"\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=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00220afa2f953611438ebcdf180e33ef9747\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2018\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000003\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022cec11fb96a97448bac17948199f86e1a\u0022\u003ETHURSDAY, 22 FEBRUARY 2018\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000002\u0022\u003EThe Speaker took the Chair at 2 p.m.\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000004\u0022\u003EPrayers.\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000005\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b6f3810404a941bc88d80b08f1da649c\u0022\u003EVisitors\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000006\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022accc142fd12948d8869664b0b20c94c7\u0022\u003EIran\u2014Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee, Delegation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002244cbdb09e3b24bc1bd98719f3accc540\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000007\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002244cbdb09e3b24bc1bd98719f3accc540\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am sure that members would wish to welcome delegates from the Agriculture, Water and Natural Resources Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran\u2019s Parliament, led by vice-chairman Mr Ali Akbari, who are present in the gallery.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000008\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00224cd870dc87a34215a93a3e784c6c1ad6\u0022\u003EResignations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000009\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002282ce382a58084179beca9606bb0f33e8\u0022\u003ERt Hon Bill English, National\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000010\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002285a114dad5fa44c595bcd5176b413b7e\u0022\u003E Rt Hon Bill English\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022 data-id=\u002260167a7f89114f838a6ac6ada0ceddba\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000011\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002260167a7f89114f838a6ac6ada0ceddba\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I wish to advise the House that I have received a letter from the, resigning his seat in the House with effect from Tuesday, 13 March 2018.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000012\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002216eba51b8d2b4445945cb2bb79fec71f\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000014\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b7fbff58d0e14d54bfa8741fa4d5002f\u0022\u003EBusiness Statement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022 data-id=\u00226c598fa44d6e41418b51c872636c3979\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000013\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226c598fa44d6e41418b51c872636c3979\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Deputy Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E Next week, the House will consider the remaining stages of the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill, the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2017-18, Employment and Investment Income, and Remedial Matters) Bill, the Customs and Excise Bill, and the first reading of the Health (National Cervical Screening Programme) Amendment Bill. On Tuesday, 27 February, as agreed by the Business Committee, there will be a debate on the report of the Commerce Committee on the Marrakesh VIP Treaty. On Wednesday, 28 February the House will consider the report of the Finance and Expenditure Committee on the Budget Policy Statement, and will debate the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement. The Rt Hon Bill English will make his valedictory statement at 4 p.m. on Thursday, 1 March.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022 data-id=\u00227f41d627b19b42cb8ca44112f6c8ded5\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000015\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227f41d627b19b42cb8ca44112f6c8ded5\u0022\u003EJAMI-LEE ROSS (Senior Whip\u2014National):\u003C/span\u003E That all sounds very busy, but I wonder if the acting Leader of the House can tell us if we\u2019re likely to see more legislation introduced\u2014or are there going to be Government filibusters on things like instructions and National Party - written bills all next week, as well?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022 data-id=\u0022b91b93161ddd4572ace1eb328b882382\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000016\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022b91b93161ddd4572ace1eb328b882382\u0022\u003EHon IAIN LEES-GALLOWAY (Deputy Leader of the House):\u003C/span\u003E This Government has a comprehensive and ambitious programme, and the member can look forward to debating many, many Government bills in the future. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000017\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022448242cf5b2041cb9d1fcdc84abd6b8c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000018\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c2dbd95c0b6642abac54e1d592a50d13\u0022\u003EHon Kris Faafoi\u003C/span\u003E: Won\u2019t be going home early.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000019\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254e0320f3ebd4de9a1d8d413b60ed4f0\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Was that a request, Mr Faafoi?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022HpsHansard\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000020\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsProceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002253041b001f954fdaa0f7d71f4c54623f\u0022\u003EOral Questions\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000021\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002234ec81c2f99b4b93a69ea6ef5cf1a400\u0022\u003EQuestions to Ministers\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022404e29b71ecb47e7811e8b7266e470ff\u0022\u003E\u2014Confidence\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000023\u0022\u003EMinisters\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022 data-id=\u00229c9e662718c5424da9ac8a865523730e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000024\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E1. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229c9e662718c5424da9ac8a865523730e\u0022\u003EHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader\u2014National)\u003C/span\u003E to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in all of her Ministers?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022 data-id=\u002218d96b111e4c460aa7196fee80d5121b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000025\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002218d96b111e4c460aa7196fee80d5121b\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Deputy Prime Minister) \u003C/span\u003Eon behalf of the Prime Minister: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000026\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022cd2aa04dcce1450aa538a6305430f049\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she have confidence in her Associate Minister of Education who, despite section 2.69 of the Cabinet Manual, which states, \u201CMinisters should take care, however, to ensure that they do not become associated with non-governmental organisations or community groups where: a. the group\u2019s objectives may conflict with government policy; b. the organisation is a lobby group; or c. the organisation receives or applies for government funding.\u201D has not declared any perceived conflict of interest in relation to He Puna M\u0101rama Trust?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000027\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022748702280532484f9527feeca41c9da2\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Could I advise the member that there are three associate education Ministers. Which one is she referring to?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000028\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220911eb3452ce4f618479338804e8df2b\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. May I answer the Minister\u2019s question?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000029\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a3f7e7531c424c528581d3cdf1d60ce2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question\u2019s been addressed\u2014not quite in the normal frame, but it\u2019s been addressed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000030\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022869b925338e14ca999281640558b102f\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: All right. Have any of those Associate Ministers of Education declared any conflicts of interest in relation to charter schools?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000031\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fdb6e59935a94b9cb5a13eb07d7ed013\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: To cut to the chase, seeing as allegations have been in this House and they were against Mr Davis on this matter, can I say that the Cabinet Office has given a ruling on this matter inside the construct of the rules around the Cabinet Manual, and they have found that the allegations in this case are baseless.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000032\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e8c30e09753749519b02000c8eb9980e\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: So in light of section 2.79 of the Cabinet Manual, which states any Minister who is an associate Minister to a portfolio irrespective of their delegations needs to manage any possible conflict, how has her Associate Minister of Education Kelvin Davis managed his conflicts of interest in relation to He Puna M\u0101rama Trust?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000033\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d2117d5e0bfc4082b2be22e8aff29822\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Because in Mr Davis\u2019 case, all he did\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000034\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002270aa1e09f6a7431b8aa2d72c5766052c\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: \u201CHow\u201D, not \u201Cbecause\u201D\u2014\u201Chow\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000035\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002284c2de0c583a4720a7843f6c25600e93\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I know whether it\u2019s was, how, when, and why. If you\u2019ll keep quiet, I\u2019ll let you know. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000036\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c48d9cb01b604d4b941b08a566c66b59\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: How? Just answer the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000037\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203a63c6500174464a0988b2688d36f6d\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Unlike that massively conflicted former Minister, we know what the Cabinet Manual says. In Mr Davis\u2019 case, he merely provided information to the trust pointing them to the publicly available information. Better independent judges on this matter in terms of the Cabinet Manual ruling have decided that he has offended no rule at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000038\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f8daa711482b4266982bccbc05b495eb\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Hmm, a bit defensive. Does she expect all of her Ministers to sign out their own answers to written questions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000039\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227ec0028311114ddbbc4989bbd3ee014f\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I would imagine that every Minister is responsibly looking at their questions. I know that we were attacked with a telephone volume of questions by the former National Party Government when they went into Opposition in some sort of vindictive act, but I would imagine that every member, every Minister would be signing out their own written questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000040\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002280a0142b8fb54e3ba2d611bac90ba189\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does he have confidence in her Minister of Broadcasting, Communications and Digital Media, who doesn\u2019t seem to sign out her own answers to written questions and thinks a breakfast with a senior manager in a Government entity she\u2019s responsible for isn\u2019t a meeting, and fudges details in written and oral questions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000041\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a75a727bd59b49a2a8189526841c2859\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Well, I am going to let the Minister answer it, but there were probably three allegations that were made\u2014unsubstantiated allegations made\u2014as part of that question, all of which are strictly out of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000042\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2a44036a466428a912d182a4f60efb2\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The fact is that having a casual breakfast meeting with someone, which is very frequent given the proximity of the media to politics in this part of the country, namely Wellington, is not going to give rise to a conflict of interest, or failing to disclose information as to the official nature when it may well just have been sharing a breakfast.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000043\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fcf88c78159d464e925e977a63df552c\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Does she have confidence in her Minister for M\u0101ori Development, given she had to withdraw 67 misleading written parliamentary questions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000044\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022340a171f6ec74bd4bc44112e2861799b\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: The answer to that is if the officials wrongly prepared the answer\u2014[Interruption] Well, I do recognise\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000045\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f334d11502fb4491a08b1e0a4a92fe36\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! No, I just ask the Deputy Prime Minister to sit down. If members on my left want this line of questioning to continue, they will let the answers continue. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000046\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226eb2261e992145c8a4894568b5be9211\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I do realise that some members of this House claim to have an elephantine memory and are able to answer all their questions without any preparation at all from their civil servants. We admit to being far more humble than that, and we rely upon the Public Service of this country to prepare the answers. Sometimes they may get it wrong, and that\u2019s why they\u2019ll be withdrawn. But there\u2019s no\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000047\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022362267cdbf2346169523f721d3a95936\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: But you just said Ministers sign them out. You just said Ministers sign them out.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000048\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002243ea671bf7634e8da118014e21ad61f1\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, I just said Ministers sign them out because, with civil servants having prepared them, you\u2019d expect the Minister to rely upon those civil servants\u2014bearing in mind, these were the same people gifted to us by the former Government after nine years of being in office. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000049\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f29c05f264344579b0dc4470380e7a39\u0022\u003EHon Nanaia Mahuta\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Prime Minister agree that in order to ensure administrative accuracy, it may be a possibility that written questions would have to be amended? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000050\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d671d335de7a4d989a20a2befbe2c164\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, most definitely. That sounds like the reasonable, rational, sane thing to do, which is why it has appeal on this side of the House and no appeal over there. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000051\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230e38b59c5974bfa8dff45691ad0b110\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: So does she have confidence in her Minister of Foreign Affairs, given he railed vehemently against the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement for years, and now suddenly seems to be one of its biggest supporters? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000052\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002231587f7c24a84a86a0b0e3ad6d43674e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: There\u2019s no\u2014sorry. Does the member want to have another go at the question. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000053\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002263776108-58dc-4cab-baf1-95282c61d0de\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225111224a13a94678a0f018a64d4e1f39\u0022\u003EHon Paula Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, nah. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000054\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d38120bede7c4c298c798606d4f0b37c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: All right. You understand? All right. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000055\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d75ffe5a4acf416c8e5bc54e21249647\u0022\u003ERt Hon WINSTON PETERS\u003C/span\u003E: I cannot think of a Minister that the Prime Minister has got more confidence in, because what that Minister has managed to do, alongside the Minister for trade and other colleagues, is to take a ragtail sell-out of this country\u2019s sovereignty and turn it around in the national interest. That\u2019s why Donald Trump wants back in. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000056\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002275d4aaa42ef54db0bddf92f6a575bf17\u0022\u003EHealth, Ministry\u2014Funding for Rare Diseases\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u0022f3aeaab6dcfa414f98ece08230a32018\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000057\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E2. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f3aeaab6dcfa414f98ece08230a32018\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Health: What are his priorities in the health portfolio?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022 data-id=\u00220b9dd38aee574e9ba7f647b96d96e47a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000058\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220b9dd38aee574e9ba7f647b96d96e47a\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER (Associate Minister of Health)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Health: T\u0113n\u0101 koe, Mr Speaker. Better health for New Zealanders. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000059\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224c80d871d074468ba62bdef3386f2b0b\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Is it a priority for the Minister to honour his pre-election pledge of a $20 million fund for rare diseases?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000060\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002278d789b5a8f040bdba7cf8ed0ef66183\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: In fact, there was no amount specified in a pledge, but it is extremely important to me that we do have funds for rare diseases, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m quite pleased to say that Pharmac has announced they will be continuing the $5 million fund for rare diseases next year. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000061\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f600a9175ea4912ad010ae51ec59e96\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Why is Collette Bromhead, the CEO of the New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders, saying that she was promised there would be a new $20 million fund, and now Government MPs have told her that it is \u201Coff the table\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000062\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ee0163dd51fc4ee2a477c72ef84bd34c\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m not sure why she\u2019s saying that, because there was no specified amount in the Labour Party manifesto. There was a commitment, and I\u2019ve made it very clear that this is an issue that is incredibly important to me, and I\u2019m pleased that Pharmac will be continuing to fund rare diseases, and I\u2019ve already asked both Pharmac and the Ministry of Health for advice on how we can continue to support those with rare diseases. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000063\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227cb4bb13127b4cce83dba1b1b4e80b43\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Why did the Minister write to the New Zealand Pompe disease network around Labour\u2019s policy of establishing a rare disease fund when the Government is now saying the fund is \u201Coff the table\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000064\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224ee75d75aae64697bbea904b555dc841\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member has now, I think, at least three times made an allegation that he\u2019s based a fact on. Normally, when one makes some allegation, one needs to provide authentication, and I am seeking authentication from him. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000065\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223cf7cdd0daf94bd6aad445263faadc8b\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Shall I rephrase the question with the authentication? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000066\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222aa80c50aebc4e7e9e68e85c92392641\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think it would be a good idea, because I did happen to listen to the radio programme that the member might be relying on from yesterday. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000067\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a9204c77214b42558030981828f40aa6\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you. Why did the Minister write to the New Zealand Pompe disease network around Labour\u2019s policy of establishing a rare disease fund, when the Radio New Zealand interview yesterday reported two MPs saying the fund is \u201Coff the table\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000068\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a795884830fe49c0af1fb2504ad36530\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: In the New Zealand Labour Party\u2019s disability issues manifesto, there is a commitment to a specific fund for medicines to treat rare diseases. I am happy to say that Pharmac is continuing with the trial-specific funds for rare diseases this year, and that I\u2019ve asked the Ministry of Health and Pharmac for advice on how we can continue to support funding medicines for those with rare diseases.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000069\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220ddd2276a96d4ada9b644c1b1e5aaf69\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: How could it be that the Minister told Radio New Zealand yesterday that \u201CI wasn\u2019t aware\u201D of a vital funding cut to the New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders, when CEO Collette Bromhead says, \u201CHe does know that our funding is at threat, because we sent repeated letters to his office and I have spoken to his private secretary.\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000070\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224bd07ca9f45f4f799da1867651df8d82\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m afraid that information is incorrect. The ministry has made no decisions on what is happening with funding for the New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders. It\u2019s being considered along with all other things that are considered for funding in the Budget process for next year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000071\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab998f20f06149a2812ad278e0c24c18\u0022\u003EDr Shane Reti\u003C/span\u003E: Is he confirming, then, that he has not received repeated letters to his office, and his private secretary has not been spoken to by CEO Collette Bromhead?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000072\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002258f935f1-6646-40ab-9d99-17029396850c\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022227e1fccd0e94e3490cfa16d07e1a65d\u0022\u003EHon JULIE ANNE GENTER\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m afraid that I can\u2019t confirm that one way or another, but if he puts the question in writing we might be able to answer it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000073\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e60c1237-5e2d-4d0a-9678-ab10db67d1b7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022adebb59aa159472e856fda11b8f6595a\u0022\u003EAngie Warren-Clark\u003C/span\u003E: Does the Minister agree with former chairman of the three Auckland district health boards, Lester Levy, when he told the Health Committee yesterday that the system in Auckland is under stress?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000074\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d6e02f349fed46a0a5c4078811b89461\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! No, the member will resume her seat. That does not flow from either the primary question or the supplementaries. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000075\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229509927b68294677bc4a4f3044f564e0\u0022\u003EEconomy\u2014Living Standards Framework and Performance Measurement\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022 data-id=\u002281eb69cffb6547b8910109f3ade60384\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000076\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E3. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002281eb69cffb6547b8910109f3ade60384\u0022\u003EJAN LOGIE (Green)\u003C/span\u003E to the Associate Minister of Finance: What recent progress has there been on development of the Living Standards Framework and other sustainable development indicators?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u00229bee181226034c1a9f405017b77ca48c\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000077\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229bee181226034c1a9f405017b77ca48c\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Associate Minister of Finance):\u003C/span\u003E Today, Treasury published four discussion papers and a position paper on natural capital, human capital, social capital, and a well-being framework. The papers are designed to spark conversations about lifting the quality of policy advice from Government departments by incorporating an intergenerational well-being perspective into policy formation, including environmental well-being. Our Government is committed to developing a more fulsome set of measurements for how we\u2019re doing as a country, and these papers are a valuable contribution. For decades, the Greens have been advocating a more holistic view of the economy and well-being, rather than a narrow focus on gross domestic product. The Treasury papers today show just how far into the mainstream these ideas have come and that they are a core part of our Government\u2019s economic strategy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000078\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002293df76504ba74e01bea5a967df2272ab\u0022\u003EJan Logie\u003C/span\u003E: Why is the Government working on measuring success differently?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000079\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222c89e022f30347069f64d925c494fff7\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: What gets measured gets managed. Extending our focus beyond income to broader well-being will help to guide Government decision-making in the interests of all New Zealanders and the ecosystems that sustain us. Alongside the Living Standards Framework, Statistics New Zealand is working with Treasury to build a comprehensive measurement framework to support better policy-making.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000080\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222cf683ae29364f5c96eeb31975a500f4\u0022\u003EJan Logie\u003C/span\u003E: How will measuring success differently flow into Government decision-making?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000081\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274d5c3fea8d54334b4c0556264c3dc47\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: This work will help to support the Government\u2019s intention to amend the Public Finance Act to require reporting on well-being measures. The first step, as the House knows, is the Prime Minister\u2019s work to insert child poverty data into formal budget reporting. Next year, the Minister of Finance has signalled a fuller integration for the well-being approach into Budget 2019. To quote a former Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, we are working towards a system where \u201Cour success is counted not by the size of our GDP and our incomes but by the warmth of our relationships with each other and with nature, by the health of our children and our elders and our rivers and our land.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000082\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002269dfdffa-4227-42b6-875a-fc8033bc25cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022424e18679fec45a0b9ec43dad125e466\u0022\u003EJan Logie\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Government still be measuring traditional economic indicators like GDP and gross national income?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000083\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226e1007138d347f1a7d4fad75f06735f\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, it will, but GDP is too narrow and at the same time too generalised to be particularly useful for measuring actual well-being. GDP does not tell us if the poor are getting poorer, it does not tell us if homes are cold and damp and unaffordable, it does not tell us if our rivers are too dirty to swim in, and it doesn\u2019t measure the scarcity of resources. In fact, Simon Kuznets, who standardised the measurement of growth, warned, \u201CThe welfare of a nation can scarcely be inferred from the measure of national income. Economic growth\u201D\u2014he pointed out\u2014\u201Cmeasured only annual flow, rather than stocks of wealth and their distribution.\u201D Our goal is not just a bigger economy; it\u2019s a better economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000084\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002225f92da815b047f59b4b0a35320f7010\u0022\u003EProvincial Growth Fund\u2014Initiatives\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022 data-id=\u0022fed8fa2a2f124e62b4160a8958c106e1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000085\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E4. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022fed8fa2a2f124e62b4160a8958c106e1\u0022\u003EJONATHAN YOUNG (National\u2014New Plymouth)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Regional Economic Development: Does he believe that the Regional Development (Provincial Growth) Fund is going to make a difference in the Tair\u0101whiti region?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022 data-id=\u0022d7b8935b97a94f9d9cff1e8a0b6085f7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000086\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d7b8935b97a94f9d9cff1e8a0b6085f7\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES (Minister for Regional Economic Development):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, the Provincial Growth Fund will make a difference in the Tair\u0101whiti.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000087\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224863c8f87ec042518bc18b9e6cad65c3\u0022\u003EJonathan Young\u003C/span\u003E: Following the comment of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment at their annual review this morning, that the present Government is continuing all of the previous Government\u2019s regional initiatives, will he continue to support all the programmes around youth employment already started, and notably the commitment of $450,000 over three years to support the young people of the Gisborne-Tair\u0101whiti region to get their driver licence\u2014noting the importance of a driver licence to perform many jobs and to get to and from work?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000088\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022309ce3878d9147c3a45378c9a4a5343e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Can I just remind members, as I have been this week, that that contained an extra bit on the end that was not necessary for the sense of the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000089\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022150931cc9d0743a386b04053b1543430\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: Obviously, interventions that enable people to go to and from work in the Tair\u0101whiti region, without being stopped by the police and charged for not having the right licence, is something that I look forward to championing. But I\u2019m sad that it does disproportionately affect our young M\u0101ori folk in that area, and in that sense I look forward to working closely with Mr Jackson.