about transparency and a sensible donations regime, this legislation could have been greatly improved. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThis afternoon I pay tribute to Mr Dunne. I am pleased to see he has looked at the issue carefully and has listened to the concerns of members of the public. Clearly he has now read clause 5(1)(a)(ii). He now recognises that that subclause will shut down debate next year. But I am not quite so impressed by the Greens and the New Zealand First Party. The Greens like to portray themselves as innocents abroad, but they too have been active participants in this shabby affair. They are as cynical and as unprincipled on this issue as Labour. They do not care about the damage this legislation will cause to our constitution. Let us look at the members of New Zealand First. Fresh from their Starship Children\u2019s Health stunt, they are now ignoring the message from their supporters in Tauranga, who correctly see the threat that is posed by this legislation. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThe National Party has been accused of focusing too much on the interests of politicians, but that is wrong. Take, for example, the phrase \u201Cthird party\u201D. We have said time and time again that that terminology is offensive. The people are the principals in the democratic process; the politicians are the servants. People may not want to join political parties as much as they did in earlier years, but they may want to contribute to the political process by joining organisations like the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and Greenpeace. The National Party recognises this. We did not want the term \u201Cthird party\u201D. We preferred the term \u201Cinterested party\u201D, but that was voted down. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003ESo where to from here? Both my leader and deputy leader have given a commitment that National will repeal the legislation. The Labour Party has breached a well-established convention that electoral law should, so far as possible, be bipartisan or multipartisan. It will not be easy to reconstruct that convention but the National Party will do so, because it is in the public interest that we go back to a situation where there is proper discussion between all parties on these very important issues. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003EThis has been a very sorry incident in New Zealand\u2019s political history. The legislation will not endure. It will be repealed before the end of 2008, because the National Party will do the right thing in the public good and in the national interest. Much as one is tempted to exercise a little utu, there will be no utu. The distinctions between the two major parties in this country are obvious. Under the leadership of Helen Clark, Labour has become utterly negative. It likes banning things or people for its own sake. Its motto is: \u201CAccentuate the negative; ban; boycott; embargo; exclude; vilify; blacklist; close down; shut up; silence; censure; hate; sneer.\u201D But these are the things that come so naturally to Helen Clark and the other Labour Party wreckers and haters. They are the only things they know. As my leader said, it is time for a change.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fd427be0-7196-4605-b39e-d665553240b0\u0022 data-id=\u002271670481cc434f2e994b9d48fe085191\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd427be0-7196-4605-b39e-d665553240b0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002271670481cc434f2e994b9d48fe085191\u0022\u003ELYNNE PILLAY (Labour\u2014Waitakere):\u003C/span\u003E It is a pleasure to stand to speak in support of the three bills arising from the Electoral Finance Bill. I thank the Justice and Electoral Committee members from Labour, the Green Party, and New Zealand First for the constructive role that they played. Not only was it a constructive role but also they turned up to the committee meetings\u2014they were there steadily. They did not have all and sundry there to represent their parties. They were consistent, they turned up, and they worked on the legislation. I also thank the staff and the advisers for all the hard work they did. It is very much appreciated. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd427be0-7196-4605-b39e-d665553240b0\u0022\u003EThis legislation is a necessary response to an unprecedented abuse of our democratic processes. Prior to the 2005 election the National Party and its allies led a campaign designed to find loopholes in the rules\u2014or simply to breach them\u2014and to seek to overwhelm the election outcome with money. National introduced the continuous campaign to politics in this country, seeking by enormous expenditure to expose the public to its paid message everywhere. Such behaviour put democracy in New Zealand at risk. Big anonymous money can never be permitted to shape thought in a democracy. This legislation allows the public to have confidence that the covert campaign to buy persuasion and influence will be very difficult to repeat. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd427be0-7196-4605-b39e-d665553240b0\u0022\u003EAs documented by Nicky Hager, the National Party accepted the support of and colluded with the Exclusive Brethren. It behaved in a similar fashion with the Maxim Institute, with the so-called Fair Tax lobby, and with extremely wealthy members of the Auckland business community. By accepting their contributions and colluding in the planning of campaigns and advertisements, National subverted the spirit of our dearly held laws. It gained massive advantage over those parties that sought to campaign in the fair, open, and democratic manner that New Zealand citizens expect and deserve. Mercifully, National failed to steal the election. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd427be0-7196-4605-b39e-d665553240b0\u0022\u003EThis legislation regulates the role of third parties, in that it requires them, if they seek to campaign for or against candidates, parties, or combinations of both, to be open about doing so. If they do campaign, they are capped in their advertising expenditure at $120,000. As part of National\u2019s strategy, trusts were used to cover up donations over the limit of $10,000 at which they would otherwise have to be disclosed. This legislation regulates the use of trusts. Although those donations are not completely outlawed, undue influence and abuse are countered by the introduction of caps on them. With this regime in place, the public can be confident that influence is not for sale via donations. By extending the regulated period to the year of an election campaign, the insidious influence of the continuous campaign, which became a feature\u2014a shameful feature\u2014of our political landscape during the last election cycle, can be avoided and a level playing field established. In order to prevent undue influence from outside New Zealand, overseas donations are also regulated. We are a small democracy in a globalised world. Our elections should not be for sale to the highest foreign bidder. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fd427be0-7196-4605-b39e-d665553240b0\u0022\u003EIn summary, this legislation provides solutions that further the cause of democracy through enhancing transparency and accountability. It enhances democracy by preventing the abuse of the democratic process. It takes a strong stand against the undue influence of money in politics. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in the Labour Party, and with the Progressive party, the Greens, and New Zealand First in giving this legislation my strong support.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022 data-id=\u00224ede4054692e4adc94f1c4f52bca2d6d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224ede4054692e4adc94f1c4f52bca2d6d\u0022\u003ECHARLES CHAUVEL (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I would like to join my friend and colleague Lynne Pillay, the chair of the Justice and Electoral Committee who so ably steered this legislation through the select committee process, in commending the merits of the legislation to the House. I praise her chairing; it was excellent chairing in the face of extremely provocative behaviour. I would also like to add my thanks to the officials who worked very hard to advise the committee to ensure that what came to the House as a result of the committee process was good legislation. In that regard I particularly thank Helena Catt, and Michael Petherick from the Ministry of Justice. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003EIn my brief contribution to this third reading I want to look ahead. I have said that I endorse all the comments made by my colleague, but I observe that this bill is clearly not the last step in the need to provide for a system that prevents abuses and upholds democracy. This is recognised in that from the outset the previous Minister of Justice, the Hon Mark Burton\u2014in a call that has been continued by the current Minister, Annette King\u2014was very clear that a review group ought to be commissioned to consider the matters that remain outside the scope of this legislation. Paramount amongst those matters must be the public funding of political parties. As the Wallace Commission found so many years ago, this is an essential element in maintaining democracy in a country such as ours. Australia, Canada, and now even the UK\u2014thanks to the work being done by Sir Haydon Phillips\u2014have taken steps to implement such a system. We run the grave risk of exchanging our democracy for a plutocracy every moment that we continue to delay implementing a system of public funding for political parties. I sincerely hope that the review group to be established, which has been called for along with this legislation right from the start, will very clearly call for the public funding of parties, repeating the call made by the Wallace Commission back in the 1980s. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003EAbsolute transparency is the other matter that the review group must address. Any participants in politics must be open about their participation in it. It is just too risky in the long term and in a globalised business environment to continue to tolerate anonymity on either the supply or the demand side of politics\u2014whether from parties, donors, or other actors. No donor and no spender seeking to influence the outcome of an election should ever be allowed to hide its true identity from the public. Strict caps on spending\u2014always under review for their adequacy\u2014and ensuring that undue barriers to entry into the process do not exist are required. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003EI hope that the review group also looks at incentives to a broad participation in politics. We need civics education in our schools. People should be empowered to be more conscious of their rights and obligations in and to our society. Elected public service is a virtue and it should be seen as such, not denigrated by cynical actors in the political or media processes. The best people in our society should be proud to put themselves forward to contribute to the political process or in the campaigns of those who do. Wider and deeper participation in political parties and groups that support civil society can only enrich our nation. We fail to promote this at our ongoing peril. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003EFinally, strong enforcement of clear rules is vital. I look forward to the day when one single powerful independent agency administers all the aspects of New Zealand\u2019s electoral law. It should determine electoral boundaries, it should register all the participants in elections, and it should monitor their activities for compliance, including donations, spending, and decisions concerning breaches of the law. It should also have carriage of the rules relating to political broadcasting.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002241146229-4d11-415b-a4ac-f4e2b923e95d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002228ee29998a204a93915dacd78781c689\u0022\u003EChristopher Finlayson\u003C/span\u003E: Where were you at the select committee?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002259e9efe2-6dea-4eeb-869a-ef5b3e48a5b5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b024303f292b41d2b0b5a1e4ffac11b9\u0022\u003ECHARLES CHAUVEL\u003C/span\u003E: Unlike the member who has just interjected, I was not moonlighting making court appearances; I was at the select committee. I sincerely believe that this legislation is an important step on the way to a better democracy, and the review of our electoral system is another one. If it is to be a success, it must address the issues I have mentioned in this speech. I hope it will do so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca id=\u002236144798ba8a4c2a91cfef23db53f341\u0022 name=\u0022division\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EA party vote was called for on the question, That the Electoral Finance Bill, the Broadcasting Amendment Bill (No 3), and the Electoral Amendment Bill be now read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EAyes 63\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand Labour 49; New Zealand First 7; Green Party 6; Progressive 1.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENoes 57\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003ENew Zealand National 48; M\u0101ori Party 4; United Future 2; ACT New Zealand 2; Independent: Field.