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000090\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002233b383d3deea4b8b97dea84f91621623\u0022\u003EJonathan Young\u003C/span\u003E: Is the Government going to announce the first project to be funded under its regional development fund tomorrow; and if so, will the Government publish the bidding and funding approval process for the Government\u2019s regional development fund before or after the announcement of the first project?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000091\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ca4bf4376eb24629a790a9f0eba8ff00\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: As a former MP of Gisborne, Sir James Carroll, was wont to say, you\u2019ll have to tai ho.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000092\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fb56ff6786c4456bb97ae945f4f6c66d\u0022\u003EJonathan Young\u003C/span\u003E: Following their meeting with Juken New Zealand yesterday, is the Government planning to spend $20 million on a wood-processing plant in Gisborne, what was Treasury\u2019s advice on the Gisborne wood-processing plant, and has a cost-benefit analysis of this project been completed?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000093\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227e21580edbfe4a26aa22898305bb2ecc\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Any of the four questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000094\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f44431ef-b505-4e94-9f57-a60b0a569bf7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ab16e47cb07d4d32b4425a0de4945184\u0022\u003EHon SHANE JONES\u003C/span\u003E: I guess I have met with the CEO of Juken Nissho but the majority of my discussions with him related to the future of the Kait\u0101ia Juken Nissho factory. In relation to any specific proposal located in Gisborne, about the future of that firm\u2019s investments, the member will just have to wait and see.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000095\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022cc9c47c0-4409-44ca-ad2f-498707f27d69\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8734e18d59b40e4be4efd574544fe93\u0022\u003EJonathan Young\u003C/span\u003E: Will he guarantee 100 million trees a year will get planted, knowing that he is already 33.5 million trees behind, and can he tell us how many \u201Cneets\u201D he plans to get off the couch, or will he need Willie Jackson to help him with that answer?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000096\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221a4e227e46eb4c7c8a82e9477d49c003\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Next question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000097\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002258f38065e323461c8d0aaab05b1129c1\u0022\u003EHuman Rights Commission\u2014Handling of Sexual Harassment Allegations\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022 data-id=\u00227df1df50016e476e838109df70476390\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000098\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E5. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227df1df50016e476e838109df70476390\u0022\u003EVIRGINIA ANDERSEN (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Justice: What announcement has he made regarding recent concerns about the handling of reported allegations of sexual harassment at the Human Rights Commission?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022 data-id=\u00228be1e2f3763f4c65a06a33ea9a988468\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000099\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228be1e2f3763f4c65a06a33ea9a988468\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E Yesterday, I announced a review of the Human Rights Commission\u2019s culture, governance, management practices, policies, and procedures for handling internal sexual harassment complaints, under section 132 of the Crown Entities Act 2004. This review will be led by former Employment Court Judge Coral Shaw.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000100\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e3d318054d9a4caa851852e23b66a833\u0022\u003EVirginia Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Why is it important to have an independent review of the Human Rights Commission regarding this matter?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000101\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e1e26e4b5c7d498b98ce75d826eb8d2c\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: Public confidence in the Human Rights Commission is paramount. As an organisation whose functions include promoting awareness about discrimination and harassment, as well as advising on sexual harassment claims, they must be an exemplar of best practice. Also, a review under the Crown Entities Act respects the independence that the commission is afforded under legislation and under the Paris principles.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000102\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c21f4beb-20c4-4b12-bc6f-fdc931e2dc96\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b38ad0fe4de74a2487aaab78f33ba0a2\u0022\u003EVirginia Andersen\u003C/span\u003E: Why is it important that the Human Rights Commission is an exemplar of best practice when handling sexual harassment complaints?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000103\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222d93b0292cac408da84aa1c1ca18f3a7\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: A function of the Human Rights Commission is handling sexual harassment complaints. However, the standards of the commission should be the same as for any other employer in this country, and that is that sexual harassment is not tolerated and complaints are managed fairly and appropriately.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000104\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00229e661c2371514ce4918b6cf3c41e9c5b\u0022\u003EYouth Unemployment\u2014Work Opportunities\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u00226662d9f9f1c44d36bf0c0c9ed453a607\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000105\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E6. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226662d9f9f1c44d36bf0c0c9ed453a607\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (National\u2014Taup\u014D)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Employment: Does he stand by all of his Government\u2019s policies on youth employment; if so, what is the number of 15 to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022 data-id=\u0022456d3c6b90c24f5ba2cead683ec67eb7\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000106\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022456d3c6b90c24f5ba2cead683ec67eb7\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I stand by all the Government\u2019s policies on youth employment, and the number of 15- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education, or training is 80,000.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000107\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221d7fefcf27814f7e9238340c6ea2aa17\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: What is the number of 15- to 24-year-olds who are classified as \u201Cneet\u201D and are on a main benefit?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000108\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230ceff3b250c410da58011210736885f\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: I don\u2019t have that information in front of me, but if the member wants to write to my office I\u2019ll gladly provide the information.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000109\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c672ddaa51c4b139390a3a8d28c336c\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: For the 18,000 people getting the single-person jobseeker benefit who receive a benefit, what is the comparison between what they earn and what someone receives on the minimum wage?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000110\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022494b3b878069421687f30c78dfb96d8f\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Again, I don\u2019t have that information in front of me. But, again, happy to take your question and respond accordingly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000111\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002295945ace-51e8-4dbc-a0e3-c19f4ed99ed9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229d2af117d2414bb695f565ad4bbf85c5\u0022\u003EAnahila Kanongata\u2019a-Suisuiki\u003C/span\u003E: Why is tackling youth unemployment a priority for the Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000112\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022acaa456782b44b768b437ecf8a836c0a\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: The crisis of youth unemployment is real for many rangatahi and their communities, and providing them with pathways to sustained employment will help strengthen communities, improve living standards, and reduce child poverty. Yesterday, I started the first of my regional visits in Whangarei. It was wonderful to witness the commitment from employers and people in the community\u2014M\u0101ori and P\u0101keh\u0101. It was a fantastic visit yesterday, and that\u2019s why I wasn\u2019t here at question time yesterday. Kia ora, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000113\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e55b6c1b055b42f28f59305cbec1b72c\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Minister\u2019s definition, on behalf of his Government, of \u201Cmeaningful work\u201D?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000114\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fed35feee6b049899561c8d965d45c92\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s a good question. I thank the member for the question. One of the problems we\u2019ve had is, what is work? What is a job? Of course, it\u2019s recognised as one hour, but the whole nature of employment has changed, and this Government is fixed on giving dignified work back to the people\u2014dignified work, not just throwing them a shovel. We want to throw them a strategy, a future, and possibilities in the future. So we\u2019re talking about dignified work, not just any work.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000115\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022af0a8ebd52fa4ef59733aaba9db1f876\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: What is the Minister\u2019s definition of \u201Cdignified work\u201D? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000116\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f317ee7d-f040-44ec-8f2f-ad0a9f206d75\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022162e062292354c289cad555e695d9337\u0022\u003EHon WILLIE JACKSON\u003C/span\u003E: Dignified work is not having a job on a week-by-week basis, that\u2019s what dignified work is. Dignified work is about job security; about knowing you have a job three months down the track, six months down the track. Dignified work is about investing in employers, investing in communities, and investing in regions that that previous Government forgot all about in the last nine years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000117\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002238edd46c4f8b46b7b311f0648d125fd5\u0022\u003ELocal Government, Minister\u2014Correspondence with Whangarei District Council\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022 data-id=\u00227600643e82754c49814765306f6bfcc0\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000118\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E7. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227600643e82754c49814765306f6bfcc0\u0022\u003EJAMI-LEE ROSS (National\u2014Botany)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Local Government: Does she stand by all of her answers to oral and written questions?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022 data-id=\u002210095f28853948b39f0a514928e53875\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000119\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002210095f28853948b39f0a514928e53875\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA (Minister of Local Government):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, I do, within the context that they were given. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000120\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002283d3c41831254bf4b1ff2685a6afef99\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. You\u2019ve ruled previously that supplementaries must flow from previous answers. I\u2019m in an unusual situation now where the Minister has just said she agrees with her answers to oral questions and her answers to written questions, and they actually differ now because she\u2019s corrected a whole lot of written questions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000121\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220f542c8bf55246f89217a06bc4e5ea5e\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member can try and ask a supplementary if he wants to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000122\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002211d1cbc4008e4533952ae95dfec60b87\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Does she stand by her oral answer on 1 February 2018, where she confirmed she had received no correspondence from the Whangarei District Council, or does she stand by her written answer, where she says she has received correspondence from the Whangarei District Council on 7 November 2017?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000123\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002222e73fc3c7074ad9a6689c07bf4f61c9\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek a point of clarification. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000124\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b27ecdabada64d8ebc1917fa0ad102b1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, there\u2019s no such thing. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000125\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e5df8c86c6ca4df69fe2bfeddbfadc4c\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Yes, I stand by the answers that I gave, but, for further clarification, I provided and included administrative adjustments to written answers, which included congratulation letters, invitations, thankyou cards, and Christmas cards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000126\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ec7c8153af82432eb19e622646d8814a\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: Is she now confident that all her answers to written questions are accurate?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000127\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002220738854582d4c3497d9b25dc1d089e5\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: As best I can, yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000128\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259d4b7a5a84146579910d7bfcb4d1a87\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: Does she stand by her newly corrected answer to written question number 15161, where she said that she had received no correspondence from the Masterton District Council between 26 October 2017 and 28 November 2017?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000129\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022077402b6190e4611bf3cc388efca42bf\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: Can I repeat, for administrative accuracy, I included invitations, Christmas cards, and congratulations as a part of the answer that was amended.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000130\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a01021156ee5468d8ad63ddde6767bd4\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table a letter from the Masterton District Council mayor from 3 November 2017 to the Hon Nanaia Mahuta.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000131\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228f3421b271044e09856f774b125619c6\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000132\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295e04dbb55b5440da5db38e63155c876\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: It was not a point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000133\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022490ccdbf-7c22-4e12-98f2-f3aa08f8e676\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd75d5156db4476fa10bddc68d3750de\u0022\u003EHon Iain Lees-Galloway\u003C/span\u003E: Could we get some clarification on the leave? Can I ask if the letter was written by the mayor in her capacity as mayor?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000134\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022115ec16eea9841239e3097035722fcd4\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No. The answer to that is no. If people are unhappy with it being tabled, they can decline. The letter has been described as being a letter of a particular date from the mayor. If it\u2019s been inaccurately described, then there are consequences for the person who sought leave. Is there any objection to it being tabled? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000135\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000136\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f2cf6dfd8feb41988706493bab2c6b22\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: How can we have confidence in any of her answers when she has twice stood in this House and said she stands by her written answers and then her office withdraws 67 answers for written question and then, after correction, she still can\u2019t provide accurate answers to this Parliament?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000137\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b50ef07fe5744030acaa4c221eaa3abf\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: We ensured that we were accurate. In terms of the extent of the administrative response to the requests, we have included correspondence that otherwise might have been considered purely administrative so as to improve the answer to the member.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000138\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d3219896b30c4f66abce86d85d5a6a09\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: How does the Minister stand by her answer that it is purely an administrative error when in her answers to written questions she told me she had received no correspondence from any council for the first month that she was Minister of Local Government? Does she think that was plausible? Was it her error or an administrative error?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000139\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b243f9c60254915b53bcfeefeabac62\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: At the early stages of becoming a Minister, the clarity around emails and the nature of whether they were considered correspondence or not is a matter which\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000140\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022163d0b68-eb0e-4094-9bed-99e184f063e1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d4d57cbd4bea4585b1c22fed543e9b34\u0022\u003EJami-Lee Ross\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019ve been a Minister before.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000141\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220e7e8da2-a6a1-41bb-aeb0-a49be255a293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022518d995492d64210bbea3a58ee7a53b4\u0022\u003EHon NANAIA MAHUTA\u003C/span\u003E: Either that member wants the answer or he doesn\u2019t. At the point at which we were seeking to assure the member that we were covering all the administration components of the request that was made, we did decide to include invitations, congratulations letters, and \u201Cmerry Christmas\u201D cards.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000142\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002209239979c07f4529806fb822821c57cc\u0022\u003EComprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership\u2014Benefits for New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022 data-id=\u0022e1f0ee27cafa473fa0c6c625e86364eb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000143\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E8. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e1f0ee27cafa473fa0c6c625e86364eb\u0022\u003EWILLOW-JEAN PRIME (Labour)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Trade and Export Growth: How will workers benefit from the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022 data-id=\u002299aa9a9610654962b1878eb4fde73d10\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000144\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002299aa9a9610654962b1878eb4fde73d10\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER (Minister for Trade and Export Growth):\u003C/span\u003E The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (CPTPP) is expected to have benefits for New Zealand workers. As New Zealand already has low levels of import tariffs, no sector in New Zealand is expected to have significant decline in wages or job numbers as a result of CPTPP. Lower tariffs, via exports of wine, kiwifruit, forestry, seafood, and meat, as well as lower non-tariff barriers for small businesses and the digital sector will lead to significantly higher incomes and greater employment. This agreement works for the freezing worker to the farm owner. Also important to people who work for their living is the ability to buy a home in New Zealand without having to compete with foreign buyers. [Interruption] This coalition Government has ensured that our existing homes, from the most expensive to the most modest, can only be purchased by New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000145\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022579e69fb68434baf826836a5a98a2f9f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! Before the supplementaries are asked, I am going to ask the Hon Dr Nick Smith to tone down both the frequency and the volume of his interjections. He\u2019s soon to become the father of the House, and he, I\u2019m sure, has a very positive contribution to make, but I think when serious questions are being answered\u2014ones that are important, I think, to all members of the House\u2014we don\u2019t need a barrage of interjections from him, which affect the ability of other members to hear the answers.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000146\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002218facf18092e4bb1ab29583f79898ae3\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000147\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022543f538cc8d64295b7ffe9faad8b15b5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No. It\u2019s not a point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000148\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227b74cdaa72dd4913be6e2a8e2da5767f\u0022\u003EWillow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: What effect will the increase in exports from the CPTPP have on job growth?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000149\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002258202f1e481b4c4fba4db6bff8d084c9\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: The national interest analysis on the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership that was released yesterday shows that around 8,500 New Zealanders are employed for every billion dollars of exports. Job growth as a consequence of CPTPP is likely to be stronger in areas where New Zealand has comparative advantage, such as the primary sector and niche technology. [Interruption] That is why the four\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000150\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022838eb064e8cd4f8b9390dc5845fe72bf\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The Hon Dr Nick Smith will stand, withdraw, and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000151\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c69fde7f613c4a7d8c64f4e5bbd1ad85\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I stand, I withdraw, and I apologise, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000152\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225eab048eb6ac4e54809d51e2df661872\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Dr Nick Smith, we\u2019ve had this one once before. The member will withdraw and apologise properly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000153\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e07b68d7a84741348859a06125967e59\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, could you clarify as to what part of\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000154\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002246e66dd7d4d54ff78c27e19c74139b94\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t need to clarify. The member has been here now for 27 years. He knows how to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000155\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002254d1a9b061164f5c802fc16ef7dcf6bc\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, I stand, I withdraw, and I apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000156\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226e490bbc6aa64b8bb5ddd038ee30bdc1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: And that will result in the loss of three supplementary questions from the Opposition, and Nick Smith will now withdraw and apologise properly and without any other comment added.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000157\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f91e4de3fdad4b30bd1a28e395b83fc7\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker, I withdraw and I apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000158\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022929e4744a8dd4904bf19e3e57557e231\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: And from now on, for the rest of this question time, Nick Smith will not interject. If he needs to speak, he can talk to his colleagues and he might be allowed a supplementary.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000159\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022901738967a324e87ba476eb826a81266\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: Job growth is likely to be stronger in areas where New Zealand has comparative advantage, such as the primary sector and niche technology. This is why the forecast returns to labour from CPTPP are greater than the return to the overall economy. CPTPP is estimated to add up to 1 percent to annual GDP, while, again, for labour, is estimated to be up to 1.2 percent.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000160\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221ebd1031-ea10-4c3d-bb56-2cd99528ae91\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227637dc6252e34d1e96fbb739b5533244\u0022\u003EWillow-Jean Prime\u003C/span\u003E: How is this Government ensuring the benefits of trade are shared more fairly?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000161\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002260be3519832e489299daa89fd7e1874f\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: Many New Zealanders have been justifiably concerned at the increasing share of wealth going to the top 1 percent. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000162\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d9f7d9f2b4044be8aa2ea77496b51d8e\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s incorrect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000163\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228405a1d357854f209b8be7f77018c57f\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: We need to rebuild public confidence in trade\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000164\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002200c408cceac142bdb984c85791b424ce\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: Substantiate that answer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000165\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225391acf0ffc940fe999c476e54e5f8a1\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: It is patently correct, Mr Joyce. You are as ignorant\u2014well, no, that\u2019s the wrong word, sir. You are as incorrect on that issue as you were on the $11 billion mistake you made. We need to rebuild public confidence in trade, as the Deputy Prime Minister has said, by making capitalism regain its responsible human face. We\u2019re doing this by pursuing productive, sustainable, inclusive growth to improve the well-being and living standards of all New Zealanders. Our first steps include our Families Package, which lowers income inequality, banning foreign buyers. It will also improve the opportunity of New Zealanders to own their home. There\u2019s much we can do, including combating multinational tax avoidance\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000166\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294cfc5b66c3c4410b12ec8b83656831c\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m sure you can anticipate the point of order. That has now become a speech from the Minister rather than an answer to a question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000167\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220848fe040f164302b1eae156bae8c414\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: When that member has a bit more experience, he\u2019ll have a good look at the Standing Orders and Speakers\u2019 rulings, and he\u2019ll know that the only person who can interrupt on that basis is me. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000168\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc0d989588a7491f8d26a804f5edbb60\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. In terms of interjections, I thought it was a practice in this House that every elected member of Parliament had the freedom of expression. I am interested to know if you are creating a new ruling today, based on your comments to the Hon Dr Nick Smith about participation\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226b48543fe6ea48a6ab7390b14a087faf\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, that member will resume her seat. Firstly, she\u2019s trifling with the Chair, and, secondly, I think she should probably have a discussion with the Rt Hon David Carter, who has made a very similar ruling. I know because he made it to me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000170\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226368a181621f4a329be8a6d3d50912f0\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Can I ask the Minister as to whether he\u2019s received letters of congratulation for turning a sovereignty sell-out into a national interest sign-up, so much so that the anti \u2013 Trans-Pacific Partnership interests in the United States are now looking seriously at this new deal that he\u2019s organised.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000171\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022038f3fc6700141d3a749672574f50325\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. Earlier you asked my colleague to make sure that he could substantiate a claim in a supplementary question. I don\u2019t think, with respect to the right honourable Deputy Prime Minister, that the claim that he made in his supplementary question could in any way be substantiated. [Interruption] \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000172\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229acafbcd604449ed99fa40a7b7400fdc\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I don\u2019t need that. The fact that it is being contemplated is something that has been reported in the media, and I have no problem with that possibility being put to the Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000173\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b2dcb2e7ca5346eba8f35f3e5c2083e1\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000174\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e41a8696ba514ada8e5b9f21c17e9aa5\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I hope the member is not going to trifle.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000175\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002214807f5f14fe400e9fe9875c50437320\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: No. I would never seek to trifle with the Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000176\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b042b67549eb42d3b857d05aef577ca7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I\u2019m not saying whether the member is seeking to; the question is about whether he is going to try.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000177\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00224a244152-977c-48d2-bf53-4f3a369a27a9\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002245a56b5a8c9e485eb5c0d1c1fc6c4970\u0022\u003EHon Steven Joyce\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m pointing out that I was referring to a different aspect of the question, which is in relation to the member referring to a sell-out of sovereignty and he would need to substantiate that if we are applying the same standard as we applied to Jami-Lee Ross earlier.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000178\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227eeb0ba4a2784cc0843d642cc0186ccc\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I heard it. It was marginal. There have been comments made that have been, I think, stronger than that coming the other way during this very same question time, and I did not rule it out. And, again, I want members to take care as far as their challenging of rulings is concerned. Now, I think if the member starts his answer again, it might be the right approach.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000179\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022806428e852f846b0aa5c50504fac2854\u0022\u003EHon DAVID PARKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I have received copious quantities of correspondence congratulating the Government for protecting the sovereignty of not just this Parliament but future Parliaments, to protect New Zealanders against some of these excesses of globalisation, particularly by banning foreign buyers of their homes so that we have a New Zealand, not an international, market for our homes, which would have been lost had the prior Government continued on its course.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000180\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u0022b3e514a4fb57498f8711fe6be79e3f6c\u0022\u003EPrisons\u2014Future of Waikeria Prison\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022 data-id=\u0022692628da90f74aba905ab3f76893ce8b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000181\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E9. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022692628da90f74aba905ab3f76893ce8b\u0022\u003ESIMON O\u2019CONNOR (National\u2014T\u0101maki)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Corrections: Does he stand by all of his statements?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022 data-id=\u002296837e6b754248b8a2bd43a47d8122e6\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000182\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002296837e6b754248b8a2bd43a47d8122e6\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Corrections: Yes, and in the context in which they were given.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000183\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002216b6e4c0691f48eeaac35a8d9bdeccbb\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Given his answer to question No. 9 on 12 December, \u201CWe are yet to make any final decisions on the rebuild of Waikeria,\u201D, how long is the public going to have to wait on the decision to ensure that we are able to adequately house prisoners, given that there are only around 300 beds left in the prison network?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000184\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a9778df93ef448c98306902703a54cba\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: In light of the chaos and crisis in which the last Government left the prison service, this Government is focused on making sure it makes a good-quality decision about the future of Waikeria Prison and on ensuring that we have a prison service that serves the needs of all New Zealanders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000185\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225aa0641c995e4c6a9e2a238e082b3361\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Is he aware that due to his inaction on increasing prison capacity, police holding cells and disaster recovery beds are being used to house general prisoners?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000186\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bc02f02507a741158a32d28917c15abc\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: There is no question that as a result of decisions from the previous Government it rapidly escalated the prison population, and the last Government left office with no plan at all about how to deal with the trajectory of increasing prisoner numbers. This Government has been left to deal with the problem, and we are doing good work and making sure we make good decisions to deal with this long-term problem.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000187\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002288c6d74b52a64d218336c93ce459ac56\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. It\u2019s possible\u2014and, obviously, your call\u2014that it was addressed, but the question was specifically asking about police holding cells and what I know as disaster recovery beds and were they being used\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000188\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f8dbaca4e90d435c880ac8e414891769\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I think the member started with \u201Cin light of the Minister\u2019s inaction\u201D\u2014at that point just about anything the member says is addressing the question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000189\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002294fe05bb5b844d69aa0fb966074f5755\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Is it his policy to hold prisoners in disaster recovery beds and police holding cells rather than build a new prison in Waikeria?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000190\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00228b0d3a4e0e7a40d1909193733c3dd4dd\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: It is this Government\u2019s policy to ensure that we have a prison service that treats prisoners with dignity and actually seeks to improve them so they leave the service capable of being good citizens. That is not the state the prison service is in at the moment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000191\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00225b6b1d74-9e5e-42ba-a922-85b0ea7f5ab6\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f10c8c5ce9f4910ba140c22b53a605e\u0022\u003ESimon O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: Given that addressing, can he still agree with Kelvin Davis, who said in 2016 that it was inappropriate to use emergency beds for routinely holding general prisoners?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000192\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002295b12a76588f4e1194243623be3339ad\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE\u003C/span\u003E: It is inappropriate to hold a sentenced prisoner in anything other than a proper prison designed for the purpose of correcting their behaviour, but because of the crisis and chaos the last Government left the prison service in, we are left to fix up the mess.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000193\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002292fb9b366cb24c82a2b038d065a02d17\u0022\u003EClimate Change Policy\u2014Consultation\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022 data-id=\u0022a9d007f1960c4287bdc7fe77f607b37f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000194\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E10. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a9d007f1960c4287bdc7fe77f607b37f\u0022\u003ETODD MULLER (National\u2014Bay of Plenty)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Climate Change: What aspects of a Zero Carbon Bill are up for discussion in the consultation planned for later this year?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000195\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022aa6b4f431c1b44349f918c4ea8a9cfa8\u0022\u003EHon James Shaw\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. The piece of legislation that the member is asking about is a fairly significant piece of economic legislation with long-term implications, and due to the truncated number of supplementary questions available to the Opposition in this question time, I seek your permission to give a longer answer to the primary question than I otherwise would\u2019ve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000196\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f54359bacfc0408997a2e8bbbfd9fad7\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The member can try, and I may stop him.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022 data-id=\u00223e17149ecaf2424cb8fb3ffdb9dab73b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000197\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00223e17149ecaf2424cb8fb3ffdb9dab73b\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW (Minister for Climate Change):\u003C/span\u003E So I intend to consult on a range of matters in transitioning to a low-carbon and resilient economy, including the full range of options for the 2050 emissions reduction target, the roles and functions of the independent climate change commission, and what role the commission should have in supporting New Zealand to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The consultation material will be supported by a number of studies looking into how New Zealand can make the transition to a low-emissions economy. These include, first, the Productivity Commission\u2019s draft report into the low-emissions economy; second, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment\u2019s report called Stepping stones to Paris and beyond; third, an expert report underpinning the Ministry for the Environment\u2019s impact analysis on a range of potential 2050 targets, such as the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research and Infometrics modelling the impact of targets across the economy, sectors, and society\u2014the approach builds on and extends the 2015 modelling work\u2014Sense Partners Ltd assessing the potential for targets to drive New Zealand\u2019s rate of innovation and impact on New Zealand\u2019s international competitiveness; expert reports underpinning the Productivity Commission\u2019s analysis by Vivid Economics, Motu, and Concept Consulting Group on transition pathways to low emissions under uncertainty; and Sapere Consulting on moving to greater renewable electricity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000198\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022483155474b0944118e947fc07b6a397b\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: Could you repeat that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000199\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022482e633ed56a4458b882321320ba3f4d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I can\u2019t, Mr Muller.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000200\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221da82b93a91541ff850e2aafc609550d\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Government consult on the merits of excluding short-lived gases from within his zero carbon target?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000201\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002259cf9de7b13e44fea2ca765b5233ba46\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: At this stage, all options are on the table for a new domestic emissions reduction target. One of the key considerations will be our responsibilities under the Paris Agreement to have a sequence of all-sectors, all-gases international targets, including our current and subsequent nationally determined contributions, and for the 2050 target to be successful, we will need it to be compatible with our international targets as well as being sustainable, simple to understand, and internationally credible.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000202\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a59ff2daf63840a0b1832a0885d20532\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Government provide estimates of the comparative economic costs between a zero emission target for carbon dioxide only and a target that includes other greenhouse gases as well before public consultation takes place?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000203\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bd759e8a8042434d81e3e44c8d6b82c5\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: The series of reports that I referred to that provide the economic modelling underpinning the consultation will look at that range of options.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000204\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b49807acb2ac4a5e9c2f2d27fadba330\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: Will the Government provide estimates of the regional and sectorial impact of those various scenarios for a zero emission target, such as changes in activity levels for steel manufacturing or pastoral agricultural production, before public consultation takes place?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ffa55c2bd5d44f8399937387b0281979\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: Yes. We will be looking at the marginal abatement cost curves across sectors and regions. This is a much more comprehensive piece of modelling work than the piece of work that was done in 2015 in preparation for the Paris Agreement, but I do just want to caution that it is very difficult to make assessments 30 years out. This is the most sophisticated piece of economic modelling that this country has yet undertaken over an extremely long time frame, and so it does have its limits. It is, I guess, based on the best information we\u2019ve got, the best set of scenarios that we can produce for the next 30 years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000206\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022fdb01002-a7cf-4a77-8f05-678d24a36849\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022993d972cbe61411c87f130ee8ead00bf\u0022\u003ETodd Muller\u003C/span\u003E: Will the divergent opinions and advice between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry for the Environment, and the Ministry for Primary Industries regarding the various economic costs of the various net zero scenarios be shared with New Zealand as part of that consultation?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000207\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00227c215736-b512-41de-8f0c-6c5543fcfce7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221b288055814d46dd826975a60331e358\u0022\u003EHon JAMES SHAW\u003C/span\u003E: I actually can\u2019t answer that question. I expect agencies to provide robust advice based on their perspective, and that is part of the contestable nature of advice that we get from different agencies. I can\u2019t commit, at this stage, before we\u2019ve gotten too far down the design of the specific range of consultation options, on exactly what information will be included in that. The main reports that we\u2019re talking about, like I said, are the series of economic modelling reports, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment\u2019s report, the Productivity Commission\u2019s report, and work under way across different agencies on how different sectors can reduce emissions. We will also be doing reviews of international literature on the effects of climate policy on the economy and society at large, and within sectors and regions. But I can\u2019t commit today to precisely what the consultation will include.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000208\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002209305ca8cf2e4538acf824a724fe2293\u0022\u003ECyclone Gita\u2014Impact on New Zealand\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022eda4d01927f44f19b27f4d5557c725cd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000209\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E11. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eda4d01927f44f19b27f4d5557c725cd\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister of Civil Defence: What reports has he seen on the damage caused by ex-tropical Cyclone Gita?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022 data-id=\u00222d0f6f9e2b9d4622998a800eee90f7fb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000210\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222d0f6f9e2b9d4622998a800eee90f7fb\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Civil Defence):\u003C/span\u003E I have received a number of reports updating me on the impacts of ex-tropical Cyclone Gita. In particular, I have received reports, and saw for myself yesterday, that the T\u0101kaka Hill road is badly damaged. Today, the New Zealand Transport Agency is continuing to work to determine how long it will take to open at least single-lane access. It is likely to be several days, although I\u2019ve been reassured that everything possible is being done to expedite progress. The New Plymouth District Council continues to work today on repair of a broken water pipe, and has started contingency arrangements for the supply of water. Additionally, efforts are being made by Powerco to restore electricity to close to 5,000 properties in Taranaki. Yesterday, I visited Gita-affected areas in Nelson, Tasman, Golden Bay, Westport, Greymouth, and Hokitika with my colleague the MP for West Coast - Tasman, Damien O\u2019Connor, and saw the damage first hand. I would like to thank, on behalf of this House, the civil defence emergency management groups, emergency services, the Defence Force, and the many volunteers and members of the community who helped prepare and respond, and are now part of the community\u2019s recovery from this event.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000211\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e8d62373403407296604b92427a4ba2\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: How well has the civil defence system stood up to these adverse weather events?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000212\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221416d2fba9324730b28ada0f8d041303\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: While there was considerable damage, on the whole people were well informed and took appropriate precautions, and good decisions were made to declare local states of emergency early. This meant that local civil defence groups were able to keep people safe. Civil defence emergency management groups were also well prepared for this event. I\u2019d like to thank communities, too, for their cooperation and understanding in T\u0101kaka, where fuel is being limited to ensure supply, and in New Plymouth, where water is the concern. I would also like to acknowledge Fonterra for allowing a barge it is chartering to get milk product out of T\u0101kaka to be used by civil defence to get crucial supplies of food into T\u0101kaka while the hill road remains closed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000213\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224a856fdf74eb4714afd6c6818268e51b\u0022\u003ERino Tirikatene\u003C/span\u003E: What steps can New Zealanders take to ensure they are prepared for emergencies like Cyclone Gita?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000214\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b897dd48bf084741bb8491bb6d0a1350\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: With events such as ex-tropical Cyclone Gita likely to become more frequent, it\u2019s more important than ever to be prepared. New Zealanders can start by having a conversation with people in their households and planning where they might go in the event of an emergency. Also, look to who can help you and who might need your help. We also encourage people, as they did in preparation for Cyclone Gita, to ensure they have at least three days\u2019 worth of food and water and a grab bag in case they need to evacuate, and that they know where to get the emergency information and are able to do so. With Cyclone Gita, many New Zealanders took steps to keep themselves and their families safe and followed official advice. This helped limit the consequences of the storm and shows the benefit of preparation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000215\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002231a4a251041e405cb1888f68631edb55\u0022\u003EBiosecurity Management\u2014Funding\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022 data-id=\u00228cbd5e03ba55478c89067b5039490703\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000216\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E12. \u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228cbd5e03ba55478c89067b5039490703\u0022\u003EBARBARA KURIGER (National\u2014Taranaki - King Country)\u003C/span\u003E to the Minister for Biosecurity: Does he stand by all his statements in relation to brown marmorated stink bugs?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u0022cc87c955673b4a64a5569ce2e6c6f3ad\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000217\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cc87c955673b4a64a5569ce2e6c6f3ad\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Minister for Biosecurity):\u003C/span\u003E Yes, in the context they were given. I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the member for keeping this important issue in the public arena.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000218\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00224726ff6a3da240d1aafad6dc138f9882\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Minister. Given the Minister\u2019s statement that biosecurity was severely underfunded by the previous Government, what new funding that had not been already reserved for biosecurity has he requested from Cabinet?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000219\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221e27176710a145289ef24cb40b43f3c5\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: In spite of us, unfortunately, facing some big challenges in the areas of biosecurity where a failure of the system has delivered us Mycoplasma bovis and a number of other incursions, recently I asked my colleagues for an extra $9.3 million in December for the Mycoplasma bovis response, which took pressure off other areas of the Ministry for Primary Industries and the biosecurity response team. I can tell you that we are shifting all the resource we can into these important areas to protect New Zealand from the brown marmorated stink bug and to try and eradicate Mycoplasma bovis.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000220\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002215734494b40f4d7f8e19002c9c40dbab\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Supplementary\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000221\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fcbcf5d199d64cddae7b57279633151f\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: I am going to let\u2014because it is a matter of a lot of interest across the House, if the member has a point of order she\u2019s allowed to have it. She will be allowed to have the next question, but as a result of Dr Smith\u2019s further interjections when he was asked not to, next Tuesday the National Party will start minus two.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000222\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e978865e-57e5-41d6-a7f6-b49daae78630\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022848b8afa2fed42ceb76e0e41fe773372\u0022\u003EHon Dr Nick Smith\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. One of the most important rights in this Parliament is freedom of speech, and if you as Speaker are going to say that I, as a duly elected\u2014and, actually, soon to be the longest-serving\u2014member in this House, am now going to face the Speaker in a partisan way of removing my right to interject, one has to ask why one bothers to serve as a member of Parliament in this Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000223\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00223d49aeac-8adf-497b-9400-ab7bb077bb8d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226a412ef45fd54c53895acade2e4aa5eb\u0022\u003ERt Hon Winston Peters\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Speaker\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000224\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203f31b8302774573a876c6747d0d68f1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Mr Peters, I know you are the longest-serving member and that member will never at current rates get past it. If the member has a question like that for his own future, he can contemplate it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000225\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f5d71749-ae91-4af7-b2bd-77260398912a\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa7ba9195ee146cf988a5f8f41f9dba6\u0022\u003EHon David Parker\u003C/span\u003E: Speaking to the point of order, sir\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000226\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002226f417d56d3a4677a19ecedbf38f3734\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, there\u2019s no point of order. Barbara Kuriger, supplementary question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000227\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022f0927ebbfc614b4db2981d4b5cdec0b3\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: In accordance with the Minister\u2019s answer, on behalf, in the House yesterday, can the Minister confirm that the $9.3 million in funding for biosecurity response, approved in December 2017, was additional to the $9.3 million reserved for biosecurity incursions by the previous Government?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000228\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002203f0c0f74b9249e9b817b09a197e76f1\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: The $9.3 million was a proposal put forward by me. I\u2019m not sure that the last Government put $9.3 million. I\u2019d be really interested to see those figures, if I can believe them. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000229\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222f7bdeb52f874a409da349a5c36098dc\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: I seek leave to table two briefings received under the Official Information Act from the Minister\u2019s office, that in August 2017\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000230\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226e2728be68ca4900965c3ca6e80eabf1\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, can I just check. Were these received by the member or the ones that have been proactively released by the department and by Treasury?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000231\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c0701c2a5a61486489d790dc93626f42\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: These have actually been received in my office under\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000232\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ea7a1ea8c8684008ab263ae234debb69\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: As a result of your request?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000233\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002213112d14ab2a4f608ef7f873c14f0d27\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Yes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000234\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a01aa892935f4a9d9f2d64a8b1734321\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The question is that the briefing of the date mentioned by the member be tabled. Is there any objection to that? There appears to be none.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000235\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000236\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a1b5cb8a1f35402194379ff60d64b7be\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Was there another document or just the one?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000237\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273a575e391e945f48e357b76048a4f0f\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: Those two\u2014I mentioned\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000238\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b3b11579e7944dc58a66f2edc0516d5c\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: The same date.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000239\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002261720d2e-5b1d-4742-b4f0-30424316ccc1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002230d67744ef584b929ffa5dd443ab79be\u0022\u003EBarbara Kuriger\u003C/span\u003E: No, there\u2019s two. There\u2019s one from 30 October and one from 15 December.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000240\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220d35d5a72e1b4cf7905b590dbe1f7d66\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: Point of order.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000241\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a42d247e0e56422fb310e42ef368371d\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: No, I put the leave for the first one. I\u2019ll put the leave for the second one. Is there any objection to that one being tabled? There appears to be none. It can be tabled.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000242\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003EDocument, by leave, laid on the Table of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000243\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223a6379ca3c884edbbf377a16ce0f47a4\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I\u2019m not sure whether I have the ability to seek clarification but is this one of the many proposals put forward by the previous Government that never received funding\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000244\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002268d787b3ff9e4132bc8c8170c5a6dc92\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Order! The member will resume his seat. I think that member is experienced enough as well to know when he is trifling with the Chair and running a risk going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000245\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225e6c095a130442f3b9873f2ebed41003\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. I wonder, in the interests of balance, when a member obviously rises and raises a point of order that is not in the good order of the House whether the Government side should be docked two supplementary questions for next week.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000246\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002279db8b64-1f9b-4416-9b81-a12963db9cbf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273edf12a9e8a42d48112c172317980f2\u0022\u003ESPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for the member\u2019s suggestion. If the member was doing something that was her responsibility and not mine, then I might have contemplated it. I will take the judgments in this area and I will decline to have coaching, as I have, I think, three times today from my right. I will also decline to take coaching from my left in these matters during question time. The member is most welcome, as other members are\u2014and have\u2014to seek my advice in these matters either in my office or in writing, as members did as recently as yesterday, and I will reply to them as quickly as possible if it is in writing.\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=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000247\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00227f598518bd034e62870024ef8eab65c3\u0022\u003EEducation (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000248\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u002274b76842c3704cf68bca32d3c45bd216\u0022\u003ESecond Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022 data-id=\u0022ef6c395dc99a415ebbd1e94ae7651ea1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000249\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ef6c395dc99a415ebbd1e94ae7651ea1\u0022\u003EHon TRACEY MARTIN (Associate Minister of Education)\u003C/span\u003E on behalf of the Minister of Education: I move, That the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000250\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EThe bill supports better outcomes from the tertiary system by giving Government agencies better tools to identify and manage questionable behaviour in tertiary education organisations. It also imposes higher consequences where contract breaches or illegal activities are confirmed, and it broadens the protection and arrangements for students studying across our system to support student well-being. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000251\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EI wish to thank the members of the previous Education and Science Committee\u2014a particularly hard-working select committee it was, too\u2014and the current Education and Workforce Committee for their diligent consideration of the bill. I also wish to thank the 2,000 organisations and individuals that made submissions on this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000252\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EI will briefly cover the substantive amendments that the Education and Workforce Committee has made to the bill. The Government intends to support the amendments recommended by the committee. The amendments illustrate that in its deliberations, the committee has been particularly mindful of submissions received from submitters during the select committee process. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000253\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EThe first change will be removing the principle of equitable treatment and removing the private training establishments name change proposal. The committee has amended the bill to remove the proposal to insert a principle of equal funding treatment of public and private providers into the Education Act 1989, and the proposal to change the name of the private training establishment sector to independent tertiary establishments. I welcome the committee\u2019s amendments to remove these proposals. The vast majority of submitters on the bill were strongly opposed to both of these changes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000254\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EIn response to submissions, the committee has also amended the bill to include a new type of private training establishment called a community tertiary education provider. I support this amendment. Inserting the term \u201Ccommunity tertiary education provider\u201D into the Education Act 1989 allows the Government to recognise the value of those not-for-profit private training establishments that have special roles or intentions, such as providing tertiary education for the public good. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000255\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EClause 10 of the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill enables the Tertiary Education Commission to charge an organisation a fee relating to the cost of an investigation by the commission when a breach of funding condition is found to have occurred. This strengthens the commission\u2019s ability to hold tertiary providers to account for their use of public funding. The committee has amended the bill so that the commission must provide notification to the affected provider when an investigation is commenced by the commission. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000256\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EClause 16 allows the commission to give funding approval to a provider, subject to conditions it considers reasonably necessary for the effective monitoring of the performance of the system in the tertiary sector. The committee has amended the bill to require the commission to consider any submissions from affected providers before giving funding approval. These amendments improve the bill by strengthening the accountability settings of the commission and by making the commission more responsive to providers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000257\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003ETo address ongoing concerns about provider behaviour, clauses 9 and 38 strengthen the offence provisions in the Act by clarifying the definition of a student\u2019s record of achievement and introducing a new offence for making false representations on a student\u2019s record of achievement. The committee has amended the bill to, firstly, clarify and improve the definitions in this section. Secondly, the committee has made amendments to significantly strengthen the offence provisions. These amendments increase the penalty for offences concerning the falsification of student records from $10,000 to up to $50,000. Increasing the penalty up to $50,000 also has the effect of increasing the time the New Zealand Qualifications Authority has to pursue a prosecution from one to five years. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000258\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EI welcome the committee\u2019s amendments to further strengthen the offence provisions. This provides a strong incentive for providers to act honestly and with due diligence in their maintenance of student records. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000259\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EThe committee has amended the bill to remove clause 28, which would have allowed a tertiary institutions council to pass resolutions in writing without the need for a meeting. I welcome the committee\u2019s amendment. I think it is important to maintain public access to tertiary institution council meetings. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000260\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EClause 27 of the bill allows councils to conduct meetings via audiovisual means. This amendment goes a long way towards modernising council arrangements. The committee has made several minor amendments to the bill, which I support, such as including a definition of a \u201Ccontract of enrolment\u201D for international students in schools and clarifying that providers should publish compulsory student services fees on their websites, as per a student amount. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000261\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EThere is a Supplementary Order Paper that will be introduced. Clauses 26 and 27 of the bill allow a w\u0101nanga to apply for ministerial consent to use a protected term such as \u201Cuniversity\u201D. The committee has recommended no changes to this proposal, but the Government is proposing to make a small change. At the appropriate time, the Minister of Education will be tabling a Supplementary Order Paper that makes an amendment to the proposal to allow w\u0101nanga to apply for ministerial consent to use a protected term. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000262\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EIn particular, the Minister of Education proposes one change to the consultation process a Minister must follow. When considering a w\u0101nanga\u2019s application for consent, the Minister of Education proposes that the Minister must also consult with experts in kaupapa M\u0101ori education. This is alongside the current requirements, which are that the Minister must consult with the institutions, organisations representing institutions, and other relevant bodies that the Minister considers appropriate. This amendment will balance the consultation requirements already in the bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000263\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022530ce0c4-c977-40cb-90fb-754f54931ff1\u0022\u003EThe bill is a vital part of strengthening the tertiary education system, to strengthen accountability in the tertiary system, and to broaden student protections. I now commend the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022 data-id=\u00228f6047f16820426d8aee4e0f21711c08\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000264\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228f6047f16820426d8aee4e0f21711c08\u0022\u003EHon NIKKI KAYE (National\u2014Auckland Central):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m very pleased to speak on this piece of legislation. At the outset, can I just acknowledge the Education and Workforce Committee; the chair of the committee, Sarah Dowie; our spokesperson on tertiary education matters, the Hon Paul Goldsmith; and all of the members that have worked very hard on this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000265\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003EThis is an education bill that has come before this House that this side is supporting. I know there\u2019ll be people listening who often think the role of the Opposition is to only criticise. Well, actually, there\u2019s a lot of work that happens in this House whereby members do work together. We work together to improve legislation, to ensure that more young people get very good quality opportunities, and that\u2019s what this bill is about. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000266\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003EThere are four or five key aspects to this bill that National will be supporting. At the heart of it is ensuring that we have better quality in terms of our tertiary education and also our international education sector, but also that we ensure that our reputation on the world stage and also internally is very sound and solid. The export industry in terms of education is worth, I understand, about $4.28 billion to this country, so it\u2019s a very important industry, and it is at threat. We have to acknowledge in this House that the previous Opposition\u2014some of their immigration policies and election commitments that they made are a major threat to that industry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000267\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003ESo what this bill does is it also acknowledges the fact that we spend over $4 billion per year, and about $1 billion of that is spent on very generous student support, but that there do need to be changes. The first area of change is about greater flexibility in terms of funding. There was pretty unanimous agreement in this area in terms of the committee, but the next area is about improving the accountability of some of these providers. There\u2019s a massive number of providers in this space. We know that this builds on the work of the last National Government, to ensure that where we may have fraud or where we may have people getting false credits, we build on the work and the provisions within this bill in this area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000268\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003EThere was a bit of a disagreement in terms of having a level playing field around equal treatment of providers. We are very surprised that Labour\u2019s ideological opposition in committee has removed the clause in the bill that would have enabled public and private providers of tertiary education to be treated equally. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000269\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003EWe also do want to acknowledge that while we are supporting this bill, it\u2019s very important to understand the wider education picture. We have seen extreme ideology rear its head from the other side with the scrapping of partnership schools, with the scrapping of national standards, with the changes around cohort entry, and with a fees-free policy that is worth $2.8 billion that isn\u2019t targeted. But this is a bill whereby we can work together, whether it\u2019s on the issues of compliance or whether it\u2019s on greater flexibility of funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000270\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003EThe final area that I want to talk about is very dear to my heart, as a spokesperson that gets in and out of schools, but also as the member of Parliament for Auckland Central. Some of the most heartbreaking constituency cases that I\u2019ve had have been of people who have come to New Zealand\u2014they may have been international students, they may have been international students that might be 20 years old but they also may be younger, in school\u2014and they\u2019ve had some bad incident. Now, sometimes we know that the incident is not necessarily about them; it\u2019s things that have happened to them. But sometimes it is an issue of conduct. This is where I think the committee did great work. I want to acknowledge the members opposite. We delved very deeply into these issues of ensuring that our code of conduct that was recently brought into train really is meaningful. What it does and what this bill does\u2014and it\u2019s very important\u2014is it contains a proposal to amend the law to enable State and State-integrated schools to manage international student misconduct outside of school, including through the use of stand down, suspension, exclusion, and expulsion. This comes on the back of a court ruling. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000271\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022ed2d10c1-43b7-41d9-9f5c-0c313f70e625\u0022\u003ESo I want to finish by saying, look, this is a bill that is supported by this side of the House. It is in the context of much wider education reforms that our Opposition does not support because they are ideological, they haven\u2019t targeted funding properly, and they\u2019ve not helped vulnerable children when it comes to partnership schools. But we do support this bill because we think, ultimately, it\u2019s going to lift the quality of tertiary education that is provided, it\u2019s going to lead to less compliance, we think it\u2019s going to enable greater flexibility in terms of funding, and it\u2019s going to help some of our most vulnerable students, particularly where there may be a misconduct issue, where it may involve international students. So I have no hesitation in supporting this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022 data-id=\u0022800d2c375668471e8f457a135f12f7b9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000272\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022800d2c375668471e8f457a135f12f7b9\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI (Minister of Civil Defence):\u003C/span\u003E Can I begin my contribution by echoing the beginning sentiments of the Hon Nikki Kaye, in her contribution, in saying that this is a bill that has got to this House at second reading where, I think, the select committee that was considering it has done a really good job of working across the select committee itself to improve this piece of legislation.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000273\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EAs the Hon Nikki Kaye said, it\u2019s not necessarily perfect for the Opposition, but when we\u2019re dealing with the issue around tertiary education, I think it\u2019s incumbent on this House to get as much cross-party agreement as we possibly can. There\u2019s going to be differences, and, to change tack a little bit, obviously the Hon Nikki Kaye made comments around our position on charter schools being ideological. We would throw back to the other side of the House that their position on establishing charter schools was ideological, which I think is credit to our side of the House, which has given a pathway for some of those, as they call them, partnership schools to transition over to schools of special character, as long as they meet certain criteria. I won\u2019t get into too much of that because I think we should focus on this piece of legislation itself before I start getting pulled up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000274\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EThere are three themes that I did want to focus on in this piece of legislation, again echoing the Hon Nikki Kaye. The first one that I wanted to speak to was around improving the accountability of tertiary institutes. The one point that the Hon Tracey Martin made, which I think is a good development, is around the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) being able to charge an organisation a fee if it does an investigation into that entity and a breach of a funding condition has occurred. I think there are a couple of pretty high-profile cases where this has occurred. To give a tertiary education body that is charged with educating young adults in our community the funding to do that, and to find it to have misappropriated that money in any way, I guess is a wasted opportunity, because that money could have been placed elsewhere. I guess the question, whether it be a public tertiary institution or a private one, is, from the industry\u2019s point of view, what might control the amount of the penalty that might be imposed upon it if they were to have cooked the books. In some cases, if the fee was exorbitant, then it may see that tertiary institution being put out of business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000275\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI think, though, that the answer within the bill itself is a good one, because within the regulations that can be formed as part of this bill there is a control on how much of a penalty fee can be charged by the TEC for any breach or misappropriation of the money. I\u2019m just looking at my notes here. Where there is a breach of a funding condition found to have occurred, the legislation and new regulation will put constraints on the recovery of funding, and this will include a limit on the proportion of costs that the TEC can recover. The TEC, obviously, will still be able to bear some of the costs of their investigations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000276\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI just want to point out, also, that obviously these fees can be charged only if the TEC finds that there has been some form of misconduct. Obviously, if they do a series of investigations, as most of our tertiary institutions\u2014we hope, obviously\u2014are above aboard, then the TEC is going to have to wear the cost itself. I think that\u2019s a good mechanism to ensure we don\u2019t get fishing expeditions by the TEC if it doesn\u2019t have good grounds to suspect that something is going on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000277\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EThat is not to say that the TEC is doing that. But I think there\u2019ll be genuine concern around the industry if they could go out willy-nilly, and, regardless of whether some misconduct has been found, a fee could be charged. So I think that is a good provision within the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000278\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EOne other thing I did want to point out is something that isn\u2019t going to be able to be done via this piece of legislation, and that is for decisions by the council of a tertiary institution to be made in writing. Essentially, if they have a whip-around of emails, the council can\u2019t make a decision in writing. I think that is a good thing. I think we have to realise that public meetings of tertiary institutions having open access to the public is a very important thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000279\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI put that in the context of, let\u2019s say, a tertiary education outfit in my electorate, which is Whitireia Community Polytechnic. It was established about 30 years ago with very much a community focus. It has evolved over time into a bit of a corporate behemoth, but still it\u2019s very much at the community level. The community wants to make sure that that institution is there for the purpose of the community. I think if the community ever thought that it was getting too far ahead of itself, and it had the ability to do that by being able to make decisions without having any public scrutiny\u2014not letting members of the public be able to attend its meetings\u2014I think there would be some serious concern. So I\u2019m happy with the fact that those meetings will still be able to have public access and those decisions won\u2019t be able to be made by a whip-around of emails, which I think is good for community input into those institutions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000280\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI understand that the penalties are going to be increased from $10,000 to $50,000. I think that is a good deterrent for anyone within a tertiary institution\u2014again, going back to the earlier point I made\u2014cooking the books. I think it is a good development there. I think it also opens the access to the window of investigation to move wider in terms of the time frame, too. That obviously gives the Tertiary Education Commission a lot more time to be able to look into these kinds of issues.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000281\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EBut I think, on the whole, we need to congratulate the select committee that worked on this piece of legislation\u2014I think over the parliaments; yep, over the parliaments, in the 51st and in this 52nd Parliament\u2014for making this piece of legislation as good as it possibly\u2014[Interruption] Were you on it, Mr Macindoe?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000282\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226f0c5acf533d444c856bf375fa276dc2\u0022\u003EHon Tim Macindoe\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s a good National Party bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000283\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00220840515d8dce47cdbea941b30275c89e\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: Made better by this Government. Thank you very much, Mr Macindoe. What I think this will increase is the accountability of the sector\u2014the penalties put upon the sector if they\u2019re found to have had misconduct. I think\u2014I just have to be fair in the tone of my speech\u2014this doesn\u2019t happen a lot. But if it does happen, then I guess the ability\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000284\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221899ee6c5a624c16a274a9b2dc8c860b\u0022\u003EHon Tim Macindoe\u003C/span\u003E: It\u2019s all warm and cuddly!\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000285\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a2c761dd58ae4850a074100e5cab2912\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: I beg your pardon?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000286\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fc230b886b784f628d8f30203b64f0b0\u0022\u003EHon Tim Macindoe\u003C/span\u003E: The member\u2019s warm and cuddly.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000287\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c5e7afbd4b694993920bd9acae948bd7\u0022\u003EHon KRIS FAAFOI\u003C/span\u003E: Ha, ha! But if there is misconduct, there\u2019s the ability to take some action.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000288\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EObviously, I\u2019d just like to point back to some of the points that the Hon Nikki Kaye made in a less conciliatory fashion, and just say that I think that the moves this Government has made in the education sector in our very short time in Government are very exciting. If you want to talk ideology and look at the fact that we\u2019ve moved to get rid of national standards, moved to give young New Zealanders the chance to have a free first year of tertiary education\u2014it\u2019s going to be a game-changer for many New Zealand families, a lot of New Zealand families that I think wouldn\u2019t even contemplate the opportunity of going and doing an apprenticeship, going to polytech, or going to university. So, I think, to have that kind of allegation thrown over to this side of the House, that this is based on ideology, is a little bit\u2014I can\u2019t use the word, but it begins with \u201Ch\u201D.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000289\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to acknowledge that there is a Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) about to be produced as part of this piece of legislation. I did hear my friend Chris Bishop say he\u2019d send this to the select committee. The committee stage of the House will be the opportunity for those amendments in that SOP to be discussed. But, just to finish up, this will improve the accountability, improve the public and democratic nature, by the likes of open council meetings for tertiary councils, and I think that\u2019s a good thing. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022 data-id=\u0022c0099def798f4d37bad8d77ce8e8185a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000290\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022c0099def798f4d37bad8d77ce8e8185a\u0022\u003EHon LOUISE UPSTON (National\u2014Taup\u014D):\u003C/span\u003E I am pleased to stand in support of a piece of legislation that was originally introduced by National when we were in office. I do want to just point out one particular issue that was very disappointing\u2014another ideological issue that the current Government have taken issue with. It\u2019s kind of interesting that the Minister Chris Hipkins has publicly stated that private training establishments often do a better job than polytechs, but at the last minute has decided not to put them on a level playing field. Speaking of level playing fields, this House is far from that. And so I choose not to use the rest of my time to speak in this House today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022 data-id=\u0022038c4d6af198499ca118a7fb82b411cd\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000291\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022038c4d6af198499ca118a7fb82b411cd\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Mr Assistant Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this bill. I\u2019d also like to join the Hon Nikki Kaye in talking about the select committee process. We do have an excellent select committee, the Education and Workforce Committee, very ably chaired by Sarah Dowie, who\u2019s doing an excellent job, and I acknowledge the Hon Tim Macindoe, who\u2019s a part of that committee. Unfortunately, I wasn\u2019t present for the\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000292\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002290ea1538-43e8-4257-bd80-df3ccd1e5f27\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022931c0306f3464f59aa11a69ac375311f\u0022\u003EHon Kris Faafoi\u003C/span\u003E: He\u2019s all right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000293\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00226bebbb7c97744423b7d5457b7c05dbf5\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: He\u2019s OK. Unfortunately, I wasn\u2019t present for the submissions, but I have taken the time to read a number of them, and those submissions will make their way into my speech as I make my way through it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000294\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAs we\u2019ve heard, this bill supports better outcomes for the tertiary sector in three main areas: number one, by giving Government agencies better tools to identify and manage questionable behaviour in tertiary education organisations; number two, by imposing higher consequences where contract breaches or illegal activities are confirmed; and, number three, by broadening protection and arrangements for students studying across our system, to support student well-being.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000295\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ENow, we had 2,000 organisations and individuals make submissions on this bill, so, certainly, this aspect of education is something that there is a high level of public interest in. It\u2019s actually my third time in two days speaking on education matters, so that\u2019s quite nice, as a former teacher\u2014the fact that education is getting a bit of a spotlight in the House just over the last couple of days. The key aspect of this bill is around strengthening our education system. It\u2019s about making sure it\u2019s strong, making sure it\u2019s robust, and making sure it works for young people, as well as families, as well as parents\u2014basically, to provide for our community. I\u2019m a big believer in public education and the outcomes that a strong education system provides for our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000296\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019m just going to focus for a couple minutes here on some of the miscellaneous amendments in the bill. The first one is about enabling State and State-integrated schools to manage international student misconduct outside of school, including the use of a stand down, suspension, exclusion, or expulsion, so they can uphold their contractual duty to ensure international students\u2019 health, safety, and well-being. I know it\u2019s a miscellaneous amendment, but I see this as very important because we do have a number of international students coming to our shores. We certainly are a very popular destination, and that\u2019s a credit to our institutions, to our teachers, and to our lecturers. It\u2019s not just at the tertiary level we have international students coming; they come right through the levels, right from primary, intermediate, high school\u2014and even partnership schools, I believe. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000297\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e2bde3a3350f4875b7cc6f15568fa8f5\u0022\u003EErica Stanford\u003C/span\u003E: Which one in particular?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000298\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222184504f72b0420aa20ae2af62e444ce\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: Which one?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000299\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e83b28d270734ce38db2f19a28da0757\u0022\u003EErica Stanford\u003C/span\u003E: Say it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000300\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00225bfc5e20cd1e42c5b3b9e42f5283355d\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: There you go. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000301\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo, look, on this topic of international students, I\u2019m very pleased that this bill tightens up this area, because it is important that powers are given to boards of trustees. We do appreciate international students coming and we welcome them with open arms, and we\u2019ll continue to do so, but it\u2019s important that there are safeguards in this area. The particular safeguards in this bill particularly relate to a situation where a student\u2019s having a bit of a challenging time and maybe pushes the boundaries further than they maybe should, and there are powers to sit the student down and say, \u201CHey, look, this is not working.\u201D, have a talk to their parents, and work it out\u2014which is just common sense. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000302\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAs a school teacher, I certainly taught a number of international students, and it can be challenging for them at times, coming to a new country. A lot of times, particularly if they\u2019re younger, they will leave their family for a period of time to come over here. There\u2019s a language barrier. Confidence needs to be built. Sometimes they don\u2019t understand areas around safety, and I think one of the key aspects for the international students is that they\u2019re often put into a boarding situation with a family, and it can often be a completely different environment from what they\u2019re used to in their country, so they certainly can, at times, be a little bit unsettled. Sometimes they settle down, but sometimes there are a few challenges around that. So, look, certainly this bill recognises some of the challenges in that space and puts some things in place\u2014not just for the school and the other students but also for the protection of the international student who is over here, to make sure they have a good experience in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000303\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019d like to look at another amendment here, and that\u2019s around changes to, or clarifying, the number of technical matters relating to funding and reporting. Now, on this area of funding\u2014and in terms of funding private and public institutions in a fair and equitable way\u2014we did have quite a few submissions. I\u2019m just going to mention a couple of those submissions now, because this was an area that certainly came up in the committee. We had a submission from the New Zealand Union of Students\u2019 Associations, and they talked about the treatment of international students, but they also\u2014oh, no, sorry, that was international students. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000304\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESorry\u2014it was the Otago University Students\u2019 Association (OUSA), and, basically, what they said was \u201CWe are concerned that the provision to provide private institutions with the same funding as public institutions will lead to the dilution of funding for these public tertiary providers. The purpose of public institutions, such as the University of Otago, is not to solely provide returns to its shareholders but instead to produce well educated individuals who will serve society. Large public institutions, such as the University Otago, are accountable to their community and to other external organisations such as OUSA, which holds to account the organisation on the quality of the service in which they provide. Private institutions are accountable only to their shareholders and in providing maximum returns on shareholders wealth.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000305\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003ESo what this submission does is it clearly outlines the difference between the private institutions and the public institutions, and they\u2019re strongly advocating for the same funding rather than private institutions having a bit of a better deal. That\u2019s certainly something that people on this side of the House agree with. A strong public education system is absolutely vital\u2014vital\u2014to our country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000306\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EJust a couple of other amendments here\u2014it talks in the bill there about making it an offence for a person to falsely award credits to a student studying towards a qualification. This is in relation to the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)\u2014allowing NZQA to pursue action against tertiary education organisations for falsely awarding credits to students who have not been appropriately assessed for those credits. This is certainly common sense. It is important that we have a certain amount of robustness in our system around credits, and if people are falsely being awarded credits, then I think everyone in this House would agree that that\u2019s something that we don\u2019t want to see in our country. So this bill allows some teeth for the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to act when that situation arises.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000307\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EAnother one here\u2014it talks about allowing tertiary education institutions (TEIs) to pull assets from a number of trusts to create a common fund for investment purposes. Pooling assets into a common fund provides economies of scale and administrative efficiencies, and creates the opportunity to generate a higher return on an investment. It is important within an institution to look at the finances, as we know, and it certainly makes sense if they can cut down on costs by pooling funds, pooling resources, administration costs\u2014yeah. In this bill, like I said at the start, there is a lot of common sense, and there\u2019s a lot of cross-party agreement on these things, and that\u2019s an important aspect.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000308\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EJust a couple more in my last, sort of, couple of minutes here. The bill also talks about changing the term \u201Cprivate training establishment\u201D (PTE) to \u201Cindependent tertiary establishment\u201D to allay PTE concerns that \u201Cprivate\u201D implies they are for profit, when, in practice, PTE covers a range of types of organisational forms, from small trusts to large conglomerate not-for-profit and for-profit education providers. So, obviously, we\u2019ve had a bit of an issue here, and it has come through in some of the submissions around some of the private training institutions who are not for profit being lumped in with the profit-making institutions. So they\u2019ve clearly said, \u201CWell, look, we aren\u2019t for profit, and so it needs to be clearly stated that we aren\u2019t, and have the aspect there of difference.\u201D We\u2019ll be listening to submitters on that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000309\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll probably finish with one more.