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp class=\u0022HpsDivision\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsItem\u0022\u003EBills read a third time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022f76dcfb32232427292fc09019674a0bd\u0022\u003EAdjournment\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b9fa1debdf1848c6924546dae75eb860\u0022\u003ESittings of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022bbbd7f3e973443d58e8bb614556c6818\u0022\u003ESittings of the House\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022 data-id=\u0022b6cbef53f278460fad2d9242f7e54a72\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b6cbef53f278460fad2d9242f7e54a72\u0022\u003EHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E I move, That the House do at its rising adjourn until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, 12 February 2008, and that the sitting days in 2008 be as follows:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EFebruary 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EMarch 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, and 20;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EApril 1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EMay 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EJune 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EJuly 1, 2, 3, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, and 31;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EAugust 5, 6, 7, 26, 27, and 28;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003ESeptember 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11;\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003Eand that the House do, at its rising on Thursday, 11 September 2008, adjourn until Tuesday, 23 September 2008.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EI want to start with the traditional responsibility of the Leader of the House, which is to thank all those who have contributed to the smooth functioning of this place over the last year. I thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Madam Speaker, the two Assistant Speakers, the Clerks of the House\u2014we have had two this year, David McGee, who is now an Ombudsman, and Mary Harris, who is now confirmed as the new Clerk of the House. We have a female Speaker, a female Clerk of the House, and a female Prime Minister, and some members may feel slightly threatened by that and potentially redundant if they are not careful. I also thank all the Assistant Clerks, the clerks of select committees, the Table Office staff, messengers, the security staff, the secretaries, the research units, the ministerial staff, and the rest of the very large number of people who work in this complex of buildings, without whom it would not function at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EPart of this motion provides for the sitting timetable for next year. I have no doubt that some journalists\u2014and maybe one or two characters opposite\u2014will draw certain conclusions from the timetable. They should not do so. The election has to be held no later than, I think it is, 15 November, and therefore a timetable has to be provided that can go to the latest possible point in relation to that election date. It is not to foreshadow when the election date must be, because an adjournment motion still has to be moved at some point before the House can rise and subsequently be prorogued and dissolved. In this motion there are up to 23 weeks available for sitting before the general election has to be held. If a general election were held as late as 15 November there would be relatively limited time for sitting after the election before Christmas. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EBy and large\u2014and I may surprise people by saying this\u2014this has been a very measured year in the House. There has been a certain level of hysteria over the last week or so\u2014and some people got themselves very thoroughly excited\u2014but the reality is that this House has sat under very little urgency in 2007. By historic standards there has been a very small amount of urgency, indeed. A major legislative programme has been completed during this year. The reason for that, I think, is that MMP is slowly transforming the style of debate in this House, in terms of reducing the amount of time spent on delaying tactics on relatively non-controversial or non-controversial legislation. As a result, a great deal of legislation, even more than in the past, is going through relatively quickly, and a small number of pieces of legislation are being concentrated on for a great deal of attention. That means it is possible to complete a legislative programme with considerably less urgency than would have been required 5 years ago, certainly 10 years ago, and, even more, 20 years ago, when the House sat under considerable amounts of urgency. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EI particularly note the passing of the Income Tax Act\u2014the largest statute on the books, inevitably. We are the only developed country to succeed in completely revising its income tax legislation. Many other countries have tried, but none has actually succeeded in doing that. I also note that the new electronic system will finally be going live some time over the summer vacation\u2014not on time, and certainly not within budget. I have to say that somewhat unwillingly, as Minister of Finance. That will raise some interesting questions for future Parliaments about whether we should adopt the procedures of some legislatures around the world, where the electronic version of statutes is now the authoritative version of the statute. The reason being that it is very much easier to update the electronic version with amendments and to produce a clean copy for people to use, as opposed to something that looks a bit like the leftovers from the fish and chip wrapping of older statutes, with little bits of paper tacked in all over them, and where one tries to work out what the statute is actually saying. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003ETo turn to the wider political scene, the year has been marked by a number of very strong characteristics. The most important is a continuation of economic growth\u2014the longest, strongest phase of economic growth in over 30 years in New Zealand. Even the Business Roundtable is starting to wonder whether in fact this can continue\u2014this kind of death-defying, gravity-defying act, where, against all principles of the far right, the economy continues to grow despite not adopting any of the far right\u2019s policies. It has been a year in which we have seen significant business taxation reform, with legislation passed to cut the corporate tax rate\u2014the first significant cut in that rate since the mid-1980s. Indeed, as I pointed out to someone ungently earlier last week, I cannot find a year in which the National Party, in office, ever cut the corporate tax rate\u2014and I have gone back 40 years in the records to discover that. The National Party is great in Opposition promising things that never seem to happen when it is in Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EIt was a year in which we also introduced major charities tax reform by lifting the cap on charitable donations\u2014something which New Zealand First took somewhat amiss and misinterpreted in some recent activities in that respect. But I notice that when the National Party did not pay back its GST, it gave it to a charity, if I remember rightly. That might be why Mr Key was so careful in his response to what Mr Peters was actually proposing in that particular regard. It was a year in which we saw both the launch of KiwiSaver and massive enhancements to it, and now we have probably something like 350,000 New Zealanders signed up to KiwiSaver. And still, today in a specially called press conference the Leader of the Opposition could not tell us what the National Party policy was on KiwiSaver. I think he is counting slowly until he gets to the point where he decides that he will have to do another U-turn in that regard. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EIt was a year in which the Government announced its plans for an emissions trading scheme\u2014the most comprehensive emissions trading scheme being introduced by any country in the developed world. It was a year in which sustainability came to the fore, in terms of economic policy and supporting policies. It was a year in which we passed 350,000 new jobs since this Government came into office at the end of 1999. It was a year in which the participation rate in the labour force continued to be maintained at very high rates\u2014very high rates by New Zealand standards, but also very high rates by the standards of any other developed economy. We maintained the fifth lowest unemployment rate in the developed world. It was a year in which we saw the number of people on the unemployment benefit drop to less than one-eighth of what it was when we became the Government only 8 years ago. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EIt was a year in which the National Party, the New Zealand Herald, and a few others colluded to mount a campaign against 20 hours\u2019 free early childhood education. Eighty-three percent of 3-year-old to 4-year-old children are now in that 20 hours\u2019 free early childhood education. Steve Maharey is the man whose fingerprints are all over that policy, and he will carry it with him to his new job as vice-chancellor of Massey University. I have to tell him that we have no plans for 20 hours\u2019 free education at Massey University; they will not get that one out of the next term of the Labour-led Government. It was a year in which we have now completed the provision of more than 5,000 additional teachers over and above roll growth since we became the Government. It was a year in which we introduced major tertiary education reforms, and only the Southland Institute of Technology seems to be really upset. It was a year in which we developed a major skills strategy to be released soon. It was a year in which we have seen significant improvements in literacy and numeracy achievement at primary schools. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EIt was a year in which we have completed cheaper doctors\u2019 visits and cheaper pharmaceuticals. It was a year in which we have seen elective surgery up in hips, knees, and cataracts, and in which we have seen a continuation of a major hospital building programme. We have seen the introduction of 4 weeks\u2019 annual leave actually coming into force, and extensions to paid parental leave. And it has been a year, I have to say, of major progress in Treaty negotiations, made on the foundations laid by yourself, Madam Speaker, and by the Hon Mark Burton. Next year we will have a programme of tax cuts for the next term of Parliament that will address the issues around fairness in that regard.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EI will finish on one small, minor note. I have been listening to this debate over the electoral finance legislation, and I have to say that I have never heard so much codswallop from the Opposition in all my life. I particularly enjoyed Mr Finlayson\u2019s speech just now, when he said we must have a bipartisan approach on this legislation, and if National were the Government it would repeal it before Christmas. I do not know whether he thought about that before he made that statement\u2014no select committee, no consultation with any Opposition parties. No, it will go before Christmas, he said. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227f8c14fb-b919-46ef-866b-8db68cfa4cf0\u0022\u003EI just want to touch on this issue of money spent under the Parliamentary Service. I hold in my hand a box of chocolates. I will table this box of chocolates. It says \u201CBest wishes from Gerry Brownlee, MP, Ilam, Christchurch.\u201D, and it has on it the parliamentary crest. I want to know whether Gerry Brownlee is using taxpayers\u2019 money to give out free chocolates to the people of New Zealand. If so, why have I not received a box of chocolates from the member? Why have the members on this side of the House not received their boxes of chocolates? I seek leave to table Gerry Brownlee\u2019s box of chocolates, and I invite the Table staff to eat them subsequently.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u0022d7b9d6ee108644889f0c01bbbe2c4dbe\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d7b9d6ee108644889f0c01bbbe2c4dbe\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I take the opportunity to explain to the Deputy Prime Minister that had I given him the box of chocolates, I would be terribly fearful he would want to kiss me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EChocolates, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022 data-id=\u00228abce6f18957443686b713d91b2728d8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228abce6f18957443686b713d91b2728d8\u0022\u003EJOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition):\u003C/span\u003E That speech from the Deputy Prime Minister was remarkable on several fronts. It lacked any of the one-liners, vitriol, grunt, or vigour that we normally hear from the Deputy Prime Minister\u2014and, frankly, it lacked anyone from the Labour Party listening to it. There is no one there. They have packed up and gone for the year. They did not realise we were coming back on Tuesday. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EAs is traditional at this time of the year, I take this opportunity to thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank all those who make this Parliament function the way it does. Madam Speaker, I rely on you for your sense of humour at times and for your indulgence. I thank the Deputy Speaker, Clem Simich, and the Assistant Speakers, Ross Robertson and Ann Hartley. I thank the Clerk of the House, Mary Harris, and I congratulate her on her new job. I acknowledge the great work of David McGee when he was previously in that role. I thank the select committee staff; the Hansard reporters, who I am sure have much joy in writing down what we say, more joy than we do sometimes when we read it back; the Parliamentary Library staff; the Parliamentary Service staff; the travel staff and the security guards; the messengers; the VIP transport staff; the Bellamy\u2019s staff; and my colleagues, who pound for pound are the best political team by some margin in the country. I thank my staff\u2014my life would not operate properly without them\u2014Emma, who looks after me all the time, Wayne, Kevin, Grant, Nicola, Phil, Sarah, Rhiannon, and anybody else I have forgotten. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EThe year of 2007 has been a good year for National, and 2008 will be a great year for National and New Zealand. That is more than we can say for Labour, which is rapidly becoming about as popular as a Japanese whaling vessel in the Southern Ocean. That is hardly surprising, because the only thing that spends more time in the dock than a New Zealand frigate is a Labour Party Cabinet Minister. They are there all the time. Some months ago we announced a policy that we wanted DNA testing for convicted criminals. I have decided we should drop that and just jot down their Bellamy\u2019s account number\u2014that would be a lot easier. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EThis is a Government that is unravelling before New Zealanders\u2019 eyes. We have Ministers who are publicly disagreeing with each other. We have a Government that has become so arrogant that it is arrogant to the marrow. We are seeing people leaving the Labour Party left, right, and centre. We have a Government that will do anything and say anything to win an election. We know one thing: Labour thinks it is everybody else\u2019s fault but its own. That is the interesting thing. The Labour members do not get the mirror out very often. They have spent years blaming the National Party, and now they have moved to blaming the officials. It is the officials\u2019 fault that New Zealanders do not go into Christmas with a tax cut, despite the fact that Michael Cullen once famously said of Treasury: \u201CI\u2019m elected and they\u2019re not.\u201D That is what he said, but now it is the officials\u2019 fault. He says it is the officials\u2019 fault that people will maybe get only a $15 tax cut under Labour after almost a decade of a Labour Government\u2014if Labour gets that chance. Of course, if the polls go down a little bit more, then the tax cuts will go up. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003ELast week, according to the Prime Minister, it was the media\u2019s fault. She said the two senior political editors on both TV channels are too young to understand history. That is the reason: too young to understand history. I predict that by next year Labour members will have moved on and it will be someone else\u2019s fault. It will be the voters\u2019 fault by next year. That is whose fault it will be. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EAll the time, the Labour members are not really worried about what is going on with the big issues. They do not care about the 750 Kiwis who leave every week for Australia. They are not bothered about the fact that there have been no tax cuts for 8 years. They do not care about a failing health system or a failing education system. They do not care about any of those things. They do not even care that much about the 14 finance companies that have gone broke, the four interest rate hikes the Government has delivered to New Zealanders this year, or that when we look at how much New Zealanders\u2019 wages have gone up, then take off inflation, take off interest rates, and take off rising prices, we see that New Zealanders have gone backwards over 8 years. The Government just does not care. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003ENext year Helen Clark wants to win a fourth term, but not because of what that power will actually achieve. Helen Clark wants another trophy in the trophy cabinet. She wants to buy just one more election. That is all she wants. If she can buy one more election, she can keep Phil Goff out of the leadership for just a little bit longer\u2014that is what she wants. The National Party wants a step change for New Zealand. According to Labour and Michael Cullen, success is to be despised. That is the message from Michael Cullen\u2014success is meant to be despised. How interesting that is when one contrasts it with the National Party. The National Party is out there promoting a DVD at the moment called Ambitious for New Zealand. That is what we are, and New Zealanders absolutely love it. There are 20,000 downloads on YouTube, and on our own site.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224dafef2679d142d386a6805cb247f8f9\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: How many?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ce58ea454504b1c8583d894b5f0413c\u0022\u003EJOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: There are 20,000 downloads. Let me say that we had one small problem with the DVD. We have to be able to laugh at ourselves, do we not? Last year I said the Government is a Walkman Government in an iPod world. Actually, it is not; it is a video Government in a DVD world, and next year it will get clocked big time. That is what will happen to it next year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EWhen one looks at the year Labour has had and looks at the problems, one really wonders when the people will work out who is to blame. It is Helen Clark, but I will come back to her in a minute. Is it not an interesting culture that has developed under Labour? Just last week we picked up the Dominion Post, and on the front page was a story that the Capital and Coast District Health Board, which had a cash crisis, was going to sack 50 doctors\u2014not 50 bureaucrats, but, under Labour, sack 50 doctors. This is a country where crime is recorded on a time-line basis in the Sunday Star-Times. This is a country where the bail laws see New Zealanders out on bail, despite the fact they are charged with horrendous crimes. Under Labour, they are fit to be back on the streets. This is a country that did not go up in the OECD; it went down. This is a country that will go into Christmas with the Government\u2019s wallet fat, but with New Zealanders struggling to make ends meet, struggling to afford the niceties of Christmas, and struggling to get any further ahead. This is a country where one in five New Zealanders leaves school completely lacking literacy and numeracy skills, and where one in two M\u0101ori boys and girls completely lacks any qualification at all. In the New Zealand Herald the Prime Minister stated that she was shocked that over 300,000 New Zealanders could not read the instructions on a fire extinguisher. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EAll of this leads us to a Government that has spent the entire year worried about the Labour Party, worried about its own Ministers, who are constantly in trouble, and worried about itself. It is so desperate to stay in power that it has had to force through the electoral finance legislation. It has not been good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223223a2d26ebe4559a4b0d3e7d6423911\u0022\u003EHon Phil Goff\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, come on, John, we\u2019ve got 10 minutes left.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fada5505f9ac4de899e80361e71cab7a\u0022\u003EJOHN KEY\u003C/span\u003E: I am happy to take an extra 10 minutes if the Labour Party wants me to. I do not think a Leader of the Opposition with as much material as I have should be limited to 10 minutes, but if Phil Goff wants to give up some time there is no problem\u2014I am happy to take it. It is all getting so bad that the last time Phil Goff was spotted was at the BBQ Factory on Sunday night. He saw the polls, he headed off to the BBQ Factory, he whipped down to The Mad Butcher, and he said \u201CMy time will come. The waiting, waiting, waiting is finally over.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220083bcaa-f44d-4b70-97de-d091a209b88c\u0022\u003EI do not have a lot of time left to talk about the great things that the National Party will do next year. I have a whole year next year to talk about those things. I want to say what a great year 2007 has been for National in New Zealand, and what a cracker 2008 will be. Merry Christmas.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u002279ff4af866854c0ea6e3232deb32ce79\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002279ff4af866854c0ea6e3232deb32ce79\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader\u2014NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Speaker, before I get to the subject, could I just extend my party\u2019s appreciation to you, the Deputy Speaker, Clem Simich, and Assistant Speakers Ann Hartley and Ross Robertson, the outgoing Clerk of the House, Dave McGee, the new Clerk, Mary Harris, her staff in the Office of the Clerk, the select committee personnel, library staff, the people at Bellamy\u2019s, the Hansard writers, the security and parliamentary travel staff, the VIP Transport Service drivers, my colleagues and our families, and, of course, the messengers who keep this place going. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EI can recall when there was a woman called Shipley leading the National Party, and they used to clap her. Then they had a man called Bill English leading the National Party very recently, and they used to clap him.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226c19a98d7e664c8ead04ce3df733c9be\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: They are the same people.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228ce00248e98a4e1f874e4289fac36444\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, the same people! Then they had a man called Don Brash leading the National Party, and they started to clap him. That is three, so when I hear the fourth person being clapped, I do not get carried away or get too excited. Madam Speaker, if you will give me some indulgence, I wish to quote words from a song made popular by a group called Talking Heads:\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWell we know where we\u2019re goin\u2019 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBut we don\u2019t know where we\u2019ve been\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EAnd we know what we\u2019re knowin\u2019\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBut we can\u2019t say what we\u2019ve seen\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EAnd we\u2019re not little children\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EAnd we know what we want\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EAnd the future is certain\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EGive us time to work it out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EWho does that remind us of? I say that 2008 is going to be a year of disclosure, and we believe it is time to work out what the National Party stands for. Democracies need alternative policies. It is the essence of a democracy, because for the first time in the history of our parliamentary democracy there is a party that does not know where it is, where it has been, does not know where it is going, and does not know what to do when it gets there. When the member came to the end of his speech, he said: \u201COh, I\u2019ll deal with that next year.\u201D He got to the last half of his speech and he said he could have gone on for ever but he had not started on that part of the speech, at that point in time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EThe National Party wants to be the Government but does not say why. What do those people stand for? Tell me one policy that it has come up with in the last year\u2014just one policy. Tell me one policy that would make the world or New Zealand a better place\u2014just one policy. I look at the National members and even they cannot answer me; even they cannot answer the question. I ask them to name one policy they have advocated in 2007 that will help anybody in our country. I cannot hear a word. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002223ee8daa0e2b4435a3cd3a344d15b2fc\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: Tax cuts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002248128675efc646fbbd51a368442f344a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Do not say tax cuts; what percent? They do not know. No one knows.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223080d38b95d344a2b7d95b066d3b6272\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: You first.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284c438a73b7341f6afdd2a81e844a4eb\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Please do not tell me that getting rid of Don Brash counts. That is not a policy. That was a wise decision, but it is not a policy. Firing Gerry Brownlee from the deputy leadership is not a policy. It is a sound move, but it is not a policy. In fact, it harmed his family, so that is not a very constructive policy. So it should be a special project of this Parliament next year to find out what the National Party stands for and what it wants to do. It is time for questions to be asked, and answers to be given. New Zealanders have a right to know. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EThe National Party is like an octopus with tentacles spread throughout society and its institutions. Mind you, it is not as big as it used to be; it once had, under Holyoake, 245,000 members. Today it is just big business and cash. It has a very small party membership, just big business and cash. But this week we learnt, to our dismay, that some of those individuals will place personal politics above everything. Some weeks ago we offered to donate some money to a children\u2019s hospital. The background was fully explained over weeks. We went through all the details, the reasons, and everything else. The money was given and accepted in good faith, and everyone was acting in good faith, including the woman at Starship Children\u2019s Health. And then, out of the woodwork, came a voice and name from the past\u2014Mr Bryan Mogridge from the murky waters of the National Party and the Tourism Board. He made a unilateral decision to give the money back. Did he hold a board meeting with the Starship hospital board? No, he did not. Members should ask themselves this question: he is a man who heads a board, and apparently he does not know what the staff are doing over many, many weeks. I would fire a man like that, because it shouts incompetence. I would fire somebody like that, who comes back from overseas, and does not know what has been going on while he has been away. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dc59a3abf9d940ac82d440df849affdc\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: He\u2019s a National Party man.