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000310\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022e4b09a29-dfd3-42c0-8585-11463bd6077b\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227c97a056e2104ebdafe538d633171445\u0022\u003ERt Hon David Carter\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019ve only got 39 seconds to go. You\u2019re doing very well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000311\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002236d84af3c1c5458dbdce311f4aa544f4\u0022\u003EJAMIE STRANGE\u003C/span\u003E: This one\u2019s for you: modernising the TEI council operations, such as allowing councils to convene meetings via teleconferences and other electronic means. Now, I\u2019m not sure if the member opposite knows much about the modern electronic means, but this is, basically, just about\u2014[Interruption] You use things like social media, you know, or other sorts of aspects around there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000312\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c2e823af-22b7-4411-8b12-14d7b43680ea\u0022\u003EI\u2019m very happy to speak about this bill and very happy that we have general consensus across the House. It is just sort of tightening up on a few areas within the education sector, and I commend the bill to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u0022eab030e984654834bd8e24d080d5a776\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000313\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022eab030e984654834bd8e24d080d5a776\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, e Te Mana Whakaw\u0101. I join with my good colleague the Rt Hon David Carter in congratulating Mr Strange on managing to draw that contribution out for the full 10 minutes. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000314\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EThe purpose of this bill has been well articulated by my colleague the Hon Nikki Kaye and some of the Government members who have already spoken, so I\u2019m only going to speak very briefly. I am delighted to see another important piece of National Party legislation from the previous Parliament being picked up by the current Government and progressed further through the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000315\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EI will, just for the benefit of those who may be listening outside the Chamber, draw to their attention why it is important, for two reasons. One is that international education is currently our fourth-largest export industry\u2014worth, today, $4.2 billion per annum to our economy. So that is a very, very significant contributor to economic growth in this country. And our tertiary education organisations obviously need to remain at the cutting edge of technology and innovation, to attract domestic and international students, and ensure that they can respond to the changing needs of those students in our labour market. This bill gives them the funding flexibility to do exactly that, so it is a very sensible measure, which, as I say, will contribute substantially to further desirable growth.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000316\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003EJust quickly, may I say how concerned I am that the new Government has decided to remove the equal treatment clause. In fact, the current Minister of Education, the Hon Chris Hipkins, is already on record as saying that private training establishments often do a better job than polytechnics. Now, I don\u2019t wish to make a comparison between the two, but it doesn\u2019t make any sense, having made that comment, that he now wishes to punish those private training providers by removing the clause that ensures they receive equal funding to their public counterparts. We on this side of the House can see no reason for the Government to do that, and believe it is purely based in ideological dogma. We hope that they will step back from that retrograde step when we move into the committee stage of consideration of this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022 data-id=\u00227c873d2eb14f485ba7bf486d5fc954b9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000317\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00227c873d2eb14f485ba7bf486d5fc954b9\u0022\u003EGARETH HUGHES (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Mr Assistant Speaker. Ng\u0101 mihi nui ki a koutou, kia ora. I just want to say, after nine long years of voting against all the terrible National legislation in tertiary education, from reducing access to education to increasing the amount of money people were spending on their student loans, and when National removed people aged over 55 from accessing the student allowance. In fact, I used to carry around a giant list of all the negative changes where National had made studying less affordable, less accessible, and, in some cases, down right impossible for thousands of students. So boy, it\u2019s great to be in this Chamber tonight voting for positive tertiary education that\u2019s going to make it more affordable, more accessible, and see more people educated\u2014it\u2019s a wonderful thing.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000318\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, I heard the last member say this was an ideological piece of legislation; this is simply unwinding National\u2019s ideological legislation. This original bill, as introduced by National, was to protect private interests and private profit in the tertiary education space. Previous Governments of both hues have made sure there was a differential in the funding between public and private for-profit providers. What National wanted to do, in their ideological bill, was to lock future Governments into giving what they called equality, which, in fact, was paying extra for private profit in the tertiary education space.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000319\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI\u2019m proud to be voting for good tertiary education. I\u2019m proud of all those hundreds of thousands of Kiwis who voted to change the Government because they wanted to see more progressive policy. They wanted to see smarter, evidence-based policy; they didn\u2019t want to see the taxpayer ripped off, which is what would have happened under National\u2019s existing legislation\u2014it would have locked future Governments in.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000320\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI just want to acknowledge the fantastic work of the Tertiary Education Union (TEU), and the thousands of academics who turned up to the select committee, who protested, who wrote letters, signed things online, did all they could to protect their public education system. Now, this is one of the great taonga of our history: that we do have a wonderful tertiary education system and we inherit the system built by previous generations. The way National had introduced the bill would have eroded that for private profit\u2014that was the ideological position taken, not this side.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000321\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ESo, look, we\u2019re really proud to be voting for this legislation, because it fundamentally changes the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill as originally introduced under the Hon Paul Goldsmith.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000322\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, when we\u2019re talking about the ideological nature of legislation, let\u2019s also not forget how they were trying to change the framing and language. What we know is that that is an incredible part of the political discourse\u2014how you name and the words you use in the discourse. So what they tried to do was change private tertiary establishments to independent tertiary establishments, trying to actually remove the fact that these were private companies for profit. Now, look, I don\u2019t want to come across that I\u2019m giving them a bad rap. Private providers do some tremendous work in our communities, but it\u2019s not the same as a public education system, and this is why I was standing with the TEU. Our public education system must be protected, because what we would have quite simply seen is an erosion of public standards. You would\u2019ve seen cherry-picking of the most high-value, low-cost courses. In fact, what you had seen over the last nine years was that polytechs were underfunded. They had to outsource some of the courses to private providers. The private providers then, for limited rental, actually went back to those training institutes\u2014the polytechs\u2014and used their facilities and made a profit on top of it. So changing the language was all about changing their ideological nature to present them as independent, as not-for-profit.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000323\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI\u2019ll give the Government credit, because while language matters, they have managed to refine some of the terminology in the sector. So now we\u2019re introducing a new sub-type of private training establishment, which is a community tertiary education provider. Look, we shouldn\u2019t be seeing games with language for political point-scoring; we should make sure that language in fact reflects what truly is occurring. Calling something a community tertiary education provider when it\u2019s a non-profit, private provider is an entirely reasonable and accurate description. This is simply what the legislation does\u2014introduces accurate terms.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000324\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI won\u2019t talk for long, but after nine long years of an erosion of our tertiary education sector, of these ideological policies, which have made it harder to study, harder for our academics, significantly underfunded, it\u2019s great to be able to reverse some of those changes. This is an entirely reasonable step to make sure that that existing and previous funding differential, which previous Governments had enumerated, was simply because the taxpayer shouldn\u2019t be subsidising the capital asset base of private providers. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000325\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThere is a role for the State to be providing a subsidy for education if a private provider is using it, but something National members never in the House, never in the select committee, could answer was why the taxpayer should be providing that capital asset base for public providers, building future greater profits from. That\u2019s not the role of the taxpayer, to subsidise private providers\u2019 long-term profits; it was to subsidise the actual courses being provided because it was in the public interest. This is why I\u2019m so proud to be part of the Government, with the tertiary education Minister, the Hon Chris Hipkins. It\u2019s putting the public back into public education. It\u2019s a good day for New Zealand. Kia ora koutou, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022 data-id=\u0022d5149c7a05634d5798c873411928d9f1\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000326\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d5149c7a05634d5798c873411928d9f1\u0022\u003EERICA STANFORD (National\u2014East Coast Bays):\u003C/span\u003E I rise to speak to the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill at its second reading. This is another piece of good National Party legislation, another good bill, and can I acknowledge my colleague the Hon Paul Goldsmith for his good work in bringing this bill forward. Can I also congratulate the Education and Workforce Committee on their hard work in scrutinising this bill. The committee\u2019s changes to this bill have been well documented in the speech earlier by Ms Tracey Martin, so I won\u2019t go into them in any great detail, apart from to talk about the fact that a couple of clauses were removed. I wasn\u2019t part of the select committee\u2014I wasn\u2019t privy to the discussion\u2014but from what I\u2019ve seen and what I\u2019ve read, clauses 12 and 13 have been removed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000327\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003ELabour\u2019s opposition to privately delivered services has reared its ugly head, with the removal of these two clauses that treated public and private providers of tertiary education equally. It treated them equally. The clauses established the principle for providers of tertiary education with similar offerings and similar outcomes for students, no matter whether they were public or private providers, to receive the same rate of funding. As my learned colleague Mr Tim Macindoe pointed out earlier, the education Minister, Chris Hipkins, has publicly said that private training establishments often do a better job than polytechs. So it\u2019s difficult, given this, to understand why he would now want to disadvantage these private institutions by removing this clause that ensures they receive equal funding to their public counterparts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000328\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022275c91f8-c6b8-42fd-b3ab-d8fc000dd41f\u0022\u003EWe can see no reason why this Government has removed this clause from the bill other than pure ideology. Regardless, this is a good bill that we broadly support, and I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u00222bf4522707a647a1bb855056b92de25a\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000329\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222bf4522707a647a1bb855056b92de25a\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: This is a split call\u2014five minutes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022 data-id=\u0022052f3c2cfab6403486abf61c6d65d358\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000330\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022052f3c2cfab6403486abf61c6d65d358\u0022\u003EJO LUXTON (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m really rapt to be able to stand and take a call on this, the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. This is the first bill that I\u2019ve had the opportunity to be a part of in select committee and have it come through to the House. The Education and Workforce Committee worked really well together. It was really collegial working with the members of the Opposition on this bill. It\u2019s something I really enjoyed, and there were only a few minor things, in my view, that we didn\u2019t quite agree on completely.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000331\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003ESo the purpose of this bill, as we\u2019ve established today, is to strengthen the accountability in the tertiary education sector. It\u2019s to provide for consistent treatment of tertiary education organisations and to broaden student protection arrangements. Now, I wasn\u2019t part of the process when the committee received submissions, but there were over 2,000 submissions, and the vast majority of them opposed new section 159NA. I\u2019d just like to, if I may, read one that particularly stood out for me\u2014well, actually, there\u2019s two here, but one was made by Laura Molles. It reads: \u201CPublic tertiary institutions provide the breadth and depth of educational opportunities that allow thousands of individual students to pursue their interests, and they are necessary to ensure that New Zealand continues to benefit from a diverse, innovative workforce. Some areas of study and research may not be highly profitable in a monetary sense, but provide social, scientific or artistic payoffs that enrich our lives and drive progress. Public institutions, already chronically underfunded, should not be required to compete on equal terms with private, profit-driven companies for government funding. If a tertiary provider aims to benefit private owners, rather than the public good, then it should be required to do so under its own power.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000332\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003ESo we are very, very proud of our public institutions here in New Zealand, and our universities are ranked among the top 500 around the world. Our polytechnics meet the needs of our communities by providing education, often, in our smaller regions. So with the removal of new section 159NA(1), which stated that \u201CEvery funding mechanism must be consistent with the principle that an activity or approved programme or training scheme is to be funded at the same rate as \u2026 directly comparable activity or directly comparable approved programme or training scheme, regardless of the identities of the tertiary education providers concerned.\u201D Now, we removed that in the select committee, and that\u2019s because we are very proud of our public institutions and believe that they should be funded so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000333\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EThe other thing I wanted to mention was repealing the definition of \u201Cprivate training establishment\u201D. We, again, removed this from the bill because we feel that it was just purely wanting to be able to trade on the standing of our public tertiary institutions. It\u2019s important that we maintain the distinction between our public institutions and those of the private training providers that are run for profit. Also, in the past there\u2019s been questionable behaviour from providers, and this amended bill addresses ongoing concerns in this area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000334\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003ETaxpayers\u2019 money is used to fund these providers, and, as such, they must be able to be held accountable for questionable behaviour\u2014and by questionable behaviour, I mean falsifying student records. So what this bill does is it makes amendments to strengthen the offence provision and increase the penalty for falsifying student records from $10,000 to up to $50,000. This is going to encourage providers to act honestly and ensure that they maintain student records accurately.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000335\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002226b88bf1-f634-40e7-8019-e75cc483ace7\u0022\u003EIn closing, I want to thank all those that took the time to submit on this bill. It\u2019s great when people participate in our democratic processes. And, again, I really want to thank all previous and current committee members for their work on this bill. I commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022cb317f4faa3a42018b78472b072f8be8\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000336\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022cb317f4faa3a42018b78472b072f8be8\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: Five-minute call\u2014I call Lawrence Yule.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022 data-id=\u0022685f2917880149e39c939779442fc193\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000337\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022685f2917880149e39c939779442fc193\u0022\u003ELAWRENCE YULE (National\u2014Tukituki):\u003C/span\u003E Well, here we are again, just before we go home after the week, and I reckon over half the bills that have been put before this Parliament this week are National Party bills. I\u2019m delighted to actually speak to the second reading of this bill\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000338\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b81ac2938c614c7cbb848ced37c783ae\u0022\u003EHon Member\u003C/span\u003E: All of them.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022935ec1ecc0fa44e2a771be3a60af13cd\u0022\u003ELAWRENCE YULE\u003C/span\u003E: Well, I haven\u2019t actually done the numbers, but it feels like that; if it\u2019s more, that\u2019s great.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000340\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EThis bill is a great thing. It increases funding flexibility to tertiary education. But there are two things that I actually want to specifically comment on. One is the number of changes that are being made to support domestic and international students. In some of my previous roles, I\u2019ve seen how that hasn\u2019t always been perfect, particularly some of the welfare issues out of the actual institutions themselves. So we need to ensure that the right settings are in place to support domestic and international student safety and well-being, and to ensure that they receive a consistently high-quality education while in New Zealand. As has been alluded to by my colleague the Hon Tim Macindoe, over $4 billion goes into our economy every year.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000341\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00220c51564f-6c6e-45cc-adab-f15b6c831fce\u0022\u003EImportantly, the second part is how we increase funding flexibility, because, actually, tertiary education has asked for this, and I think this is a great way of responding to the request. There will be new conditions placed on funding. It allows less bureaucracy, it allows more flexibility, and, importantly, it reduces the compliance burden for tertiary organisations. And it actually provides incentives for them to be innovative and to focus more on students and less on compliance. So, in summary, with those two things, I think this is an important bill. I commend it to the House, and I reiterate that it\u2019s another National Party bill. Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022 data-id=\u002222895b10b4ae4744a5d2e9252d718391\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000342\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002222895b10b4ae4744a5d2e9252d718391\u0022\u003EMARJA LUBECK (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I\u2019m rising to take this call on the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. Yes, I agree with the previous speakers that this bill started its life as a Government bill in the 51st Parliament. But the Government of the 52nd Parliament definitely has made significant improvements to it and made it a lot better, and I\u2019ll talk about that a little bit later on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000343\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EFirst of all, I want to mention that in general this bill has quite a few aspects to it that show a strengthening of the tertiary education system by addressing accountability in the system and increasing student protection. Something that this bill is adding as an improvement is that it tidies up a loophole with regard to falsely awarding credits on a student\u2019s record of achievement. This issue, a while ago, received quite a bit of publicity when the International Academy of New Zealand was closed and students were not receiving correct assessments of their studies. So while it was already an offence to issue false qualifications, there was a loophole with regard to falsifying credits or marks for students\u2019 assignments.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000344\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003ESo, as my colleague Jo Luxton mentioned before, the increases to the penalty for falsification on student records has increased significantly from $10,000 to $50,000, so that makes it comparable to similar offences. But what the increase also does is it increases the timeline that this offence can be prosecuted, and it extends it from one to five years. That\u2019s important, because it can actually take up to four years before reviews or routine checks show up that there has been an offence. So as a result of this change, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) can prosecute persons who falsify components of a qualification and who, when they do that, are undermining the confidence that the public can have in the integrity of our NZQA system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000345\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003ENow, as I said before, I\u2019d like to talk a little bit about the importance of the deletion of some of these proposed clauses, because, in fact, the changes that this Government has made to this bill go to the core of how we are fundamentally different. This Government bill started out as a bill that puts profit first; we put people first. So this is not about creating a level playing field, as the Hon Nikki Kaye mentioned, and\u2014unlike the member Tim Macindoe said\u2014this is not about punishment of private providers. I\u2019m not sure actually if the honourable member Tim Macindoe was part of the previous select committee or not, but I know that the previous Minister of Education, the Hon Nikki Kaye, should be aware of the thousands of submissions that were put forward to that particular select committee at the time\u2014the vast majority, as my colleague Jamie Strange pointed out, not supporting the change at all.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000346\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EWhat the provisions proposed by the previous Government would have done is they would have provided the same funding rate across the board, whether that education provider was a public or a private entity. Now, that\u2019s not right. As I said before, during the select committee there was an overwhelming number of submitters pointing out that public money should not be spent on what is a private business. The majority of submitters were opposed to the clauses that would put in a law that public and private providers should receive the same rate of funding. The majority of submitters were clear on the fact that they saw public providers committed to the communities they serve and they work in, and that legislation to provide private, for-profit providers with the same funding would, ultimately, undermine these public institutions. It was submitted that using public funding to subsidise for-profit providers would create unacceptable competition for public providers, and the main focus should not be on what the economic return will be. Again, that is where we are so fundamentally different from the other side of this House: people first.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000347\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EAs private training establishments are not accountable to the Government for the quality of programmes they teach, it would give them an unfair advantage if they had the same funding, because they could cherry-pick the courses that would give them the greatest return on investment, rather than putting the focus, as public institutions do, on what is best for the community. So, really, it would have been going as far away as we can think of from a level playing field. So what this new bill has done, from this Government, is it has removed those clauses and has left the situation to be determined, as it is now, in funding policy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000348\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EWhat we also have deleted, listening to the thousands of submitters, is the proposal to change the name of \u201Cprivate training establishment\u201D to \u201Cindependent tertiary establishment\u201D. There were over 1,900 people and institutions that were submitting on this point to the select committee; every single one opposed the change. There was not one person or institution that supported it. It makes you think that the previous Government was kind of out of touch with the people. It was widely felt that the word \u201Cindependent\u201D would imply that public institutions were not independent, and that both the terms \u201Cpublic\u201D and \u201Cprivate\u201D education are used all over the world, are well recognised everywhere as well as here in New Zealand, and there\u2019s absolutely no confusion that would have warranted a change in law to somehow tidy that up.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000349\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EThis version of the bill also removes the provision for councils to discuss topics by email and, eventually, after their emails, make decisions by email. That would have had the effect that council meetings would not be open to the public, which is against the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act. This particular Act stipulates the very important requirement of the need for public access to meetings. So this bill has very good tidy-ups, and it\u2019s closing the loopholes that pose a significant risk to our education system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000350\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003ENow, we talked about the over 2,000 submissions. There\u2019s also one that was quite significant from the Otago University Students\u2019 Association. It talks, again, about the wording of \u201Cindependent\u201D, and it states that they don\u2019t support the amendment to the bill: \u201CWe understand the wide ranging nature of the PTE sector, however, we believe the change to \u2018independent tertiary establishment\u2019 may in fact obscure the true nature of these organisations, it providing a return to shareholders. We believe it is important to be able to clearly distinguish between public and private tertiary education providers. We believe this would serve students in better understanding the nature of their training providers.\u201D\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000351\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EThe same Otago University Students\u2019 Association also wrote a very good paragraph on the removal of new section 159NA, the equal funding for private training providers and public institutions. It states, \u201C[The] Public tertiary education providers have an important responsibility to society. They have a duty to education those of any background, to protect intellectual freedom and provide quality research that will take this country forward. Private providers however are not required, or held accountable to be of any service to society. They can if they please, serve only their shareholders in increasing wealth. This duty to increase shareholders wealth can also leave these private education providers \u2018cherry picking\u2019 those courses [to] provide the greatest return on investment instead of [focusing on the] greater good for the community. Private education providers can also be motivated by increasing shareholders wealth to shift away from communities that need education providers into larger populated areas in an attempt to increase market share. For these reasons [the] OUSA strongly opposes equal funding for these private training providers.\u201D \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000352\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003EThat actually puts it really eloquently\u2014the fact that we have been talking about not creating a level playing field at all but, in fairness, actually creating a very unlevel playing field by having unfair competition and giving private providers a huge advantage to use the funding the way they see fit, and that is taking money out of the taxpayers\u2019 pockets.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000353\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022f677db8b-66c5-4794-953c-bdf7aa425710\u0022\u003ESo, coming to the end of my spiel, I also would like to thank the members of the previous select committee, the Education and Science Committee, for the work they did when they passed it on to us, the Education and Workforce Committee. We enjoyed making some changes to it and making it a more enjoyable bill, thereby now supporting it and commending it to the House. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022 data-id=\u00228916915fff0c437ea7b5caa556e1a134\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000354\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00228916915fff0c437ea7b5caa556e1a134\u0022\u003EDENISE LEE (National\u2014Maungakiekie):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Assistant Speaker. I\u2019m taking a call on this bill here this afternoon. I\u2019m happy to take a call on the second reading\u2014my first opportunity to do so since becoming an MP. I have picked up on a linkage between the three select committees that this bill has been through. There has been, as the previous speaker, Marja Lubeck, has noted, the Regulations Review Committee, then it was the Education and Science Committee that took it, and now, of course, we\u2019re the Education and Workforce Committee, and I acknowledge those here this afternoon who are on that Education and Workforce Committee with me.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000355\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EI wanted to pick up quickly on one aspect. The former Regulations Review Committee in the former term had expressed concern that the bill would provide for disciplinary action against international students governed solely by the code of practice. I guess the concern was that that code of practice was designed to primarily protect domestic students\u2019 access to schools. But, of course, what we\u2019ve discovered in our committee is that the code of practice has been specifically designed to protect international students\u2019 well-being and rights.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000356\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003EIn our committee, we asked the ministry a series of questions. There\u2019s been a theme here this afternoon around student misconduct and the way that the bill helps to address issues in that regard. We asked the ministry to provide information about complaints involving younger international students and their guardians. What came from that particular query of ours to the ministry is that the code of practice and the international student contract disputes resolution scheme, the DRS, which took effect back last 1 July 2016, is something that is fulsome and can address the concerns of that original Regulations Review Committee. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000357\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022943fd636-21ec-4442-9a72-68c49464776f\u0022\u003ESo I just wanted to highlight the fact that we as a committee have been very happy, and very much able, to support this bill. We on this side of the House do so as well, and we look forward to its passage through this Parliament. Thank you.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022 data-id=\u00222b5aa3342e804888b429244229df65f2\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000358\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222b5aa3342e804888b429244229df65f2\u0022\u003EJAN TINETTI (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I\u2019m delighted to rise here this afternoon to speak on the second reading of the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill. I too, like the previous member, Denise Lee, would like to acknowledge the previous committees that this bill has been through, but particularly the Education and Science Committee of the 51st Parliament. It was this committee that took the time to work through the over 2,000 submissions that were received on this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000359\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EIt is a wide-scoping bill in the tertiary education space, and, as my colleague from the Green Party Gareth Hughes said, it is a bill that is a good bill for tertiary education, because it is a bill very consistent with this Government\u2019s policy in the quality public education space. It\u2019s good to see that being acknowledged right from the word go right through to the tertiary education area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000360\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EIt is a bill that has an odd name\u2014the odd name being \u201CTertiary Education and Other Matters\u201D. It\u2019s the other matters that we have heard of here this afternoon, and that perhaps is the area that I would first like to highlight in my speech here this afternoon. It\u2019s the other matters that start with the protection of our students and our international students who come to this country\u2014so looking at schools\u2019 management of international students. There were only two submissions on this part of the bill. One came from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, but it\u2019s the other submission that I would like to focus on, because it is a wide-ranging submission, and perhaps one of the better form submissions that I have seen. It really clarified for me why we had to make changes to this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000361\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThat submission came from the Schools International Education Business Association of New Zealand, or the acronym SIEBA. SIEBA\u2019s submission was supported by Tauranga Boys\u2019 College and the Secondary Principals\u2019 Association of New Zealand, or SPANZ. The reason I highlight this is because it has actually come from an issue that arose in the international student space that no school or no host parent had ever anticipated would happen. I would like to thank SIEBA, Tauranga Boys\u2019 College, and SPANZ for actually putting this submission together and highlighting such a serious issue in this space so that we can get this right. That\u2019s where the Education and Workforce Committee has made a few changes to the bill\u2014so that we are making this really strong for schools, and this legislation really strong for schools. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000362\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EWe know that international education in the school sector is really important to those schools. It\u2019s really important to the New Zealand economy, and I would also like to speak on this having been a host mum for five international students over many years. I never actually anticipated over that time the issues that SIEBA, Tauranga Boys\u2019 School, and SPANZ brought up in their submission. So it was really good that that actually happened.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000363\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EI want to take the time just to read a couple of paragraphs from that submission, because they are key paragraphs as to why this has been a really, really critical amendment that was made from the select committee process to this reading. They say, \u201CThe limitation of the [overall] Act has long been recognised by schools. In order to respond to this challenge, schools have attempted to create a second line of authority in the form of enrolment contracts which are intended to allow the school to supervise students\u2019 conduct in other areas, under the guise of responding to breaches of these contracts. This was attempted\u201D\u2014by the school in question\u2014\u201Cas is discussed in the High Court decision, and is also what was recommended by the Ministry of Education in its Guidelines on the code\u201D. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000364\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThen the next paragraph that I want to read goes on to the judge\u2019s decision about why just using that code alone wasn\u2019t so good. \u201CHowever, the decision of [the judge] also drew this practice into question. In particular, her Honour raised concerns about the ability of these contracts to be binding on people under the age of 18. While accepting that certain breaches, such as the non-payment of fees, could result in the termination of enrolment, [the judge] appeared to reject the contention that enrolment under a contract could be terminated for misconduct\u201D. So just having that conduct alone\u2014those guidelines in the overall code of conduct\u2014was not a good thing for that particular school, and therefore that school got taken to the High Court. That\u2019s what the intent of this part of this particular bill has aimed to cover.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000365\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003ENow, SIEBA proposed that the initial writing and drafting of this bill didn\u2019t go far enough, and they proposed that a definition of \u201Cenrolment contract\u201D be inserted into the Act. So the bill was amended to this part now, after select committee, for that to happen. Talking with the SIEBA representatives, it was also important that the changes were made to this\u2014and this is really critical\u2014so that they weren\u2019t only to deal with student conduct and discipline of the student at the time, but they must also allow schools to make the decision to have students return when they are at risk due to non-disclosed conditions.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000366\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003ENow, what I didn\u2019t realise\u2014and I\u2019ve never been a principal with international students\u2014is it\u2019s actually quite common for international students to be enrolled in schools and their parents overseas don\u2019t disclose the conditions, according to SIEBA. The reason for that is that they\u2019re scared that if they do, the school won\u2019t take enrolment. So SIEBA recognised that this clause also gives protection for the student and the schools in those situations as well. So that clause was put in there.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000367\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThe member that just spoke, Denise Lee, talked about the Regulations Review Committee, and the Regulations Review Committee also said, \u201CWhy did the contracts need to be put into this particular bill?\u201D\u2014that maybe we could just amend sections 13 to 18AA of the Education Act. Sections 13 to 18AA allow for the stand-down, suspension, and exclusion of domestic students, but they do not cover international students. Now, SIEBA state very clearly in their submission that it is really important to keep the two completely separate, that it needs to be a completely separate area, and that they need to have that ability to be able to look at the international students separately. So I\u2019m really delighted that the select committee didn\u2019t take that recommendation up and have actually put in the recommendation around the guidance around enrolment.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000368\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EAt the same time, in the submission SIEBA asked for schools to have the ability to outsource disciplinary matters involving international students. Now, section 17 of schedule 6 of the Education Act already allows boards to delegate authority, and it allows them to delegate the functions and powers of the board by resolution in written notice to certain individuals. So what that means is that a board can already bring in outside expertise to support the board in helping them make a decision.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000369\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EThe reason SIEBA had asked for this was that they felt that there are schools that are wanting to set up international student areas, departments, in their schools. They felt that if they were able to outsource the discipline side of things to someone else, that might encourage those schools to actually do that\u2014to set those departments up. But what the select committee decided was that, because the Education Act already has that there, that wasn\u2019t needed. So we didn\u2019t make that decision to go down that track, because they already have the ability to be able to do that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000370\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003ESo, once again, I would like to take the opportunity to thank SIEBA. As I said, I\u2019m not someone that has had a great deal of experience with the international students in my schools. I found this very, very, very enlightening\u2014this submission. I understood a lot more about that space after reading it, and I believe that the changes that the select committee made are very strong and make this a very good part of this bill. So with that I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000371\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00229eef65cd-ce82-441c-af1b-954ea0782a04\u0022\u003EBill read a second time.\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=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000372\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u00220a440e5deddf47dba0a34eff5f564804\u0022\u003EFood Safety Law Reform Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000373\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00225e9d1567e3a54923a5a1641c862ffd1f\u0022\u003EThird Reading\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000374\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 20 February.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u00220f3ff0a948ac490eb598ee26576bf6e3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000375\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220f3ff0a948ac490eb598ee26576bf6e3\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Before I call the honourable Minister, I just want to remind the House that the last time we were debating this the Minister had nine minutes and 30 seconds remaining to speak, and if the Minister would look to me for guidance for the countdown of time, it will not be the same as what is displaying on the time clock. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022 data-id=\u002279bf3f3d57a94c4f91f3b912047c9c70\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000376\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002279bf3f3d57a94c4f91f3b912047c9c70\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR (Minister for Food Safety):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I am pleased to be able to speak in support of the Food Safety Law Reform Bill, which makes a range of improvements to the legislation that underpins our food safety system.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000377\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00227f4986793bc74755b510da6da6a8fc8c\u0022\u003EHon Tim Macindoe\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I apologise for interrupting the Minister, but this Minister did not commence this speech, and I\u2019m just wondering whether you can advise the House whether it is permissible for a different Minister to continue the speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000378\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002273377f1fa5c841739a0fe542b6d9e1b2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you very much for your point of order. The Minister in charge of the bill is able to continue an interrupted speech. Minister Hipkins\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000379\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229092978c76854ecb9d04fe71eca4e431\u0022\u003EHon Tim Macindoe\u003C/span\u003E: Under which Standing Order?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000380\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8aca957bda94c749e9a68d37b1e6894\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: It is convention. I will find the Standing Order for you. Just a moment, the Clerk will find that for you. It may take a moment. We will permit the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor to continue with this speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000381\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022de88a8cbc5804dea9997272070d8cee8\u0022\u003EHon DAMIEN O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. This omnibus bill amends the Food Act, the Animal Products Act, and the Wine Act to address the remaining issues raised by the whey protein concentrate\u2014WPC, it was known as\u2014inquiry. The House will recall my support of the legislation when it was in the Primary Production Committee and my desire to see its passage sooner rather than later from a position of Opposition. I now have the privilege, I guess, of being the Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000382\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe previous Government committed to implement all 38 recommendations of the WPC inquiry, which was set up after the Fonterra botulism false alarm of 2013. Most of the recommendations have already been addressed, including several key initiatives such as the establishment of the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre and a Food Safety and Assurance Advisory Council. The bill sits alongside these and other multiple operational actions taken since the WPC80 inquiry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000383\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe bill was introduced in June 2016 and was considered by the Primary Production Committee, and I\u2019d like to acknowledge the efforts of that committee, which approached this in a non-partisan way. It was reported back by the committee in December 2016 and was read a second time on 22 June 2017, so it has been around for some time. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000384\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EI\u2019m pleased that the bill has unanimous support in this House. It shows the outcome that can be achieved when the House cooperates to pass legislation for the good of all New Zealanders. Many speakers in previous debates mentioned the importance of food safety and its regulatory system in New Zealand. I\u2019d like to emphasise to the House that this Government is in complete agreement about the importance of food safety to New Zealand, to its consumers, and to its exporters. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000385\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EProtecting New Zealand\u2019s reputation as a world-class supplier of safe food that is suitable for its intended purpose cannot, however, be the role of Government alone. We must harness the combined efforts of others who are well placed to act, such as food business operators and industry groups. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000386\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EOur system is designed to ensure the careful management of food-borne disease and illness risks while recognising the costs associated with that management, so that we can keep consumers safe, enable business to develop, and maintain and increase international trade. The bill reflects the priority that this Government puts on food safety by making amendments that will be of benefit across the whole food system, and the bill is a result of a very collaborative process at every level. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000387\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIn the bill\u2019s first reading debate, many members talked about the key themes that run across the amendments, and it\u2019s useful to emphasise these here. Firstly, we need to continue to improve the effectiveness and the efficiency of the food safety system. We need to make sure that resources are allocated according to the level of risk food poses and are used to deliver the greatest level of consumer protection possible. We need to be able to make sure we\u2019re ready and able to deal rapidly and efficiently with food incidents as they arise. These actions build and protect New Zealand\u2019s reputation, which is so pivotal in our international trade success. The bill\u2019s provisions will improve the management of food safety and other risks across the whole system. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000388\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003ESecondly, we need to ensure that the level of regulation is justified and balanced against the level of compliance impacts for food businesses, and I\u2019d like to acknowledge our coalition partners, New Zealand First, who have had discussions to ensure that small food businesses are not clobbered by this new round of compliance through the Food Act. So we will work with them and the Green Party to ensure that small innovative food producers can carry on and develop their businesses without paying ridiculous compliance costs. Industry and advocacy groups engaged extensively with the development and progress of the bill, and submissions from a wide range of perspectives helped inform and shape the recommendations made by the select committee and now followed through by the coalition partners in this Government. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000389\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThirdly, we need to futureproof the legislation as much as possible so that it has the flexibility to allow food safety practice to evolve over time, along with the creativity and the innovation that is the hallmark of the New Zealand primary sector and secondary processing sector. We harmonised the requirements, where possible, so that obligations are similar in a world of increasingly multi-ingredient food products. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000390\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe original bill was adjusted by the select committee to make sure these three outcomes are achieved. The select committee members from both sides of the House have stated they consider we now have the balance about right, and I welcome endorsement from the Opposition for the passage of this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000391\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe amendments that were made through Parliament will help futureproof the legislation, and I acknowledge the Supplementary Order Papers that we\u2019ve brought into the House. Firstly, two provisions that have delayed commencement will now come into force within two years of enactment. This means that regulations for risk-based plans and programmes will have to be made speedily, so that businesses know what the requirements are in a timely manner. They need certainty. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000392\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe clauses throughout the original bill that related to operators providing full copies of their risk-based programmes to their verifying agencies have been removed, as they were deemed unnecessary. We\u2019ve also removed clauses relating to verifiers having to hold and store up-to-date copies of the programmes for the businesses they verify. These changes address compliance impacts that were raised in the select committee, and they show we are listening to business. It also reflects the existing requirements where operators already have obligations to notify verifiers of changes made and must supply these programmes to the regulator within two working days on request. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000393\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIn particular, the bill gives us the ability to deal with the interface between health legislation and food legislation\u2014both important. The new regulation-making power that will let New Zealand companies use low THC hemp seeds in food products is something industry have been asking for for years. New Zealand worked closely with our Australian ministerial counterparts and we worked closely with our colleagues in coalition to make this happen. The move evolves our regulatory system to allow companies to innovate. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000394\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EThe bill also makes sure that all the tools to rapidly inform and protect the public when a food safety incident occurs and to deal proportionately with any breaches of obligations by businesses are readily available. It allows the increased use of automatic electronic systems and electronic transactions\u2014something that might have been considered automatic, but we needed to make the legislative change. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000395\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022471dee54-f59e-4497-b3d3-c39044ce7169\u0022\u003EIn closing, I note that the bill helps strengthen and maintain New Zealand\u2019s world-class food safety regulatory system. Speaking as Minister for Food Safety, food safety, alongside biosecurity, are the two most important elements of our primary production systems, and this bill will make the changes necessary to take our systems forward and, hopefully, prevent any such WPC80 incident occurring in the future and offer both the capability and the legislative background to ensure that we produce the best food in the best way for the best customers in the world. This is our reputation. This bill helps ensure that we maintain that into the future. Thank you. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022 data-id=\u00224427660b7d944de6932fe7367debb60f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000396\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224427660b7d944de6932fe7367debb60f\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT (National\u2014Hamilton East):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Chair. It\u2019s good to see that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000397\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a68928ea-9dd8-4a30-8e2c-a0f49dfc8bea\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222940f83659544cfb908ca859849d2de7\u0022\u003EHon Louise Upston\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. We had asked for a clarification on the issue of whether the speaker who\u2019s just resumed his seat was able to do that speech, and we would actually have liked to have heard that before the speaker concluded.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000398\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b526e4fe76ac4ed7b522d33cfd8ab226\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you for that. I have just received some advice from the Clerk about Ministers speaking on behalf of another. Ministers are entitled to act in the House on behalf of absent Ministers. That is a long-established convention in the House. You could see McGee, page 212. In this instance, a Minister moved the third reading of the bill on behalf of the Minister in charge of the bill. That speech was interrupted. If the Minister in charge of the bill is present in the House, then he or she is entitled to continue the speech commenced on his or her behalf. However, if the Minister in charge of the bill is absent, any other Minister may continue the speech instead.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000399\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThe same event has arisen in the House previously. In 2007, a Minister moved the third reading of a bill on behalf of the Minister in charge of the bill. The debate was interrupted. When it resumed, a third Minister continued the speech. You can refer to Hansard on Weathertight Homes Resolution Services (Remedies) Amendment Bill, Volume 641, at pages 11,251 and 11,298.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000400\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003EThe situation is different to any other speech made on a bill. The Minister in charge of a bill must move a motion in relation to the bill and may speak in support of the motion. Because this must happen in order for a bill to be debated, it is permissible for another member to act on behalf of an absent member. The remaining speeches on a bill may be made, but are not essential to the progress of the bill. If a speech subsequent to that of the member in charge is interrupted, then only the member who had the call is entitled to resume it. I hope that clears the matter up for members of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000401\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d18a906f8b364870af4a1af1dd58e4a3\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. I\u2019d just like to thank members of the House for supporting this bill. It is a very important part for New Zealand agriculture and horticulture, making sure that we have a strong biosecurity and food safety network, and that is really important in part of the food security area.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000402\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ENow, we know that we\u2019ve got the most slippery Minister of Agriculture that we\u2019ve ever had, that fails to answer questions, that has been abject in his failure in many basic issues since he\u2019s taken over the role\u2014how he\u2019s destroying the New Zealand dairy industry through the Mycoplasma bovis, how he\u2019s destroying the New Zealand dairy industry through the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act (DIRA) reforms, how he\u2019s destroyed the New Zealand honey industry through his failure to get m\u0101nuka honey right, and how he\u2019s going to destroy\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000403\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e7dfff98035c4b5b91434ae22579f165\u0022\u003EHon Meka Whaitiri\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. All due respect, we\u2019re here on the third reading of the Food Safety Law Reform Bill. I would hope that the learned colleague across the way would address the bill that\u2019s in question.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000404\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022e65cdba904794ec78c5e553289b2ba1f\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019d encourage him to do so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000405\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022c6f4c1b81c65400a920dc38bd2b6d181\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: If you gave me a chance to get to my point, I would have made the point very clearly that the Minister made a lot of talk in his speech about things that he as Minister has done, especially in regard to his coalition partners, and there hasn\u2019t been one single change in this bill from what was introduced by the National Government before the election and debated in this House\u2014not one single change. It is very, very rich for the Labour Party and the Minister\u2014a failed Minister that has a history of abject failure in the three or four months he\u2019s had the job\u2014to actually come into this House and then say that he has been such a master of food safety and delivered such a great result for this country when he has not at one stage even helped in preparing this bill. He has not done one thing that actually added to this bill, and then says that he has worked with his coalition partners to make that a reality. So I\u2019m just bringing some reality to the debate and showing the truth of the situation, and not letting the agenda of a Minister who has completely failed in everything he has done since he has been a Minister to take advantage of this House at this time.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000406\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003ENow, that Minister, of course, is completely protected at question time by the Speaker, who makes it extremely difficult for questions to be undertaken in this House. There\u2019s been a loss of democracy in this country through the way that question time has been attempted to be run\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000407\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022ee85d5e7c9d845b7bda863088af1a28e\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Excuse me, if I could just bring the member back to the substance of the bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000408\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022841347a085b8439c9311acddf24e252f\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: And it is very important for the substance of the bill, because if one cannot debate a bill in this House and one cannot have a decent question time to look at\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000409\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022b398827c-6bf5-403e-90dc-ff03205302a5\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022bee5a6e60fb149cdaa88dee3d88eddde\u0022\u003EHon Aupito William Sio\u003C/span\u003E: What\u2019s the name of the bill?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000410\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229e88331139944082af36eb740f984fd2\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: It is the food safety bill, my friend, and we introduced it to the House, rather than the Labour Party at all. Part of the legislative process is also to be able to hold a Government to account, and that is a very important part of any legislation. When we\u2019re in the third reading of a bill it\u2019s also important that we are able to hold a Minister and the Government to account, and you just cannot do that in the current environment we are in. There is no democracy at question time. The example today, with the Rt Hon\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000411\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002240bf2452e73243159e0ebc8679ae8adc\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Order! If the member has an issue with regards to question time, I believe that the Speaker at the time offered some remedy to that: to either speak with him directly in his Chambers or to write back. We are on the third reading debate of the Food Safety Law Reform Bill, and I will encourage the member to come back to that bill. This will be the last time I do so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000412\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221154c8134be343278544f7fa9647e800\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. It\u2019s important that we do that, but if opportunities are not made that are actually realistic for anyone to take up, then people have to take the only opportunity they have, and that is to speak in this House, because there is no realistic opportunity to debate with the Speaker his actions in this House, and this is the only time that we have that opportunity.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000413\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00221581db8ffd9946cc98420daea2a54b46\u0022\u003EHon Ruth Dyson\u003C/span\u003E: I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. It\u2019s not appropriate to bring the Speaker into disrepute, and I\u2019d ask that the member be required to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000414\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022204235ae173b499f892f76f44917e3a2\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: I didn\u2019t actually hear the comment. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000415\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223257bf9b887140079579a1186ab5b28c\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: So the bill has something that\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000416\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223047147ae66c47429ad302dd059e0c7a\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: Sorry, I haven\u2019t called you yet; I\u2019m just referring to the matter that the Hon Ruth Dyson brought. I didn\u2019t actually hear the comment, so\u2014this is a very robust debate. There is lots of interjection from across the House. If I\u2019d heard the comment, I might agree with the member, but in this case I will allow the Hon David Bennett to continue with his speech.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000417\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00229a3cf1b760c74a6787b0cb06b67a4840\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. And it is good that all parties in this House\u2014I presume all parties\u2014are going to support this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000418\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002289892186502446ce8b0b0b49f947fed4\u0022\u003EGreg O\u2019Connor\u003C/span\u003E: He does tend to repeat himself, so it will be back.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000419\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022fa865e34cf2c41b39a730573ea1be5b6\u0022\u003EHon DAVID BENNETT\u003C/span\u003E: So is that member over there saying something? The member that was a big protester and a big supporter and told us how great a dairy farmer he was, and who at the same time was putting the knife into the New Zealand dairy industry only a week ago through the DIRA legislation, at the same time telling us his pedigree as a dairy farmer. When it comes to a bill like this, talking about food safety, how can that member sit in this House and honestly say he represents or even has any linkage to the rural sector, when he has attacked, deliberately, the rural sector and made it very difficult for farmers to actually survive in this country.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000420\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003EI don\u2019t want to take too much time in this House. There has been a gross failure within the system that we see in this Parliament. It\u2019s a disgrace for the New Zealand Parliament to be acting in the way that you see at question time. That makes this place a farce. I commend this bill to the House. Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022 data-id=\u002243bbb0dbc5534b57ae8cf72e94fb8a31\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000421\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002275a05f96-2474-4c90-a6ea-cf7b5798e03e\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002243bbb0dbc5534b57ae8cf72e94fb8a31\u0022\u003EHon RUTH DYSON (Senior Whip\u2014Labour):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think that you did hear the most recent contribution from the member\u2014criticism of the Speaker; Standing Orders 17/6, and probably the whole of page 18. I\u2019d like you to require the member to withdraw and apologise.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u0022df6133d4f8684f01b46f3c5ec9835dfb\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000422\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022df6133d4f8684f01b46f3c5ec9835dfb\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E I seek leave to table a tweet from the Hon Ruth Dyson in which she criticised the previous Speaker. I would suggest to you that what goes around comes around.