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5ef382945574352ae70d4ba45f8cdf9\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: A National Party man, oh yes. He is a good mate of Murray McCully. He had the audacity to challenge New Zealand First\u2019s philanthropic views. Well, let me tell the House about Mr Mogridge. He tried to keep an illegal payment of $200,000 from the Tourism Board, courtesy of his mate, Murray McCully. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002265a5942856874bcab463ff08fe31a441\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Ah!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c72def08de044715a7c53a2b8613812a\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Ah, yes! When I heard that name, I thought: \u201CThat rings a bell. There is a certain smell about that name.\u201D Then in a burst of generosity Mr Mogridge agreed to accept half that amount\u2014$100,000\u2014but this payment had to be tax-free. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228a6cc82ac6e6478f99fd1bb0bad1e15e\u0022\u003EHon Members\u003C/span\u003E: Ah!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e72df8a7da7c4456aef43971dd631558\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Ah, yes! This Dale Carnegie of the hospital board kept it tax-free, but that is not all. He wanted his legal bills, $30,000, paid as well. I am sorry, but it sounds like Mr Mogridge should resign. It sounds like he has done his organisation in. It is a magnificent organisation, but we remember him very, very well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBut how typical: he is overseas, this donation is made, the National Party contacts him, and, all of a sudden, forget the poor children, forget the halt and the lame and the maimed, and the suffering, and those kids who need operations to fix themselves up, and all the research. They could not give a tinker\u2019s damn, as long as they could stop someone doing their duty, because it might embarrass them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022542d93b25fca4a3ca54934cc1671434d\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s the truth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022266b58ae9cc34e8b9475a3bf6d889416\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: That is the truth, all right. Just like that! New Zealand First has had a great year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a11ce4e-9fb3-4738-b0be-5a9f81d975da\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229f4baee2362a4cf4b9713e92255d66d6\u0022\u003EHon Maurice Williamson\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225916512186e14fe4be15b118e7f0ea58\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, yes we have. Up in Tauranga, piles are going across the harbour; a new bridge is being built, which is the envy of Christchurch, Auckland, and Wellington. It all happened because we said we would keep our word. I saw \u201CBob the Builder\u201D try to take credit for that himself. All Bob can do is fight off a whole lot of nominees\u2014young lawyers out of Auckland and everywhere\u2014who want to take him on, because they reckon he is hopeless. Thank God they have had a chance to work that out. Name one thing Bob has done, other than sell his white-elephant stadium back to the council, so it has to pay for it. It needed 35 nights to be full, before it could be paid for, and when he realised he could not fill it, he flogged it back to the council. The poor ratepayers have to pick up this white elephant. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EBob, as in the film The Shawshank Redemption, even made himself seem magnanimous while he did it. I say: \u201CHa, ha! Sorry Bob; I got the due diligence. Next year you\u2019re going to find out exactly what you did.\u201D The first thing we did, of course, was to keep our word. We built a bridge, we got a better deal for superannuitants, the minimum wage is being increased, we brought in extra police to fight crime, we poured another $400 million into elder care, the racing industry is awash with optimism and ad excitement. It is all happening. Those members know that that is the truth. There is one more promise we have kept. The SuperGold card is taking off. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d88022529c0b4cb68e2dfee9a0fab1ee\u0022\u003EGerry Brownlee\u003C/span\u003E: 2.2 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225abcca8fe7904fe38cc20eb4bbdeb296\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: We will do in 1 year what it took 15 years to do in Queensland. I say to National that they can laugh now, but let them wait for the 2008 Budget and cry later. We have also stemmed the flow of social engineering. We have done hundreds of things, unlike Tau Henare opposite, who has not done a darn thing all year. I bet he has not been to one clinic.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002207dc4112-8a19-4dd6-a57c-878b47f8a9b6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289ebeaf9283a43e48fd365ac76fcd819\u0022\u003ERon Mark\u003C/span\u003E: He welshed on Brian Connell.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002255be08e493b14e72ae7675177470e96e\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, that is right. He has done one thing: he welshed on Brian Connell, who was the one guy who stood up in the caucus and said: \u201CHey, the leader is not a good man. He should go.\u201D What happened? They fired Brian and kept the leader on. But eventually\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b63935ee-d78b-43a8-a3bc-996e7951fb9b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec822defc3b54d04b083f6cb29f1b525\u0022\u003ER Doug Woolerton\u003C/span\u003E: They are having a rerun for MPs in Rakaia. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cca045cac94a4adab6d5f86ac56ea6ee\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, just one thing before I sit down. I am glad that our disclosure in the House last week about Rakaia has seen the National Party forced to reopen the nominations, so David Carter could not buy his way into the nomination in Rakaia. Just like that! I say to the National Party people in Rakaia who wrote to me: \u201CCome on; come the next election, pay it back in your second vote.\u201D That is what transference is all about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003EI want to finish by saying to all my parliamentary colleagues, good and bad, loud and intellectual, and even Tau Henare, to have a happy Christmas and a good January 2008, because when they get back they will need to have had a decent holiday, because there is a war on, and it is called \u201Cthe people\u2019s interest, versus your elitist ones\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022 data-id=\u0022a4efe29c2a2246e6b73f82f631e6e817\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c437bda8-4741-4ac5-89ab-b0818e1ab9fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a4efe29c2a2246e6b73f82f631e6e817\u0022\u003EHon DARREN HUGHES (Deputy Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E There are still several party leaders who are to speak to this motion, and the Labour Party and National Party have an additional speaker, as well. We have consulted the other parties, and on that basis I would seek leave for the House to continue sitting beyond 6 p.m. and then to lift, once this motion before the House has been put.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e915b89fd9154c7898f99c30db3be75d\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Leave is sought. Is there any objection? There is no objection, so that course will be followed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022 data-id=\u0022ec07ad9621e948b9b7f17db80e0ddbdc\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000539\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ec07ad9621e948b9b7f17db80e0ddbdc\u0022\u003EJEANETTE FITZSIMONS (Co-Leader\u2014Green):\u003C/span\u003E The year 2007 has been a great year for the Greens. It has been a year of achievement rather than bravado, filibustering, or pointless points of order. And I am proud of the fact that we have had a record number of members\u2019 bills in front of the House this year. Three of them have passed into law in just one year. With those three bills we have given young workers the dignity of equal pay for equal work with older people. We have given workers juggling work with responsibilities as carers the right to seek flexible working hours. We have changed the law to make it unacceptable to beat children.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EWe have five more bills still before the House. The Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill, which has the support of the Government and select committee, is the first ever bill in this Parliament to deal with the 1 tonne a year of waste that every man, woman, child, and baby produces in this country. We have a bill that will strengthen the bonds between mothers in prison and their babies\u2014a powerful influence to prevent reoffending. We have a bill to allow people in chronic pain to avoid the pharmaceuticals that have awful side effects or do not work and to take instead medically prescribed cannabis, where the doctor believes that is the most appropriate medicine. We have two bills on climate change. One of those is to reinstate greenhouse gas emissions in the Resource Management Act, which should never have been removed from it, when considering air-discharge consents. We also have a bill on transport funding, still awaiting its first reading, to enable us to change the balance of spending to go to a more sustainable transport system with less money going on new motorways and more on alternatives to roading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EUnder our cooperation agreement with the Government, we have led the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy, which is making the homes of New Zealanders warmer and healthier and our vehicles much more fuel-efficient, is improving our alternatives to cars, like public transport, and cycling, and is expanding the use of solar water heating. Our Buy Kiwi Made programme has inspired New Zealanders with TV and print ads to support and nurture our local manufacturing businesses and their workers. We have secured budget funding for environmental education and organics advisory services, for healthier food in schools, and for increased overseas aid. And we have secured an independent prison inspectorate. I cannot say that the Greens are punching above their weight these days, because we must not use such violent metaphors, but there is no doubt at all that our six MPs have contributed way beyond our numbers. We have received multiple awards in the last few weeks for politicians and backbenchers of the year, as we have in some previous years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EMost important, we are changing the culture of politics. When I came here 11 years ago the environment, let alone climate change, was hardly mentioned in Parliament. It was a struggle to find any opportunity to raise those issues. Now they are on everyone\u2019s lips. The repeal of section 59 of the Crimes Act was bitterly contested in the House and in the community. Now the balance of public opinion is that it is wrong to beat kids and there are much better ways of disciplining them and helping them grow up to be good citizens. There is now a greater tolerance of personal lifestyles and relationships, which are nobody else\u2019s business, and we have contributed to that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EWe have shown that the MMP parties, despite their very different policies, can work together to challenge behaviour in the House, to develop shared codes of conduct, to stop a massive eyesore on the Auckland waterfront, and to get repeal of anachronistic sedition laws. We have stood up along with only the M\u0101ori Party and ACT against the Bush agenda of terrorism suppression laws that seriously suppress our civil rights. We have condemned police tactics of invading homes and communities with armed officers when there is no real evidence in many of those homes of any offending, and there have been no charges laid. We have stood up for the right of people in New Zealand not to be imprisoned indefinitely without charge, and worked for the eventual release of Ahmed Zaoui who was held at the behest of other countries without a shred of evidence of intended harm to our community.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EWe have continued to challenge the assumption that our oil-devouring way of life can continue unchecked, the assumption that we will need more vehicles, more roads, and to attract more international tourists, when all the evidence is that the era of cheap oil is over. We have documented and graphed the absurd predictions of oil prices where for 4 years Government agencies have forecast price reductions, when in fact prices have just continued to rise. Even today in the half-year Economic and Fiscal Update Treasury again predicts a price collapse for oil, based on the same futures market that has been so wrong for so many years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EWe are looking forward to another great Green year in 2008. We will continue to show the way to real sustainability while the Government takes delivery of its new ministerial cars with a fuel efficiency that hugely exceeds its own standards for other people. We will continue to challenge the Government to stop subsidising the coal industry by not requiring it to meet the cost of its coal seam methane emissions under the emissions trading scheme and to stop subsidising the dairy industry by exempting its greenhouse emissions for 5 whole years. We will challenge the Government to clean up our polluted waterways. We will challenge it to put in place a proper strategy for peak oil. We will continue to campaign on food safety and on the consumers\u2019 right to know with country-of-origin labelling laws.