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022e2786d354179460ca7488e26cc6875cf\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000423\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022e2786d354179460ca7488e26cc6875cf\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: I will ask that we just take a moment. I\u2019m just going to check with the Clerk. [Pause in proceedings] Just on the matter that the Hon Ruth Dyson raised, unfortunately the member that you had an issue with is not in the Chamber at the moment. At this point, I think just to restore order, I will speak with the Hon Ruth Dyson as to the matter at hand. But for this particular matter, we will continue with the debate.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022 data-id=\u002289d33938862f4e0bae1667e308335a97\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000424\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00228a1cb04e-8a86-44d1-9004-6e158e220339\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u002289d33938862f4e0bae1667e308335a97\u0022\u003EHon TIM MACINDOE (National\u2014Hamilton West):\u003C/span\u003E I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Could I ask you to rule on the point of order that I raised, which, actually, was seeking leave to table the tweet from the senior Government whip when she was in the previous Parliament.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022 data-id=\u0022402708a0711944d69bd50e869fe9269b\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000425\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022c0e0c86e-e14d-4daa-9bc8-1b5a3d7defeb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022402708a0711944d69bd50e869fe9269b\u0022\u003EASSISTANT SPEAKER (Poto Williams)\u003C/span\u003E: OK. Leave is sought for that action to be taken. Is there any objection to that? There is.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022 data-id=\u00224f84c7abb57c49f38b22440e30b28c6d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000426\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224f84c7abb57c49f38b22440e30b28c6d\u0022\u003EHon MEKA WHAITIRI (Minister of Customs):\u003C/span\u003E E Te M\u0101ngai o Te Whare, t\u0113n\u0101 koe. E ng\u0101 mema o Te Whare nei, t\u0113n\u0101 t\u0101tou katoa. Today is a special day for me and for my wh\u0101nau. I beg the indulgence of the House to wish my mother a happy 80th birthday today. Happy birthday, mum.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000427\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EI\u2019m pleased to speak on the third reading of the Food Safety Law Reform Bill. It\u2019s sad to follow the previous speaker, David Bennett, who in his contribution sounded like \u201Ccould\u2019ve, would\u2019ve, should\u2019ve\u201D, but didn\u2019t do it. That side of the House had opportunities to pass legislation in this House to help not just our primary sector but of course our food safety producers throughout the country. I want to say I\u2019m really proud of the work that the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor has done. Not only did he usher through the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2), which helped our southern dairy farmers, but he also did go to Cabinet and got $93 million\u2014not hoped to get it, not planned to get it, but actually got it\u2014before Christmas last year, to deal with the biosecurity system that was badly let down by the other side. Of course, now we have the Food Safety Law Reform Bill, which we are passing today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000428\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003ECan I just say that this bill amends the three main food safety Acts\u2014the Food Act, the Animal Products Act, and the Wine Act\u2014to address the gaps identified by the whey protein concentrate (WPC) inquiry and to make other improvements to the food safety regulatory system. I remind us all that the bill arose from the botulism false alarm in 2013, which resulted in the independent Government inquiry and its 38 recommendations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000429\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s important to identify that the objectives of this bill are to protect human health. It is aiming to maintain New Zealand\u2019s reputation as a supplier of safe and suitable food, both domestically and internationally. It does attempt to ensure all steps have been taken to address the recommendations of the WPC inquiry, and it also attempts to harmonise the implementation of the WPC inquiry recommendations across the three food safety Acts.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000430\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EI want to touch on the parts of the bill that I\u2019ve identified are important for members of this House, around what it is actually trying to do. I want to highlight not only what the bill is doing but actually how the bill enables particularly our officials at the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) to implement them. The first part I just want to comment on is the improving responses to food safety incidents. This bill will improve the ability for MPI to identify incidents quickly and respond appropriately. How would they do that? They would do it by permitting the Director-General of MPI to compel parties that provide services to a food business to provide information. It will also allow the director-general\u2019s statements to be made to inform the public. It will also clarify that MPI has a statutory role in contingency planning.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000431\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EAnd then we go into what the bill is attempting to do around traceability and recall. And it\u2019s important to note that this bill improves the regulatory system for tracing and recalling foods. How does this bill do it? It makes the obligation in the Act to have traceability systems more explicit. It enables regulations for setting prescriptive requirements, for example, of mock recourse.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000432\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThen the bill, I want to highlight, talks about the verification, and in this part it\u2019s about improving to fill gaps identified by the WPC inquiry. How is it intending to do that? It states first that the duty of the recognised agency or person\u2014the verifier\u2014is to the relevant regulator. It then requires the agency seeking or maintaining their formal recognition to provide all accreditation reports to MPI. Then it further allows regulations to, where necessary, set requirements for the independent verification of obligations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000433\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThen I want to touch on the electronic system enhancements. The bill attempts to improve efficiencies in interactions with operators and overseas trading partners, and it helps to promote modern business practice. It does this by permitting use of automatic electronic systems under the Animal Products Act and the Wine Act, as in the Food Act, and it permits the director-general to require information electronically. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000434\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThese are just a few examples of how this bill is going to modernise and protect our food-producing sector in this country. I\u2019m proud that the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor, has acted as swiftly as he has to bring this bill to the House that we are debating for its third and final reading.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000435\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EIn the time I\u2019ve got left, I do want to acknowledge the work of the Primary Production Committee. I particularly want to acknowledge the 43 submitters who submitted when the bill was first referred to the select committee on 16 August, but who submitted on 22 September. I also want to acknowledge the 11 submitters that appeared before the select committee in late 2016.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000436\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003EThat then begs the question: if we had the select committee hearings in late 2016, we are here now in 2018, and there was every opportunity for the so-called side of this House that purports to be the representative of farmers and growers to have ushered this bill through the House. So it\u2019s a bit rich when that side attacks this side for doing something that is actually right and correct, and should have been done but wasn\u2019t done. So, like the previous speaker, I\u2019m pleased that this side takes our food producers, our farmers, and our growers seriously, and we take them seriously because this bill did need the attention that this House has been so poor in giving it. It is important for all our growers throughout New Zealand to preserve our international reputation when we\u2019re trading on the international markets\u2014that we have a sound and robust food safety system to give us that competitive edge internationally. So without further ado I\u2019m proud to stand in support of this Food Safety Law Reform Bill and commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022 data-id=\u0022d781e378ffba405781034e0e059729b9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000437\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d781e378ffba405781034e0e059729b9\u0022\u003EHon NATHAN GUY (National\u2014\u014Ctaki):\u003C/span\u003E Thanks very much for the opportunity to take a call on this very important bill this afternoon. It\u2019s great to follow the Associate Minister of Agriculture, Meka Whaitiri. Can I thank her for her honesty this week when she was answering questions yesterday on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, where she said that $9.3 million had been given to biosecurity for the Mycoplasma bovis response. What\u2019s really telling, when that Minister responded on behalf of Damien O\u2019Connor and we went back and checked, is that that money was appropriated by the previous National Government. So there\u2019s more stories to unfold there, when we get into the detail and the weeds about whether that funding for Mycoplasma bovis actually was new funding.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000438\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ENow, coming specifically to this bill that we are discussing and debating this afternoon, this is a good bill. It\u2019s taken a long period of time to get to where it is today and I acknowledge everyone that submitted: that was the big end of industry in New Zealand and a lot of small, niche producers as well. This bill and the regulations that follow actually combine a huge amount of work that underpins a lot of investment and us as a producing nation of food. We have a very proud track record as a producer of safe food, but it was tested in 2013 with the whey protein concentrate when, indeed, there was the precautionary recall that Fonterra did on some of its products. When that was all unpicked and worked its way through over a period of time, it was indeed a false alarm by Fonterra, but, as a result of that event, there followed these recommendations and this bill that we are now debating. There\u2019s been a huge amount of consultation that\u2019s gone on since then, and there was a big test for Fonterra and for our food producers in New Zealand.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000439\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThen what followed was the criminal blackmail of food products in New Zealand, where a letter was sent from an individual to Theo Spierings, the chief executive of Fonterra, and to the chief executive of Federated Farmers. Then what followed from that was a massive response where the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), as the lead agency, worked across the whole of Government in what could have been a disaster for our food exporting companies in New Zealand\u2014particularly the dairy industry\u2014because the intent of the individual was real. I applaud MPI and what they did in getting on top of a significant event, working very closely with the New Zealand Police. Ultimately, they found the individual, and that was literally like trying to find a needle in a haystack.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000440\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThe reason I raise that is because it\u2019s really important\u2014when we hear from Government speakers this afternoon. Because of Labour\u2019s rhetoric around food safety and biosecurity and wanting to smash MPI apart, there\u2019s so much disappointment now in industry, because, had the New Zealand Food Safety Authority been standing on its own and not embedded into a wider ministry like the Ministry for Primary Industries, there\u2019s no way that they could have stood up, the response that they stood up to deal with that Operation Concord.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000441\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo now we have the Government who have decided\u2014and there\u2019s been a huge amount of pushback by industry and, importantly, by officials saying\u2014that MPI would be worse off if they decided to set up separate entities for food safety, biosecurity, and the like. The importance of this is because MPI is considered a competent authority for both and, when you break that down\u2014like Labour wanted to do\u2014into separate entities, that becomes very difficult for MPI as the competent authority and export markets.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo what happened\u2014and I\u2019ve read the Cabinet paper in some detail\u2014was Damien O\u2019Connor got rolled by officials and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and also by his colleagues when they realised that the cost was going to be over a hundred million bucks to smash MPI apart. So now MPI is in a position of trying to save the Minister\u2019s face, so they have come up with a bit of a rebranding exercise\u2014putting stickers on doors to try and create something within MPI so that there is seen to be some form of separation. But the reality is that\u2019s costing $17 million of research and development that is being robbed from the primary sector. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000443\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003EThe reason I raise that in this debate is because it all comes back to one primary objective, and that is that MPI is the competent authority and oversees food safety and biosecurity and the like, and to smash it apart is just plainly dumb. So the reason I say that is because they\u2019ve now realised\u2014they; not you but they, the Government has realised\u2014it\u2019s really important to keep MPI together. And, yes, there\u2019s been a rebranding exercise, and food safety will carry on, and it will be better and stronger by being a part of the whole of MPI.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000444\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003ESo, in summary, this is a good bill. It\u2019s very important for our food producers up and down the country\u2014and, of course, we export about $25 billion a year generated from food products. So this bill is really important, and on this side of the House we are pleased to have been involved with it and we do support it.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022 data-id=\u00226371d59bb5cf4eddba41d5d2fba6d496\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000445\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00226371d59bb5cf4eddba41d5d2fba6d496\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON (NZ First):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Assistant Speaker. In addressing the third reading of the Food Safety Law Reform Bill, may I please just seek the indulgence of the House for a second on a personal matter in thanking the Rt Hon David Carter for a wonderful tribute to my recently deceased father. It was very much appreciated by me and my family. And thanks also for the many other kind reflections from other members from across this House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000446\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, the passing of someone from natural causes at the end of a well-lived life is one thing, but to lose someone tragically through nourishing themselves, through eating an item of food and getting sick, or having their life changed dramatically through just the food that they eat is totally unacceptable, and, of course, it is something for which New Zealand food products\u2019 and food producers\u2019 reputation goes well before us in that respect. We have a proud tradition in producing quality food products. I think it\u2019s one thing, when you travel overseas, you do realise the quality of the food here and you appreciate the safety that we have.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000447\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, this bill is to address some of the concerns that came out of the false botulism scare and the whey protein concentrate bacteria that was found during some safety testing, which caused all sorts of problems and issues for our food producers across the board. We had 1,000 tonnes of consumer product across seven countries that were affected in various resultant recalls. This is something that we\u2019re totally unused to, and we cannot afford this to become a regular occurrence. To the credit of members across the House, we have recognised that there is a need to bring some reforms. And, actually, across industry, they have\u2014as they often do\u2014responded well ahead of where Governments are and have moved, already, to implement a lot of the recommendations that we\u2019ll be doing, if they weren\u2019t already.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000448\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, going back\u2014we\u2019re talking about food safety\u2014we remember the melamine in the Sanlu debacle and tragedy in China, which Fonterra had an ownership stake in but, of course, no control. So we can see that as the worst-case scenario and why we have to avoid that under all circumstances.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000449\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EOf course, within the whey protein thing there were no sicknesses. It was a false alarm. It was the result of a simple breaking of a torch lens in a Waikato dairy factory, and the ripples were significant. But, as the Hon Nathan Guy has just mentioned, we have $25 billion of food exports, and the primary exports, generally, still underpin our economy. We heard, earlier, on the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Bill that now export education\u2014$4.2 billion. It\u2019s great to see our economy diversifying, but we are still so reliant on our food producers. We also, at New Zealand First, did have some questions about this, and the Minister addressed that in his contribution.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000450\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EWe are concerned about the effect of this on the small food producers\u2014the artisan, the niche food producers\u2014that are so important culturally for us. Now, I get to spend a bit of time on airplanes and I read the inflight magazine and there\u2019s always a feature on a section of New Zealand, and prominently amongst those features are the artisan food producers that are unique to that particular area. And, subsequently, New Zealand First is very concerned that we\u2019re not putting compliance on those small producers that would burden them unnecessarily while tidying up our regulations in terms of our export companies. So it\u2019s a balance that we have sought. The Minister addressed that in his earlier contribution to this reading, and we have been assured that that work is in progress. We have sat with the officials and they have given us an outline of what they are looking at. The integrity of the Minister is beyond question. With us, the working relationship, I might say, in the primary industry sector space and, indeed, across the Government, but particularly with my involvement in the primary industry side of things with Minister O\u2019Connor, is excellent. That communication is going back and forward. He is well aware of our concerns, and he is looking to bring with it a further body of work. So that\u2019s something that we are conscious of on this side of the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000451\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI note that just in our local community of Lawrence, we have a local chocolate shop that\u2019s opened up, a small manufacturer. They are immigrants from Australia. They are great contributors to our community. They started off as a small chocolate-making business. I was sitting down with Alisa and she told me about first-hand experience that the regulations are actually pretty tough now to comply with. She\u2019s very, very experienced. She\u2019s brought a lot of skill with her, but without that experience, she felt that she would have been struggling to get that business off the ground. So I think that is an area where New Zealand First will be working with our Labour coalition partners, and the Greens for support, to bring some further clarification and streamlining, I guess, to make sure that they\u2019re not caught up with unnecessary compliance costs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000452\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EThis bill, of course, looks to amend all three of New Zealand\u2019s main food safety Acts\u2014the Animal Products Act 1999, the Food Act 2014, and the Wine Act 2003\u2014and bring some alignment into the operation of those Acts to protect human health and our global reputation, which is paramount. We just cannot do that. It\u2019s been referred to by other speakers, the biosecurity situation. We\u2019ve had a recent one with the Mycoplasma bovis, of course, amongst others\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000453\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00223bc1f14bb7f740549619f666b8151e25\u0022\u003EHon Nathan Guy\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, stink bugs.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000454\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a52dde8d181141878501000864cbf57b\u0022\u003EMARK PATTERSON\u003C/span\u003E: The stink bugs now\u2014so these are live issues that we have to deal with all the time. One of the, perhaps, lessons of that in some respects is that it does give us a test run, as a country, as to how we would react to something like a foot-and-mouth disease or a botulism situation. So we\u2019ve had some heads-up, some ability to test our systems in real time. They have been found wanting in some areas, and this is part of a tidy-up in making sure that we can respond and respond appropriately in these areas. The bill does address the segments that require statutory change to implement these measures.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000455\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EIt gives us a clear direction. It gives business a clear direction of the expectations, and, as I said before, many of our businesses, if they hadn\u2019t already, have already amended their practices ahead of this legislation to make sure that they are fully compliant and futureproofing their own business.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000456\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003EI have a quote here from a United States food safety expert, Debbie Newslow: \u201CWe can no longer learn from our mistakes. We cannot allow mistakes to happen in the first place. In today\u2019s world of food safety, we must be proactive in preventing mistakes before they occur.\u201D I think that pretty much sums up what we are doing with this regulatory reform, but what industry has already gone ahead and pre-empted in most cases.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000457\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022bf71a65e-c9f0-4856-902f-1a15c4274e94\u0022\u003ENew Zealand First supports this bill and is happy to vote for it. We\u2019d like to thank the officials for the good work that was put to the select committee. There was a famous presentation, I think, from Biddy the cheesemaker from the Wairarapa, who I understand had a very big impact on that bill and the shaping of this regulation and some of the stuff going forward. So I think it does show that this House and this Parliament are working as we would hope for such an important piece of legislation, that all views were taken into account and reflected. So New Zealand First has much pleasure in commending this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022 data-id=\u0022014256344d774f5ab5273860ceff7259\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000458\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022014256344d774f5ab5273860ceff7259\u0022\u003EDr SHANE RETI (National\u2014Whangarei):\u003C/span\u003E It\u2019s a pleasure to offer a few reflections on this, the third reading of the Food Safety Law Reform Bill. I\u2019d like to start by acknowledging previous Ministers who have done a lot of work on this: the Hon Jo Goodhew, the Hon Nathan Guy, and the Hon David Bennett, who put a lot of effort to get this bill through to its third reading today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000459\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EI want to particularly reflect on the first part of the bill, which deals with modifications to the Food Act, and reflect this as a legislative process that brings into account the findings of the whey protein concentrate contamination inquiry. We\u2019ve heard parts of that. We\u2019re aware that in 2012, at the Hautapu factory at the back of Cambridge there, they had an issue where a broken torch lens entered into the product stream. Unfortunately, it was reworked against standing policies, and pipes and hoses that were unclean were used. The product also wasn\u2019t dispersed through other products; it should\u2019ve been a 10 percent dispersal\u2014that wasn\u2019t followed. And, subsequently, the product entered the product line.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000460\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EAbout a year later the product goes offshore to an Australian facility that tests for SRCs\u2014sulphite reducing clostridia. Fundamentally, that picks up two of the clostridia, which is the gram positive rod clostridium sporogenes; and clostridium botulinum. It\u2019s the second one that\u2019s important to us here because that produces a neurotoxin that\u2019s actually quite dangerous. So they test for that; it\u2019s positive. Then discussions go back and forth between Fonterra and AgResearch. They decide to test it for toxins here in New Zealand\u2014again, against protocol, in an unaccredited laboratory. It turns out, when two Government laboratories in the USA actually test it, that it\u2019s clostridium sporogenes, so we have this, sort of, false laboratory test.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000461\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EIf we look at that and look at the key findings\u2014and I tried to pull the one sentence out of the recommendations from the inquiry that this legislation brings forward\u2014we notice how much it\u2019s about communication and information. So if we look at the contributing factors from the report we see organisational pressures and a silo mentality. We see that communication was unclear. We see there was a lack of adequate escalation procedures; testing, communication, and readiness; and that it lacked an updated well-rehearsed crisis plan. Also, the response was slow. All parties could also have coordinated better during the crisis. There was inadequate tracing\u2014undeniably a complex task\u2014in a food safety culture.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000462\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003EThere was a sentence here that I particularly liked. It said, \u201CA food safety programme and a food safety culture are entirely different. One is concerned with documentation and processes, the other with employee behaviour and a top-to-bottom commitment to putting food safety first.\u201D I think it\u2019s a nice way to frame it: a food safety programme and a food safety culture. So Part 1 of this bill, amending the Food Act, deals to these recommendations. It spends a lot of time talking about food control plans: what their form might be, what their content might be, and how they\u2019re regulated. Clause 23 of this bill spends a lot of time looking at food tracing and how we might follow that pathway\u2014again, coming from these recommendations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000463\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022861a1798-a396-4a6c-b9e2-7d2f15d4a001\u0022\u003ESo again, I want to acknowledge the hard work that has gone into this. I didn\u2019t mention the Primary Production Committee; I\u2019d like to do that now. It\u2019s my pleasure to commend this bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022 data-id=\u0022a92c3d10661741589cef31e6f8b0840e\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000464\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a92c3d10661741589cef31e6f8b0840e\u0022\u003EGARETH HUGHES (Green):\u003C/span\u003E Kia ora, Madam Deputy Speaker. Ng\u0101 mihi nui ki a koutou. Kia ora. Let me just start with the wonderful news that we\u2019ve just had from Korea, which is that Nico Porteous, the New Zealand skier, has earned the country a bronze medal.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000465\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d21e72976f064387bc5a7f4bdeb8cfd3\u0022\u003EHon Andrew Little\u003C/span\u003E: Second one for the day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000466\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022a8a49343be45467283a185b46f8f1c49\u0022\u003EGARETH HUGHES\u003C/span\u003E: I understand the second of the day, Mr Little. Look, I think that\u2019s absolutely wonderful. I wish all our athletes over there the best of luck for the remaining days of the competition.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000467\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI think I\u2019m going to enter the \u201Csegue\u201D event\u2014maybe a future Commonwealth or Olympic Games\u2014because if you look at New Zealand\u2019s agricultural sector, we get the gold medal for sheep meat exports and the gold medal also for dairy exports; we get a silver for wool exports and a silver for softwood log exports. Look, we are 12th in the world for the value of our agricultural exports, the food, and primary products we send around the world. Look, it\u2019s a tremendously big part of our economy, and when you think that we\u2019re 12th by value, it\u2019s actually the value that this country needs to focus on. It\u2019s the value that is going to grow the prosperity, going to grow the jobs, but also going to protect the environment, which is at the heart of our economy. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000468\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, while we\u2019re talking about value, on the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) website they talk about the need for being a trusted brand. That trust is built on strong animal welfare standards, which, I regret to say, is prominently in the media today. We need to make sure we have strong animal welfare standards so our international consumers can trust our products. We also need to make sure we\u2019ve got the strong food safety standards, and that\u2019s why the 2013 whey milk contamination botulism scare was so important to New Zealand\u2019s food exports. That scare damaged the confidence of international consumers, and while the report found that there was no actual contamination, no sickness, as a result, the inquiry did find a number of recommendations. That\u2019s why the Green Party is voting for this legislation tonight, because the recommendations here are all about protecting our food safety standards so our consumers both domestically and internationally can have confidence in New Zealand food products. This is how we trade. This is how we\u2019re going to go up those rankings from 12th\u2014hopefully with the gold medal for market value one day.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000469\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EI acknowledge this legislation has the unanimous support of the Parliament. That\u2019s important going forward so consumers here and around the world can have confidence. Basically, at the heart of the legislation is a risk regime that is based on the risk profile. It\u2019s all about ensuring traceability and recall requirements are met. For us, an important concern we had going in\u2014and one I\u2019d acknowledge was adequately canvassed in the Primary Production Committee report, which has been presented to the House, mostly from the work of Steffan Browning, a departed member, who I\u2019d like to acknowledge\u2014was the need for a balance, because when you\u2019re using a risk approach for your food safety regime, there\u2019s obviously a huge scale difference between your big producers, your Fonterras, your Mainlands, versus your, maybe, boutique home producer of cheeses or olive oil.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000470\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ENow, what we heard in the select committee submissions was that for some of these smaller food producers, 40 percent of their revenue actually is taken up in compliance costs. Now, what no one, I believe, in this House wants to see is compliance costs\u2014literally seeing businesses go under or not being able to innovate or provide these boutique value-added products, which are so important to growing the value of our agricultural exports. So, I think the balance has been struck quite right. I know a lot of work was done by the committee, and I acknowledge all the members present in the House who participated on that\u2014the need to get that balance right, to make sure that we can ensure food safety standards but at the same time not have an onerous or burdensome compliance cost regime.