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EWe look forward to the passing of our Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill, the equivalent in its effect to the first Green members\u2019 legislation, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, passed in 2000. We look forward to the passing of the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Bill, and our two climate change bills. And we look forward to returning here towards the end of the year with an increased number of MPs so that we can do even more in the next Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002209278070-a54a-41e9-8a27-45166301277e\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker, may I thank you on behalf of all the Greens for your management of the House this year and wish you, the Deputy Speaker, the Assistant Speakers, and all members a restorative holiday and the enjoyment of family and friends. I thank my extremely hard-working and committed Green colleagues, our amazing staff, who go far beyond the call of duty, and all those who support us in this place: the Clerk\u2019s Office, with particular congratulations to Mary Harris on her new appointment, the library, the travel office, the messengers, the cleaners who come in at the dead of night, and the Bellamy\u2019s staff. I wish all of you the joys of a Christmas season not cluttered with stuff and frantic consumption but blessed with the people you love and the places you treasure.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022 data-id=\u0022dc5af374961d4df194a47067e26632c5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022dc5af374961d4df194a47067e26632c5\u0022\u003EDr PITA SHARPLES (Co-Leader\u2014M\u0101ori Party):\u003C/span\u003E T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Madam Speaker. As we cast our memory back over this last year, we think of those, especially in M\u0101oridom, who have passed away. They include the Most Rev. Whakahuihui Vercoe, the legendary activist Syd Jackson, cherished kuia of Te Arawa waka W\u012Btarina Te Miri\u0101rangi Parewahaika Harris, veteran actor Don Selwyn, Atareta Maxwell, a kapa haka expert, and many more loved leaders and wh\u0101nau members. We think also of our Pasifika whanaunga, who still grieve for the loss of their late Prime Minister, Sir Thomas Davis, P\u0101 T\u016Bterangi Ariki of the Cook Islands, and, of course, the head of State of Samoa, Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili. There are many more who fill our thoughts and who have left their mark on various members of this House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EBut this year, 2007, is also a year of horrific deaths of children and young people. There has been a loss of lives cut short by violence, by street fighting, and by savage and senseless assaults on humanity. We remember those who have suffered in such brutal violence, and we say we must all make an ongoing commitment that their lives were not in vain. The M\u0101ori Party supports the people in this House in that area. We make a stand not only in our speeches but also in our activities outside of the House to restore wh\u0101nau and families so that they can come and support each other, especially where a violent member is identified in their family. It has not been an easy time with all the violence around, but at least everyone in this House is on the same track. I would like to acknowledge Sue Bradford\u2019s courage in respect of the bill to repeal section 59 of the Crimes Act, and to acknowledge all those who contributed to the final form of the legislation when it was passed. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EAlso this year there was activity in Australia that Hone Harawira exposed to the world, when the Howard regime imposed its own activity on the Aborigines. It has been a year in which the Taser was called a lethal weapon by Amnesty International, and it called for the Minister of Police and the Commissioner of Police to think about withdrawing that weapon. But I guess that one of the most traumatic things that have happened for M\u0101ori this year has been what they have called \u201CBlack Monday\u201D, 15 October, in the T\u016Bhoe community. That was a day when R\u016B\u0101toki was turned inside out by a police campaign of terror, a day in which the nation was brought to fear that bush survival camps, tribal w\u0101nanga, etc., were terrorist activities. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EOther events, other crises of confidence, have shaped this year in our reflections as the M\u0101ori Party. We think of a lot of errors in the settlement process, especially in the Te Arawa settlement and in the T\u0101maki-makau-rau one\u2014the adverse impact of overlapping claims, and the way in which the Government has been able to play favourites in making choices. It has made decisions in isolation, based on, at times, inadequate information, and generally acted in ways that breached the principles and duties imposed by the Treaty relationship. Other claims are coming in the future\u2014the future Crown forestry claim and the Wai 262 flora and fauna claim. Those issues will no doubt come to light next year, and, of course, the big question will be, what will happen to the Te Roroa Claims Settlement Bill? Will it be the first settlement bill not to be passed by this House? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EThis year, 2007, was also a year in which the Government felt the might of the M\u0101ori Party with regard to the performance of Landcorp in trying to sell some of its land, and on the lack of consultation with M\u0101ori over fishing issues, especially over the shared fisheries programme. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EBut there have been many moments of joy and events of enormous significance to Parliament, as we have seen MMP in action. We have witnessed the strength of the MMP parties, with ACT, the Greens, United Future, and the M\u0101ori Party working together to establish a code of conduct for all members of Parliament. We saw the archaic laws on sedition disappear from the statute book as a direct outcome of four MMP parties raising the heat. And we also appreciated the impact we could make on other legislation, such as the births, deaths, and relationships policy. The M\u0101ori Party celebrates all those initiatives. We acknowledge, too, the varying degrees of interest that both National and Labour have expressed in working with us this year, and we have every confidence that that interest will no doubt increase in the next 12 months. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EMadam Speaker, the M\u0101ori Party congratulates you on your management, your wisdom, and your leadership in the House. We acknowledge, too, the expert assistance of your able team: Deputy Speaker Clem Simich, and Assistant Speakers Ann Hartley and Ross Robertson. We have a whakatau\u0101k\u012B in te Ao M\u0101ori that is key to this adjournment debate: \u201CE hara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari, he toa takitini.\u201D Those words, attributed to T\u016Bhotoariki, remind us that our strength is not as individuals, but is as a collective effort. As our rangatahi would say: \u201CTrue, that!\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EWe come every day to this House knowing there is an invisible swarm of bees that makes up the sweet honey, and we recognize the talents and consistent dedication of our Parliamentary Library staff, who make our speeches sound so wise and our k\u014Drero so intelligent. We think of the Office of the Clerk, which keeps us on track and is always there to remind us of what we can and cannot do. We particularly congratulate Mary Harris\u2014kia ora, Mary\u2014who has taken on the enormous legacy left by David McGee. We are delighted with this appointment, which recognizes the many talents and the institutional expertise that Mary brings to the role of Clerk of the House. We acknowledge the legal eagles, who helped us to draft two members\u2019 bills put forward by M\u0101ori Party MPs and a raft of Supplementary Order Papers. Their proficiency and professionalism have been demonstrated in the quality of the two members\u2019 bills we have on the Order Paper: Tariana Turia\u2019s bill to repeal the Foreshore and Seabed Act, and Te Ururoa Flavell\u2019s bill to ensure that former owners of M\u0101ori, or even general, land taken or acquired by the Crown for the purposes of public works are given first right of refusal to purchase that land. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EWe thank the interpreters\u2014kia ora, bro\u2014for their support and expertise, and also the ever-enthusiastic messengers out there, and the reception staff who keep us in such good communication with the constant stream of supporters and whanaunga who come through the rubber door. We understand the pressure of the role that our security staff face every day, and the demands placed upon the cleaners, the building staff, and the information technology helpdesk\u2014the many people who keep this place humming. We thank the drivers of the VIP cars\u2014oh, no, we do not have any; that is right, sorry\u2014and of course we know that our team is the envy of this Chamber: our one researcher, our one media adviser, our one chief of staff, and each one of our executive assistants. We know that our electorates are in fine shape because of the incredible commitment of our teams out there, and that we are only ever as good as our amazing membership, our dedicated president, and our awesome party structure. It is very humbling to be part of the mighty M\u0101ori Party, and we know every day the absolute privilege we have in bringing an independent M\u0101ori voice to this Chamber. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002219767ece-60f1-4014-9855-74afaa34e699\u0022\u003EFinally, we mihi to each and every one of the honourable members of this House\u2014kia ora koutou\u2014and through them to all the New Zealanders who place their trust in us, in the people of Parliament. We have an amazing opportunity to make a difference to the lives of the people who call Aotearoa - New Zealand home. It is our calling, it is our responsibility, and it must be our greatest commitment together, to bring about the changes necessary to truly do our best to leave a legacy our mokopuna, our grandchildren, can be proud of. We extend to all members our respect and our best wishes for a very restful break with their wh\u0101nau and loved ones, and say \u201CRoll on 2008!\u201D. Kia ora koutou; Meri Kirihimete. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022 data-id=\u0022bc5cb3b46c524c22af4f23d3d2f1a1ca\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022bc5cb3b46c524c22af4f23d3d2f1a1ca\u0022\u003EHon PETER DUNNE (Leader\u2014United Future):\u003C/span\u003E Madam Speaker, I begin by congratulating you and your fellow presiding officers on your year of stewardship over the House in sometimes difficult and testing times, but always with strength and dignity, and a quality we admire. I acknowledge too and congratulate Mary Harris on her appointment as the new Clerk of the House of Representatives. I think you will honour that role, Mary, and I look forward to working with you over the next few years. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EI pay tribute to all of the staff: messengers, security people, Bellamy\u2019s people, library staff, the information technology people, our secretarial staff, and the myriad of other people around this building who help to make it function. I acknowledge the contribution they make during the course of the year. I acknowledge too the work of my own office: my immediate political staff, my departmental seconded staff, my party staff, my departmental officials, and the others who have helped to make it possible for me to function effectively this year\u2014my out-of-Parliament staff, my regional staff, and so on. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EI pay a special tribute to my deputy, Judy Turner, for her loyalty, consistency, and friendship, and for her warmth and calming advice in so many stressful situations. Judy, you are a treasure, and you are a treasure to this Parliament and this country, and I appreciate being able to count you as a friend and a colleague. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000561\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EThis has been an extraordinary year. United Future has had its ups and downs, but despite the fact that we are somewhat diminished in size, we are actually better for it and very happy to have been through the process we have because we were able to reassert ourselves as a genuine centre party and not be sidetracked by other issues as we might have been previously. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000562\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EIt has also been a year in which United Future has been able to make very significant progress. The business tax review, which the Minister of Finance referred to earlier on, arose as a direct consequence of the United Future confidence and supply agreement. I was very proud, as Minister of Revenue, to bring in the legislation that gives New Zealand business its first tax cut since the heady days of Roger Douglas in the 1980s. I was proud, also, to deliver on our promise of removing the cap on charitable donations, in order to make that a much more attractive proposition. I was proud, too, to see that we are moving down the path of introducing a payroll-giving system. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000563\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EI was delighted to work with my colleagues in the Green, M\u0101ori, and ACT parties, and occasionally with my friends from New Zealand First, on other issues. I think about our joint press conference and the action we succeeded in bringing to bear on the repeal of the sedition laws. I think about the work we did on a code of conduct, and I will be making some announcements in the next few days in relation to my annual list about how parliamentarians have behaved. I will be reflecting on how that list might have been different had everyone in this Parliament signed up to that code of conduct. But I know that that is something Madam Speaker has an interest in, and I am sure we will have more discussion about it in the future. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000564\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EA lot has been said about the political year 2007, and at this late stage of it I do not propose to rehearse too many of those arguments. Everyone says at the end of every year what an extraordinary year it has been\u2014\u201CIt has been one of the longest and toughest I can remember.\u201D\u2014but I suspect that that is more a reflection of our ageing process than of the challenges we face. But this year has had some particular aspects to it that were unusual. We have had two very high-profile public debates on issues quite varied, from the one we have just dealt with in terms of electoral finance, and earlier in the year it was the issue of the smacking of children. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000565\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EWhat concerns me at the end of this year\u2014and I will just inject a moment of seriousness into this debate for a little while\u2014about both of those debates is not so much the issues themselves but the way in which we as a country now seem to handle those issues. Everything seems to be a crisis these days. Reason has gone out of the window. Common sense and a quiet, persuasive way of dealing with issues is secondary to seeing everything as being the greatest crisis to befall our nation at this particular time. Opinions become remarkably polarised, abuse flies, and argument, rationality, and debate go out the window. I suspect, with a great deal of concern, that as we embark upon election year next year, we will see that trend become more and more entrenched, and it is bad. It is bad for our Parliament, it is bad for our people, and it is bad for our country. We ought to be able to engage in good, healthy debate that is about issues, but we have to get away from seeing everything as being the greatest crisis for Western civilisation that is imaginable. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000566\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EThe media has a part to play in this. The march to sensationalism\u2014this determination to trump the other outlet by making one\u2019s version of the story bigger, bolder, and greater than everyone else\u2019s\u2014is contributing a lot to this. So much more is coming also from this vastly improved web of international and internal communication we have, but I do not think that, as a people, we are any better for it, because we have lost our capacity to listen, we have lost our capacity to engage, and we are in danger of losing our capacity to debate. As we embark upon election year next year, with all of the issues that that will give rise to, my earnest plea is that we just think a little bit about reason. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000567\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EI note that this is not just limited to New Zealand. I recommend to members that if they want to do a little serious reading alongside the light holiday stuff over the next few weeks, then they should read Al Gore\u2019s latest book, The Assault on Reason, because that really sets out a lot of these arguments in a very compelling way. It brings the issues that we all care about back to a respective, philosophical base, and I think that all of us need to think about that as we embark upon the election campaign next year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000568\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EBut before that happens a lot more will happen. There is the festivity of Christmas, there is the time with family and friends, and there is the ability to unwind, to relax, to relive the great battles of this year\u2014always with the glory that we put on them after the event\u2014and just to recharge the batteries. As members do so, I invite them to reflect upon one thing: we will have a longer summer this year, because United Future, working with Mark Holmes from the Nelson City Council, was instrumental in having daylight saving hours extended. So those summer barbecues\u2014and I heard reference made to Mr Goff\u2019s plans a little earlier\u2014will be able to occur with greater frequency. With the La Ni\u00F1a weather pattern around I am sure that there will be more stability and long evenings for the conversation, the plotting, and all of the encouragement that goes on around them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000569\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f555a23a-d230-4f03-80ba-a44e6ec8bd29\u0022\u003EAs we come to the end of this year it simply remains for me to wish every member of the House a very happy Christmas and a peaceful time with family and friends. Believe it or not, I enjoy most members\u2019 company most of the time\u2014my good friend Mr Harawira over there springs to mind immediately. We have our differences, but I think one of the things that marks this country out as great, and marks this Parliament out as special, is that there is a bond between us. We can actually talk and joke, and move on to the next issue without holding any long-term grudges. So, Madam Speaker, I offer my best wishes to you, and I offer my best wishes to my fellow members of the House. I wish everyone good luck for the festive season, and may 2008 bring each and every one of us our true and just desserts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022 data-id=\u00225024ba55df2a4e7cbe43419a7b6ef930\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000570\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00225024ba55df2a4e7cbe43419a7b6ef930\u0022\u003ERODNEY HIDE (Leader\u2014ACT):\u003C/span\u003E It is Christmas, which is a wonderful time for everyone, but it is a particularly wonderful time to be a New Zealander. Let me begin by congratulating you, Madam Speaker. The Speaker often has a tough time in the House, but you have had an especially tough time in dealing with the wake of the Auditor-General\u2019s report and in achieving major change, and, hopefully, the change in the way MPs are financed will continue. The work that you have done on that matter often goes unrecognised and is not thanked, because it goes on behind the scenes. I know, having observed it up close, how difficult it is. I want to put on record our sincere thanks for the hard work you have done and for the good cheer with which you have done it while working and trying to achieve a consensus with all the parties on something that touches us in a manner that is near and dear. So I thank you for that, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000571\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI also thank all the messengers and the Serjeant-at-Arms, who, amazingly, stay awake right through to the wee hours of the night, sometimes through the most dreary speeches, when MPs cannot. I thank the messengers for the good cheer with which they go about their job and for making our job so much easier. I thank the clerks. I especially thank the security guards, who again show such good cheer towards us as MPs. I might add that they have such great discretion in the way in which they keep what they see and observe\u2014particularly on the video cameras now\u2014to themselves, because I think it is a better Parliament for the fact that some things stay out of the public arena. I also thank the library staff, who work assiduously to prepare material for each and every one of us.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000572\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI thank everyone, but I especially thank the MMP parties, because I think we are achieving something that is new. I think most particularly of the ACT party and the Green Party. We disagreed with the Green Party\u2019s position\u2014in fact, with most of Parliament\u2019s position\u2014on the smacking legislation. We were able to disagree with Sue Bradford and the Greens on that and still be able to disagree with good cheer and be able to work together. I feel prouder about that than I do about anything we have achieved in this House this year. Hopefully, we showed the way in which we can disagree on policies and not descend to personal attacks, to questioning people\u2019s motives, and to saying that people are stupid, ignorant, or do not understand the issue. We were still able to stand up for our position, explain our position, let the other party speak for its position, and then have the vote. I think we would have a much better Parliament, and a much better country, if the other parties could take a small leaf out of the book on the approach of United Future, New Zealand First\u2014sometimes\u2014the Green Party, the M\u0101ori Party, and the ACT party to debating the issue rather than the person.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000573\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EIn reflecting on this year I particularly thank Minister Lianne Dalziel for her help and work on the Regulatory Responsibility Bill, about which, I have to say again, the ACT party is very proud of the progress we are making. I thank Gerry Brownlee, who has been chairing that Commerce Committee in a bipartisan way, and who is doing a good job in respect of the Regulatory Responsibility Bill. I thank Maryan Street, who helped us with that bill when she was on the committee, and now Paul Swain, Gordon Copeland, and also Richard Worth and Lindsay Tisch.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000574\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EIt is hard sometimes when a party has just two MPs, but to have a bill of such magnitude and importance, which aims to get a better legislative framework by which laws travel through this House and become the law, is important. I think we should all have an interest in it. I think that the members of the committee acknowledge that. I think that they appreciate that the bill that went to the committee was not perfect. We have heard submissions, we are doing work in the new year on that, and, hopefully, a good bill will emerge from that committee, it will be something that has the support of the House, and it will make for a good legislative environment and better law for New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000575\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI thank the great staff of the ACT party here in Wellington\u2014Sandy, Sally, Chas, and Andrew\u2014who do a fantastic job, and in Auckland we have Priscilla, Brian, Willie, Stu, and Marg, all of whom work hard for a small party. Hopefully, it will not be small after next year, but at this time it has been tough for them. I also thank the party\u2019s board and the president, Garry Mallett. They have done an outstanding job.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000576\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI congratulate Mary Harris on taking on the job of Clerk of the House, and I say that it is well deserved. We have worked with Mary for many years at question time, and we hold her in very, very high regard. We hold Mary Harris with the same regard, trust, and affection that we had for Mr Dave McGee, which was totally unblemished and unparalleled, and I know that that is the case right around this House. I congratulate Mary Harris on her promotion. It is no mean feat to achieve that level of trust and integrity in this House, but both Dave McGee and Mary Harris and the clerks that they oversee and have overseen have achieved that, so thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000577\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI would like to thank all the good people of Epsom. I have enjoyed being the MP for Epsom and getting to know the electorate well. It has been a great pleasure to go from being a list MP to representing an electorate. It has been a great pleasure to have a place, to find oneself integrated into a community as an MP, and to meet people from right across the political spectrum who need help, and as an MP to be able to help them. I certainly thank them for the good cheer with which they have regarded me as a member of Parliament. I have worked hard, and I hope that hard work will be returned with a vote in 2008.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000578\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EI would like to thank, at this time, all the ACT members and supporters who have stayed true to the ACT cause, and to say, yes, we have had a good year and the best is still to come. I would like especially to thank my caucus. I have a remarkable caucus. It is not easy being the caucus in the ACT party in this parliamentary term, because it has had to put up with me, but Heather Roy as caucus has always done so with good cheer, good humour, and a positive outlook. I very much appreciate Heather Roy\u2019s help and support, and her friendship.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000579\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bc1e9f65-e08b-4939-867c-22ef093e2a4e\u0022\u003EIt is Christmas, and I wish each and every MP of this House the best Christmas. It is a great time to have a rest and to relax, and to reflect, and to spend time with our friends and our family. It is a great time to be reminded of what a great country we have here in New Zealand, and to recommit ourselves, each of us, in our ways in this House, to making this great country even greater in the new year. Thank you, Madam Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022 data-id=\u0022a04181ed284c430187734c3d53da7889\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000580\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a04181ed284c430187734c3d53da7889\u0022\u003EHon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Defence):\u003C/span\u003E As we adjourn for 2007 I join with others in acknowledging the staff who work around this building; our ministerial staff, who are incredibly hard-working and loyal; our electorate staff, who work so hard on our behalf around the country; and, indeed, all of those who work in the Government area. I think, overwhelmingly, we are very well served by the integrity of our civil servants and the way that they perform their responsibilities. I attribute to them and to our system of governance the fact that this small country is first equal for enjoying the least corrupt system in the world. I travel widely and I have learnt to appreciate the integrity of the system that we have. I attribute to them also the fact that the World Bank regards New Zealand as one of the two top countries in the world for ease of doing business, and that is something else that we should celebrate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000581\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EIn terms of my portfolio areas, I acknowledge the New Zealand Defence Force personnel, and particularly the more than 400 men and women in the Defence Force who will spend their Christmas representing our country overseas in some harsh and difficult environments. I pay tribute to the professionalism of those people. For my new portfolio, I acknowledge the work of the Department of Corrections staff. It makes me feel very bad that too often our staff on the ground\u2014within our prisons, and working in the probation service outside of our prisons\u2014bear the brunt of criticism from people who are too often ill-informed. The staff work with others whom most New Zealanders would not want to have any relationship with whatsoever, and they do their jobs well. I hope that all of those people have some time off over Christmas to enjoy with their families and friends. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000582\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003ESecondly, I would like to reflect on some things that are really good about the country that we live in, and where we have come from. Too often it is so easy to put New Zealand down, to say that Australia is better, or somewhere else is better. There are things that have happened in this country during the last 8 years of which I am really proud. I am proud of the fact that we have secured a rate of economic growth that is higher, on average, than that of other OECD countries. I am proud of the fact that that period has been the longest sustained period of economic improvement in more than 30 years. I am particularly pleased that that is reflected in the area of employment. The creation of more than a third of a million jobs is really important to New Zealand, economically and socially. Our unemployment is down to the lowest level in 28 years, at 3.5 percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000583\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI remind Bill English what he told us in a press statement in October 1999: \u201CLabour\u2019s claim that it can bring the unemployment rate down to 3 % is also a hoax on all the people who think if they voted Labour they would get a job.\u201D I say to Bill that he was wrong. He should swallow those words. He should acknowledge that it is fantastic that the number of people registered as unemployed in New Zealand is down from 161,000 at the end of 1999 to just 21,000 now. That is a brilliant achievement. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000584\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI also acknowledge what has been happening for families. Those of us here who are fortunate enough to have families know that there are great rewards in having families, and also big costs in a whole lot of ways, but one of the costs is the sheer economic cost\u2014the cost of raising children. When we sit around this House and say that things are a bit tough and we would like to do such-and-such but we cannot afford it, we should think of those families on modest incomes that are trying to do their best by their kids and to bring them up in an environment in which they can achieve their potential. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000585\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI give personal credit to Michael Cullen for Working for Families. The fact that a family on $35,000 a year, a pretty modest income, gets $199 in its pocket each week to help it with the task of raising its kids is just tremendous. No tax cut could ever deliver that, if it were delivered in an orthodox way. Even a family on $62,000\u2014coming up to the middle-income area\u2014gets $91 a week, and that sort of help is really important in meeting the cost of raising kids. Working for Families has made a real difference for the battlers, the people who struggle for their existence in this country. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000586\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI also acknowledge the other things that have happened to those struggling families. We have halved the cost of going to a doctor. It is terrible to think that families out there could not afford to take their kids to the doctor, and that, therefore, whatever they were suffering from\u2014in terms of illness\u2014got worse. Often now, people are paying $3 for a prescription item, and that gives people across the board access to health, which is so important. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000587\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI think of the people with preschool children, and the attacks on the 20 hours\u2019 free preschool education. Now I see that 83 percent of New Zealand preschool kids are covered by those 20 hours a week, and I say to Steve Maharey: \u201CYou were right, Steve. Your opponents were wrong. Congratulations on what you have achieved.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000588\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI think of the old people, and I think of my parents, who are in that bracket. They are now on 66 percent of the average wage, with superannuation, rather than 60 percent\u2014a promise delivered and a difference made in the lifestyle and in the standards of living of those families. Those elderly folk were bitterly cynical about politics after the 1990s. They were let down at the start of the 1990s\u2014\u201CNo ifs, no buts, or maybes\u201D, a promise broken. They were let down again in 1999 when Bill English cut the rate of superannuation yet again. Now they have the dignity of growing old with a reasonable income having been restored to them. That is a fine thing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000589\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EBut if I look at what deserves the award this year for progressive policy, it has to be KiwiSaver. Everybody in this House is in a superannuation scheme\u2014and good luck to us; we get a good return on it\u2014but so many hundreds of thousands of families out there never had that opportunity. In just 5 months, 316,000 New Zealanders joined KiwiSaver. It was great for them for homeownership, great for them for saving for their retirement, great for New Zealand because we need to save more, and great for New Zealand because New Zealanders, by saving, are retaining ownership of their own country. For all of those reasons we should applaud the KiwiSaver scheme, and in the true spirit of Christmas bipartisanship I urge the National Party to come clean and support the scheme. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000590\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003ESo much else is happening that I do not want to talk a lot about the Electoral Finance Bill, other than to say that a decent democracy is not a democracy if votes can be manipulated by the spending of millions of dollars by secret groups representing narrow, sectoral, vested interests. I do not have to mention The Hollow Men. I do not have to make the accusations. Members have read the book. National members were in the caucus. They know what happened. And they know why that was done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000591\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EFinally, on leadership, I say that I think Colin James got it right about Helen Clark when he said that \u201Cshe does an outstanding job abroad\u201D, \u201Cshe is always formidably well briefed\u201D, \u201Cshe is everywhere, tirelessly\u201D, \u201Cshe is amazingly accessible to journalists\u201D, \u201Cshe navigates by a clear value-set\u201D, and \u201Cshe has got some regeneration in her party\u201D. I applaud Helen Clark for 8 years of excellent leadership, and my caucus and Cabinet colleagues for joining in that leadership and taking this country forward. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000592\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EOne thing I have to say at the end of 2007 that is rather sad for me personally is that I lost my nephew 4 weeks ago. He was killed in fighting in Afghanistan. We have battles in this House and I enjoy them. I never make it personal\u2014at least, I hope I do not. This is a place where we should have fiery arguments over policy. But I say to all of my colleagues in this House how deeply I appreciate their expressions of condolence and support over the loss of that young man, who was so important to me and my family. I really do appreciate that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000593\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003EI wish everybody in this House a happy Christmas, peaceful New Year, and some well-deserved time with their families. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022 data-id=\u002236a10148f1c747a18354e188c9c651ef\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000594\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002236a10148f1c747a18354e188c9c651ef\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE (National\u2014Ilam):\u003C/span\u003E Despite the fact that Phil Goff ended his contribution this afternoon on a fairly solemn note, I acknowledge that the expression he gave to the House is appreciated. When it comes to families, we are all somewhat vulnerable when we experience personal tragedies like that. In this case, it was a particularly sad death. He knows that the condolences from this side of the House have been thoroughly expressed to him. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000595\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003ENow we will go back to the bit that he spoke about where we have the robust debate. Phil Goff has to be the happiest man in the Labour Party caucus, because for the first time in his political career he has his colleagues phoning him up and saying: \u201CCan we come to the barbecue?\u201D. The reason for that is that he is now part of a party that has completely disconnected itself from the aspirations of ordinary New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000596\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EIt has been fascinating this afternoon to hear Labour members speak in very soft and measured tones about the achievements of the Government. There was an extraordinary speech from Dr Michael Cullen, who simply put aside the usual rhetoric that one would expect from him and started to try to list some of the achievements of the Labour Government. He was almost saying: \u201CIt\u2019s incredible, isn\u2019t it, that we\u2019re in such bad shape in the polls when we\u2019ve done so much for these ungrateful people out there.\u201D On the very day that the Electoral Finance Bill was passed, I could not help wondering, when he started talking about the sitting days next year and telling us not to jump to any conclusions about an election date, whether the idea of a \u201CLet\u2019s Not Have an Election This Year Bill\u201D is rattling around inside his head. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000597\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003ESimilarly, we heard from Phil Goff the soft list of all the wonderful things the Labour Government is doing for New Zealanders. It was particularly interesting to hear him mention the figure of some $9,000 extra, apparently, over and above the salaries that are heavily taxed, going to families on reasonably middling incomes. The interesting thing is, firstly, that there will be people in this country earning in excess of $60,000 a year who are not getting any wealthier at all. It really shows how far incomes have slipped as far as purchasing power is concerned. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000598\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EThe really amazing thing that Mr Goff chose not to mention is that if that family is average, if they are just ordinary New Zealanders and they have an ordinary mortgage, then his Government\u2019s excesses, spending, and hoarding of the taxpayer funds have seen interest rates rise to a level where that $9,500, I think he said, that is given to them as a benefit has about $7,500 taken from it each year in additional interest, over and above what they should be paying in an ordinarily dynamic economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000599\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EI get very, very cynical when I hear that sort of soft approach coming from the Labour Party about how good it is. There are many things that he did not mention about this year. The first is the extraordinary outburst of public reaction over the anti-smacking bill. One might say that it has not been as bad as was expected. I do not think that is actually the case. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000600\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022610f05d6be4c4e5d91eaa3ac3514a5db\u0022\u003EHon Phil Goff\u003C/span\u003E: The member voted for it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000601\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002209a804b4bf0942c5a3bae4f1fe618acd\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: I think there are still a lot of people in their homes who wonder what will happen if they get themselves in a situation where their neighbour or school reports on them, or some other thing. I think what we saw from the country was an expression of concern about how easily a Government can get into the lives of New Zealanders and rip them around. The member over there said \u201CThe member voted for it.\u201D Yes, the National Party did extract some compromise from the Prime Minister, and we supported the bill. Let me say that had we not done that, then the consequences for ordinary families would have been far worse than they are under the current law. If there is a lack of consequence from this bill, it is because of the leadership of John Key, because of the pressure that was put on by the public, and because of the pressure exercised by the National Party. What it really spoke of was the fear that New Zealanders have of their lives being controlled. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000602\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EWe also did not hear from any of the Ministers about their two ministerial colleagues who were lost during this year\u2014the two ministerial colleagues who got themselves in so much hot water that they had to take off, resign, or go, either for a short period of time or, in the case of David Benson-Pope, forever. We did not hear about the issues that led to those resignations. We did not hear about the bad behaviour of those Ministers, the lying in the House, and the misleading of the public. We did not hear about the blatant politicisation of the Public Service. We heard Mr Goff stand up and say how wonderful our civil servants are and how much the Government relies on them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000603\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EI think it is fair to say that we have very, very capable and competent people inside the bureaucracy. There is no question about that. They serve Governments very, very well. But why do we have a Minister who has to insert his own people inside the ministry in order to get the right political message coming out? We know full well that the Government is sitting on a report from the State Services Commission over the Clare Curran and Erin Leigh incident. We know it will probably be released some time on Friday afternoon, or even late on Monday afternoon, in order to try to avoid the certain scrutiny that it should receive. How do we know that? Because this afternoon Trevor Mallard, who for some 7 weeks now has refused to apologise to Erin Leigh for besmirching her reputation, came sneaking down to the House, quietly apologised, and is now hoping that it will all go away. I do not think the apology would have been given in the House if Mr Mallard did not know what is in the report of the State Services Commission. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000604\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EAlso in this debate, we are looking towards next year. What will next year bring? Well, the first thing for the Labour Party, apparently, is a little bit of renewal, because we are saying goodbye to Dianne Yates and Ann Hartley. The problem is that the people Labour is getting in on the list will not have a very long political career at all. They will join some of the others who will wake up in the new year and realise that their political opportunities are rapidly coming to an end. Charles Chauvel will be one of those; it will be back to the law for him. I do not know where Sue Moroney came from, but she will not be coming back. Moana Mackey is finished. Darien Fenton can go back to wherever she came from. And, of course, Rick Barker can too. They are the certainties.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000605\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228bdadf89f9a54b57bb3fdcfce91593c5\u0022\u003EHon Phil Goff\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s this sort of arrogance that will get you into trouble.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000606\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002279fd586324c04fb7879ce080ea6de80f\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: No; they are the certainties who will go. I remember well in 1998 Trevor Mallard standing in this House and pointing across to various members\u2014pointing right at those members\u2014waving his finger at them and saying \u201CYou are gone.\u201D I say to Mr Goff that I would not be as arrogant as that, but I can tell the member that there will be a wholesale turnover inside the Labour Party. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000607\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EThe other thing we can look forward to next year is the Phillip Field fraud case. The member over there, Mr Goff, might tell us now whether he has been subpoenaed to appear in that case. That is what will happen\u2014there will be a civil case. Mr Damien O\u2019Connor will be there in the dock with Mr Goff and Mr Swain\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000608\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ac169d29-4849-42c2-a4a7-f344fd416503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e8ee85fff894e39b202b1e192640275\u0022\u003EDr the Hon Lockwood Smith\u003C/span\u003E: And Ross Robertson.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000609\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220b332edd3bd242ccb15c2479b63d2036\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: \u2014and Mr Ross Robertson. All of them will be appearing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000610\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c699e7c6-53b9-470c-a14a-378cb6fc8a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294ceef8ecb144b038d3eaab7619c70a5\u0022\u003EHon Phil Goff\u003C/span\u003E: Unlike you, I\u2019ve never had the experience of being in the dock.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000611\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c65a49079f86493ab95214b93bf5ee9d\u0022\u003EGERRY BROWNLEE\u003C/span\u003E: I can tell the member from personal experience that being in the dock is not a pleasant thing. But being in the dock in an election year is an extremely stupid thing. None the less, that will happen. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000612\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EWe are also debating the sitting times for next year. It will surprise New Zealanders that in the whole of the 2008 year, leading up to the election, we will see just 60 parliamentary days at the most\u2014just 60 parliamentary days. That is only 2 months. When we take out all the set pieces, we will have, next year, a Government doing 2 months\u2019 work over probably an 8 or 9-month period, and we can guarantee that very little will be done at all. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000613\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EI take my last couple of minutes to affirm the thanks Mr Key gave on the part of the National Party to the very long list he had, and I also congratulate the Clerk, Mary Harris, on her appointment. It is a historic appointment, and thoroughly deserved, and we are very pleased to be able to support that. I thank the Assistant Speakers, Ann Hartley and Ross Robertson, who have filled in for you, Madam Speaker, adequately throughout the year. I thank also our own member, Deputy Speaker the Hon Clem Simich, for the work he has done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000614\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e6b4dc55-3561-49a8-a871-ae005354ef90\u0022\u003EI particularly thank you, Madam Speaker, for your work. It is not an easy job being the Speaker of the House. There are fraught moments. I know you appreciate that they are just moments, and that they do pass. We wish you, the presiding officers, and the Clerk a very happy Christmas, a restful break, and a good New Year. I also wish a very merry Christmas to our political confr\u00E8res in this House. Mr Peters wished us all a very happy January and said it would be all downhill from there. I think that Mr Peters is the one who will find the slide under him for most of 2008.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022 data-id=\u0022c600e4987bf5476fbef7881911d5a953\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000615\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c600e4987bf5476fbef7881911d5a953\u0022\u003EMadam SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: As the 2007 parliamentary year comes to a close, I wish to pay tribute in the traditional manner to all those people who contribute to the efficient functioning of the House. First, I must acknowledge the support of my colleagues the Deputy Speaker, Clem Simich, and the Assistant Speakers Ann Hartley and Ross Robertson, who have been great to work with and who have never failed to perform when asked. I also acknowledge the tireless work of Parliament\u2019s kaum\u0101tua and kuia, John Tahup\u0101rae and Rose White. I say thank you to you, because frequently you are overlooked. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000616\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EOnce again, I formally record my thanks to the former Clerk of the House, Dave McGee, and wish him every success in his new position as Ombudsman. I record my congratulations to Mary Harris, who has been appointed the new Clerk of the House. I also thank the staff of the Clerk\u2019s Office for their professional and administrative skills in servicing the Table of the House; compiling the Hansard records; processing legislation, questions, and petitions; and serving select committees. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000617\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EThanks go also to George Tanner, the former Chief Parliamentary Counsel, and a welcome is given to David Noble, the new Chief Parliamentary Counsel. Without the support and professionalism of the Parliamentary Counsel Office it would be impossible to deliver the quality of service for which this Parliament is known. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000618\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EAlthough the Chamber is, of course, the focus of parliamentary activities, the activities of the House are supported by the staff of Parliamentary Service. It has been a year of much change for the service, and I record my thanks for the work that staff have undertaken to improve the quality of that service to members of Parliament and to the public. I formally record my thanks to the former General Manager of Parliamentary Service, Joel George, and his senior managers; members\u2019 support staff, including their executive assistants; support staff of the various parliamentary parties; staff of the library; research units; the Chamber and gallery officers; interpreters; security staff; building services staff; telephonists; travel office staff; and reception and visitor services staff. I also welcome our new general manager, Geoff Thorn, who joins us next year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000619\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EI record a very special thanks to the Serjeant-at-Arms, Brent Smith, and to all those who support him to uphold the traditions and propriety of the Chamber and to welcome visitors to the parliamentary galleries. They are an essential part of the running of this Parliament, and events such as the highly successful open day at Parliament in October are testimony to that. Others who work hard to ensure that guests and visitors to the parliamentary complex have an enjoyable experience include Beverly Cathcart and Michelle Janse. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000620\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EThank you to all of you who have worked to support the committees that I chair: the Business Committee, Parliamentary Service Commission, Standing Orders Committee, and Officers of Parliament Committee. It has been a busy year, as most of you know, especially for the Parliamentary Service Commission, which has worked tirelessly to produce the new determination and directions. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000621\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EI also acknowledge the work of the officers of Parliament. I offer a special thanks to the Leader of the House, the Hon Dr Michael Cullen, and to the shadow Leader of the House, Gerry Brownlee, and also to the leaders of all the parties in this House, their deputies, the party whips\u2014a special thankyou to the party whips\u2014and their deputies. You have all contributed to the smooth operation of the business of the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000622\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EI acknowledge and thank the members of the press gallery, who are a necessary part of a democratic Parliament. I acknowledge also the work of all members of Parliament, who, despite enormous workloads, serve this House well. I extend very, very heartfelt personal thanks to my own staff\u2014Pam, Roland, the two Roses, and Nina. It would be impossible to do my job without you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000623\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EAlthough people can now see how hard we work, through the televising of Parliament\u2014late into the night, as was witnessed last week\u2014I would like to reinforce that impression of our hard work with a few statistics. These are the sitting hours for 2007, as recorded to 14 December. We had 88 sitting days and 91 calendar days\u2014you could put in a quiz a sort of trick question as to why they are different. The sitting hours were 523 hours and 58 minutes. The bills passed were 110 Government bills, three members\u2019 bills, one local bill, and one private bill. Of the questions asked there were 20,772 written questions and 1,059 oral questions, excluding supplementary questions. There have been 413 select committee meetings this year\u2014comprising 1,044 hours and 20 minutes\u2014which produced 302 reports. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000624\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EAfter that, and as I draw this session of Parliament to a close, I wish for you to join your families and friends for the coming break; to eat, drink sensibly, and have a break during that time; and to come back refreshed to the House, where we start all over again in February 2008.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EMotion agreed to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id200712180c4d505a1ffc484b87c106fbbe0282bd000626\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022022cfe6b-bae4-4028-b68a-ccffb4269442\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 6.49 p.m. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"