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000471\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EA second area that we\u2019ve been pushing for for quite a long time is the low-THC hemp seeds, and making sure\u2014I guess you could call it a bit of a regulatory quirk or something, which had to be addressed\u2014it is being addressed in this legislation. Now, I don\u2019t want to out myself as a flamin\u2019 hippie who loves eating organic hemp bliss balls, but, look, it\u2019s a product that a lot of consumers like to eat. There is no psychoactive effect from the low-THC hemp. There are quite a lot of documented health impacts, and, look, it\u2019s been eaten for literally thousands of years and the medicinal health impacts are quite widespread. In fact, one of the first ever medical documents from history, ever discovered, talked about the medical impacts of this. So, it\u2019s good that we\u2019re finally getting some clarification here. It\u2019s pretty important for New Zealand food producers. They can have the certainty to be providing this ingredient if that\u2019s what their consumers want.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000472\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EWhen you look at the select committee report, as issued to the House, another issue canvassed was the risks of GE food and irradiated foods not having the legal statutory requirements for labelling to be investigated. Now, I\u2019d really like to acknowledge the work of the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor in this space, because it is on our law books\u2014for more than a dozen years\u2014that organic and irradiated foods have to have labelling requirements on New Zealand food products\u2014very good.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000473\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThe problem, however, is that no one had actually been investigating or doing the checking in our food stores whether in fact they were being complied with. Now, if you want to try and avoid all genetically engineered foods, it\u2019s critically important that you can have trust in the labels to know what you\u2019re eating so you can effect your consumer choice. Now, I\u2019m very proud to say that we\u2019ve been working with the Minister for Food Safety, and MPI will be conducting a review, a stocktake, of the labelling regime in New Zealand so that consumers can have confidence that when a product says it doesn\u2019t contain genetically engineered or irradiated foods, they know, with certainty, that it won\u2019t. It\u2019s a very good step, and I\u2019d like to acknowledge the Minister.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000474\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EWe also saw, in the select committee report considering this legislation, the issue of country-of-origin labelling, because while it was ruled out of scope by the select committee, it\u2019s something 55 other countries around the world have\u2014mostly developed countries; I\u2019m talking about the UK, Canada, the US, and Australia. It\u2019s something we require in New Zealand for footwear we import into New Zealand, to know which country the footwear\u2019s come from. It\u2019s something we apply to wine in New Zealand, and most other countries do too\u2014you know which country the wine\u2019s coming from\u2014but when it comes to the vast bulk of our food, we don\u2019t have the same rights as Australians or Americans or Brits, because we don\u2019t know which country our food comes from. So while it was ruled out of scope of the legislation, I would point out that almost half of the total submissions were calling for this. So while we\u2019re looking at our food safety regime, having consumers have the adequate information\u2014I\u2019d put it to the House, the right to information\u2014should be protected, and that\u2019s why I\u2019m also proud to say that Parliament will have the opportunity to work on this with my Consumers\u2019 Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill, initially introduced by Steffan Browning, which is currently in the Primary Production Committee, so consumers can have that right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000475\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ESo we\u2019ve talked about some of the areas the Green Party was really focused on in improving the legislation: protecting small consumers to make sure the balance between food safety and an onerous regulatory regime wasn\u2019t putting them out of business or reducing\u2014or was unbalanced for those compliance costs\u2014the GE labelling issue, the country-of-origin food labelling issue, and those low-THC hemp seeds. So I\u2019d like to acknowledge all parties in this House for supporting the legislation and thank those committee members who worked on it. Look, it\u2019s a good step forward, and this is how we\u2019re going to grow those agricultural exports, not just the low-volume commodity exports\u2014you know, the brown paper bags of coal-fired, dehydrated milk products we send around the world\u2014it\u2019s talking about real value, because there\u2019s a limit to how many cows we can cram in our paddocks if we just focus on increasing the volume. Just like in the tourism industry: there\u2019s a limit to how many tourists we can cram down in Fiordland. There\u2019s no limit to the export of value-added, smart, innovative products, and this is where our future, a richer New Zealand, is going to come from, not just increasing volume and cramming things in and reducing the quality; it\u2019s going to come from value.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000476\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003EThat\u2019s why I think, in the food space, we can look to our wine export industry as a real exemplar. In fact, per litre of wine\u2014of grapes, sorry; the source ingredients for wine\u2014we are top of the world for the value of it. Now, we see tens of thousands of tons offered from low-cost producers like Chile, even Australia, because of low labour costs and, I put it, potentially, low labour standards. We\u2019re on the other side of the market, actually focusing on a higher-quality, higher-value product. That means the wine we export around the world commands some of the highest costs. That\u2019s exactly where we want to be positioned in the global wine market, accessing the value, and this is why this legislation\u2019s so important, to make sure the food standards are giving our consumers the trust and confidence in New Zealand agricultural products.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000477\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002255bb390e-f6c3-498c-bbf6-ea1a8fc993c7\u0022\u003ESo, look, I\u2019m very happy to be supporting this legislation. I\u2019d like to thank the House. Kia ora koutou, Madam Deputy Speaker.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022 data-id=\u0022ec94758319984f0ca25085b44a9e4dda\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000478\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ec94758319984f0ca25085b44a9e4dda\u0022\u003ETIM VAN DE MOLEN (National\u2014Waikato):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. It\u2019s a pleasure to rise and talk on this bill, actually. We\u2019re at the point now where we\u2019re just about drawing a line under this botulism issue that\u2019s been hanging around for a wee while, and it is nice to be at the point where we have progressed through and we\u2019ve got a few appropriate changes in place to ensure that we don\u2019t see a similar issue arising in the future.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000479\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EThis is a really important issue for our country. Most of us would be aware of the impact caused by the false botulism scare, a number of years ago now, and the impact something like that can have on New Zealand. We\u2019re a major exporting country. We\u2019re very much reliant on our primary sector. As we\u2019ve already heard, food and beverage exports account for 60 percent of our merchandise sold overseas. So that\u2019s a really critical part for us, and we need to be making sure that we have the right processes in place, and there were some valid points raised off the back of that scare.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000480\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ESo strengthening our response to those food safety issues is absolutely critical, and this bill does a good job in that regard, so I\u2019d like to commend the Hon Jo Goodhew for first bringing this forward, and then the Hon Nathan Guy for continuing the work, and, finally, now, the new Minister the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor for continuing and seeing it through to completion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000481\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003EThis is, as I mentioned, really important, and we\u2019ve seen a little bit of focus on the primary sector at the moment, which is great. We saw, of course, last week, the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill (No 2) going through this House as well, and whilst we had some changes made there, which, again, we did support, there were some real concerns raised out of that in terms of the breadth of the review that is now in scope for the Government\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000482\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002256775a199ff44befb6403623a2132cc6\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: This is a third reading; it\u2019s quite focused on this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000483\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002267e736ffa1c9468d959f6397ebec8e9f\u0022\u003ETIM VAN DE MOLEN\u003C/span\u003E: Yes, thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker; you\u2019re quite correct. So with that, like this bill, there is a lot of need to remain clear on where we\u2019re going, and we certainly didn\u2019t see that with what was being proposed in the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act review. But, in this instance, we\u2019ve got a much clearer message around where the industry can target its communications going forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000484\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ESo on that as well we need to make sure that we\u2019re having a strong focus on biosecurity, on traceability\u2014those food safety aspects, all of which are really critical to New Zealand as an export nation focused around the food production sector. We employ over 79,000 people in this sector domestically, so it is hugely critical for all of them to have confidence in their jobs and their industries as well.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000485\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022071f7800-2755-41b6-83df-07ebaf867ae2\u0022\u003ESo look, I won\u2019t labour the point, but the Food Safety Law Reform Bill has the appropriate changes as needed, and I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022 data-id=\u0022a68d02c60d7e4db2adf23c4b5aaf700d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000486\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022977cccaf-581d-4f48-924e-32bf6c54a93d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a68d02c60d7e4db2adf23c4b5aaf700d\u0022\u003EDEPUTY SPEAKER\u003C/span\u003E: OK, the next call is a split call\u2014five minutes each.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022a93618d195f84e7fb5b11191456cd9a3\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000487\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022a93618d195f84e7fb5b11191456cd9a3\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, ma\u2019am. I\u2019m pleased to add my support at the third reading of this Food Safety Law Reform Bill. We\u2019ve heard a lot of the background to this bill, and I do want to pick up on what Tim van de Molen said in his contribution when he said that this issue has been hanging around a while, because it goes all the way back to around 2012-13 with the whey protein contamination incident, or the botulism scare. Following that, there was an urgent Government response, through the inquiry, and here we are today, probably nearly five years later, putting in place the final recommendations of that inquiry, which require statutory change, or statutory implementation. So I\u2019m pleased that we are progressing all of those recommendations from that inquiry. It was a comprehensive inquiry.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000488\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EI do want to pay tribute to those inquiry members, who were esteemed and highly qualified individuals: Miriam Dean, Tony Nowell, and Dr Anne Astin. It was also independently peer reviewed by Professor Alan Reilly, from Ireland. It was a major scare that not only rippled all the way through, obviously, initially, the dairy industry but had wider implications, of course, across our whole food sector and our food industries, which are major exporters, as we\u2019ve heard across contributions today. So I do acknowledge that inquiry, because we are just implementing those changes.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000489\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThe enhancements that we\u2019re making with this bill are really centred around three areas that were identified in the inquiry, and they were around enhancing the risk-based management plans and procedures, better access to information in food safety incidents, and aligning the major food safety Acts that we have. That\u2019s why we\u2019re here today with this omnibus bill, where we\u2019re making changes to the Animal Products Act, the Food Act, and the Wine Act. So it is a comprehensive amount of work that has been done. Likewise, through officials, through extensive consultation, and through the select committee process and the many submitters that presented on this bill, I think we\u2019ve hit the right spot. We\u2019ve managed to ensure that we can adopt those recommendations that were from the inquiry but also ensure that that has the least amount of impact on our food sector and on our food companies.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000490\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EWhilst we are passing this bill today and we are incorporating these statutory amendments, it must be said that we still have a way to go, because, of course, there is another two-year process ahead of us whereby the actual detail, which is contained in the regulations, will be, hopefully, developed and passed\u2014in fact, it has to be, under the legislation. So we still have another two years to go. There\u2019s still a lot of work ahead with the promulgation of those regulations. I know there\u2019s extensive consultation, no doubt, going on by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) across all of the affected food industries. I\u2019m sure the legislation, though, that we are passing is probably the most shining example of how best to implement tertiary legislation through notices and through regulations. A lot of work has gone into making sure that we set the framework right within this legislation so we can actually roll out those regulations.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000491\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003EThere is still substantial work yet to be done, but I\u2019m pleased that as far as Parliament is concerned, in implementing the recommendations from the whey protein contamination inquiry, we are on the verge of completing our task and incorporating those changes into these three pieces of legislation. I commend the bill to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022 data-id=\u0022de0665830bfe4422aa9eab5cdd61fb63\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000492\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022de0665830bfe4422aa9eab5cdd61fb63\u0022\u003EHAMISH WALKER (National\u2014Clutha-Southland):\u003C/span\u003E I am delighted to rise to speak to this bill, which the National Party supports. It\u2019s been an interesting six months since I entered Parliament. In my experience with the member of Parliament for West Coast - Tasman, who happens to be the Minister responsible for this, we\u2019ve had a bit of trouble agreeing on certain things, so it\u2019s great that we finally agree on something. In my experience with M. bovis and drought, he\u2019s been a bit slippery, like an eel\u2014a bit like a slippery eel from the West Coast.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000493\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022eaf79431-1033-44f1-a633-22633da52c0d\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002221540069fb5b4590aa08d05e68a9d68d\u0022\u003EHon David Bennett\u003C/span\u003E: Yeah, a little one, too\u2014throw it back, I say.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000494\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247b916131ddb438cbde7b18792f3231e\u0022\u003EKieran McAnulty\u003C/span\u003E: You\u2019re using Bennett\u2019s line.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000495\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002247199452fb7c4597922cc90cc5614697\u0022\u003EHAMISH WALKER\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000496\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EI believe food safety is one of our country\u2019s highest value-adds. Our reputation relies on it. Many countries around the world aren\u2019t as privileged as New Zealand to have such high food safety standards as we have. Consumers these days are demanding more and more information about where food comes from. We recognise that in a world that is demanding a sustainable strategy and return, people want better food with a better line and traceability to source.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000497\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EThe area I represent, Clutha-Southland\u2014I\u2019d also like to acknowledge Mark Patterson, who contributed a couple of speakers earlier, and also acknowledge Mark\u2019s contribution to the National Party. I believe he was a chair in Clutha-Southland for a number of years.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000498\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002223de6bd3-0482-495d-88f4-7cc3f75d8442\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022dac2bcbda17749cb9533a63a3af114d9\u0022\u003EHon Nathan Guy\u003C/span\u003E: When\u2014when was that?\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000499\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u00222cd21d032fbb4580a5158d3571e56efc\u0022\u003EHAMISH WALKER\u003C/span\u003E: Well, you joined in 2004, Nathan. I think Mark joined a few years before that, so I\u2019d better acknowledge Mark\u2019s contribution to the National Party\u2014appreciate it, Mark.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000500\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u00221f651ff0-881f-4148-8631-0161f1c60f61\u0022\u003EThe Food Safety Law Reform Bill addresses the whey protein concentrate contamination inquiry recommendations that require legislation and reinforce New Zealand\u2019s reputation as a reliable supplier of food and suitable food. I\u2019d also like to comment on the excellent work of the Primary Production Committee, who all agreed to the bill, with some amendments that were in turn supported by the previous Minister. It is a delight to support this bill, and I thank Minister O\u2019Connor for doing so.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022 data-id=\u0022996c0e1813194edc84e3d5a94f1f3897\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000501\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022996c0e1813194edc84e3d5a94f1f3897\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR (Labour\u2014\u014Ch\u0101riu):\u003C/span\u003E Like other speakers, it gives me pleasure to rise to speak on this bill. Timing is everything. Just this week I spent several hours at the Taylor Preston freezing works not far from here. Those who do come to the city and think it\u2019s purely for those suit wearers should go just 10 minutes down the road and you will see a freezing works down there. It is a very efficient freezing works, the biggest employer in the \u014Ch\u0101riu electorate\u2014export only. But the reason I bring this up is that I was given cause to reflect on when I worked in the Horotiu freezing works, some years ago, and the difference in the way food is treated. To be able to stand and walk the line and see the animal identification right through to the end, compared to, perhaps, my time in a freezing works many years ago, when we were scuttling around looking for ear tags to make sure we\u2019d attached them to the right animal\u2014I see just how far we have actually come.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000502\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EWho can forget the botulism scare. It was something that we hope was one of those little exercises we went through that did prepare us, forced us to go back through our legislation. While it wasn\u2019t quite a clean bill of health, certainly we found that our systems were in place, but there were some improvements that could be made, and I\u2019ll just look at some of those technical amendments. They are incredibly common sense, and what they do is ensure that there will be cooperation through the industry and, not only through the industry, cooperation through New Zealand. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000503\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EWe don\u2019t need reminding of just how important farming is to New Zealand. We don\u2019t need reminding to understand how we are all in this together, and that if farmers get a cold, the rest of the country gets pneumonia. Perhaps that might not be quite as accurate as it was in the past, but certainly I am reminded to say that the employer that I spoke of, the Taylor Preston freezing works, was previously the biggest employer in Wellington, but it\u2019s now been overtaken by Weta Workshop and the film industry, which again just shows the diversification that\u2019s taking place in our economy. Nevertheless, it is still an incredibly important part of our economy and far too important a part of our economy to play politics with. So we just do hope we won\u2019t get a repeat of what we saw from the Opposition in the last election: an attempt to open a divide between country and city in New Zealand for cheap political points. So what we have to do is make sure that we are cooperating.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000504\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EIf we go to the technical amendments in this bill, they are the sorts of amendments that actually look at addressing, and they are about cooperation. One of the technical amendments was designed to align the relevant two-year limitation period for bringing criminal proceedings to allow for a four-year period, as currently in the Food Act. Well, who can forget the 1080 scare, previously spoken about by one of the previous speakers? I have to commend my former colleagues. It took some time. I can\u2019t remember who the speaker was who quite accurately explained it and described it as looking for a needle in a haystack. But my former colleagues, which I looked after, did find that proverbial needle and the gentleman in question is now in Her Majesty\u2019s care\u2014hopefully, for some time. But the important thing there is the fact that we are looking at extending the period of bringing criminal proceedings, and it just shows how important it is that we do find these people and that we provide the disincentive to carry on.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000505\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EBut carrying along those technical amendments, there\u2019s another there\u2014and these are all from the departmental report, from the Ministry for Primary Industries, to the Primary Production Committee. It states: \u201CAllow that when taking compliance action compliance officers may rely on the reasonable belief of a superior officer or the Director-General when forming a reasonable belief\u201D. Well, what we\u2019re really talking about there is making sure we\u2019ve got the best people involved in this industry: people that we can actually trust; people that work together, because we\u2019re giving them some reasonable powers there, and they\u2019re taking that compliance action. So their senior officer, their supervisor, or the director-general, who\u2019s making these decisions\u2014we\u2019re actually giving some quite substantial power. Generally, when a lot of those powers are given out there\u2019ll be some sort of judicial oversight, so again\u2014just an idea of how important this is to our economy.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000506\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EAnother sector in there provides that \u201Cmatters started by one compliance officer may be completed by another compliance officer\u201D. Again, it\u2019s just common sense. It\u2019s just that we\u2019re in the middle\u2014I know in the past, having been involved in a possible foot-and-mouth outbreak in my younger days as a compliance officer, just the full effort that is going to have to be put in to making sure that we isolate and we do what is necessary to give the reassurance. I hope we won\u2019t have to go as far as they did in Ireland when they had their foot-and-mouth outbreak when even Gaelic football was banned on Saturdays and the weekends to ensure that there was no chance of things moving around. I\u2019m sure our rugby, and netball and hockey courts, will survive that.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000507\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EWe also clarify\u2014and this is an important one here, another technical amendment\u2014that \u201Cno \u2018right of review\u2019 exists in relation to a decision to suspend an export operation made by a person acting under delegated authority\u201D\u2014no \u201Cright of review\u201D exists. Again, this is a pretty heavy piece of legislation, so I\u2019m complimenting those that put that together, and it\u2019s very important. Again, it just shows how much cooperation there is going to need to be and that we should avoid any policies or any strategies that have the long-term effect of causing a divide between country and city, because it\u2019s quite clear, when you look through this, that most of the people that are going to be required to help, most of the people that are going to be required to be operationalised when this occurs, if this occurs, are going to be from the cities, from the towns. So we need to be cooperating.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000508\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EAlso, one of the technical amendments is \u201Cthe Director-General decides whether a review of a decision made under delegated authority is to be undertaken by a person designated by him or her\u201D. Again, just another example of where we are empowering the right people and, of course, the director-general\u2014that\u2019s the person who should have this sort of power. It\u2019s an operation that shouldn\u2019t have to go through 15 sets of hands, because we will all know what that will mean: the old\u2014dare I say it; I\u2019m not sure we are allowed to say it\u2014whispers, shall we say, that can change through the telling.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000509\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022b5d5820dc174441696d7fb502c014aed\u0022\u003EBrett Hudson\u003C/span\u003E: Get ready, Kieran. The greatest two minutes of your life, Kieran.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000510\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022676155d37fd0425e9f9984a51e06688b\u0022\u003EGREG O\u2019CONNOR\u003C/span\u003E: Another proposed amendment is to \u201CClarify that where a person is designated by the Director-General to review\u201D\u2014I\u2019m sorry, do I really have two minutes left? But perhaps you\u2019ll get another chance with this: \u201CClarify that where a person is designated by the Director-General to review a decision made under delegated authority, the decision made by that designated person is final\u201D. Again, we come down to, \u201CI\u2019ve made the decision, I\u2019m going to give this delegation, the person underneath can make that as well.\u201D And also, another amendment: \u201CClarify that the Food Act regulatory regime may apply in relation to a non-animal product business operating in the same premises as a dual operator butcher\u201D. Again, this is forward thinking, to make sure that we don\u2019t get that technicality that just because there\u2019s one business operating in there, others can carry on. It is actually making sure that we have absolute faith that what we\u2019re trying to achieve we will achieve.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000511\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EAlso there is an amendment to \u201CClarify that the Director-General may exempt exporters from certain requirements whether those requirements are specified by regulation or by notice\u201D. So again it\u2019s not an out clause, but again making sure that business does have to go on through this. As I\u2019ve looked at this bill, I believe we have achieved the balance in terms of making sure that we have the power to do what needs to be done in any of these emergencies, or at any time, to protect our industry. This will protect, particularly, our generally rural industry, although obviously this bill does, of course, amend the Food Act, the Animal Products Act, and the Wine Act. So it does actually cover\u2014[Interruption] I\u2019m not sure whether the Wine Act\u2014that these things do all. So of the 34 recommendations, of course, they\u2019ve all been taken up, as was mentioned before. Those recommendations really clarify things to make sure that we can get what we want to achieve. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000512\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002202e74c40-9529-4e15-adc2-c032eadc2205\u0022\u003EI come back to the fact that we will need cooperation, and the technical parts of this bill ensure that the cooperation that will be needed by all New Zealanders at every level can be achieved. Those that need to be empowered are empowered. So I commend this bill. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022 data-id=\u00220ec1b29369d14050ac3101cf3ef7826d\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000513\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00220ec1b29369d14050ac3101cf3ef7826d\u0022\u003EIAN McKELVIE (National\u2014Rangit\u012Bkei):\u003C/span\u003E I obviously don\u2019t need to say anything about the bill at all after that dissertation from Greg O\u2019Connor. But I do have a couple of things to say, which I find intriguing. The first was that I had the privilege to spend some time chairing the Primary Production Committee, which put this bill through the onerous part of the business and got it back to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000514\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EThe second thing is I want to thank Mr O\u2019Connor for mentioning the Rangit\u012Bkei-\u014Ctaki- originated business of Taylor Preston\u2014two families from the Rangit\u012Bkei and \u014Ctaki\u2014and, interestingly, the supplier C R Grace, also out of the Rangit\u012Bkei. I also wanted to just make the comment that my colleague Brett Hudson spent quite some time touring round the very good business. The thing about that business, of course, is that it relies hugely on the outcomes of a bill like this to get it into place. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000515\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EI just want to say a couple of words about the history of the bill, because, clearly, the previous Minister of Food Safety, Jo Goodhew, who introduced this bill, went through quite a challenging time, and, actually, the whole of the Government went through quite a challenging time at the time of the whey protein concentrate issue. Of course, food contamination is absolutely the most important factor that affects New Zealand\u2019s ability to export to the world. So this bill is hugely important, and while it might seem at times a little pedantic, there\u2019s a very good reason for that. We need to make sure that all of our gaps are closed in the food processing chain and that we can guarantee the safety of whatever we send round the world. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000516\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003EOne of the other interesting things that came up in the course of this bill was the difficulty that it creates for small businesses in New Zealand, and, interestingly, the current Minister was very vociferous on this. It\u2019s going to be very interesting to see how he gets on as he implements this bill and how they get on with dealing with those small businesses. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000517\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a6c42c44-3622-4c9c-98b8-793fb5ec15cc\u0022\u003ESo I think it\u2019s a good effort and it is a very difficult subject, and I think the Parliament\u2019s done well to get this bill to this point. We\u2019ve passed it through all phases, and I\u2019m pleased to see it finally get to its third reading tonight. So thank you. It\u2019s a good bill, and I commend it to the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022 data-id=\u0022d6002d3c522149edb38c3f6c9047c33f\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000518\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022d6002d3c522149edb38c3f6c9047c33f\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is indeed my joy and good fortune that it appears that every time I stand to speak in this House, you\u2019re adjudicating in the Chair, and what a pleasure that is indeed, as it is to stand here and speak on this bill. This bill, as you may have heard, if you were listening\u2014oh, not you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I do apologise. Crikey dick, I\u2019ve done it again. I do apologise. I\u2019ve brought you into the speech. I think I\u2019ve done that every time, as well. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000519\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EI\u2019m going to slow down and concentrate, because this bill deserves our concentration, not only as individual members of Parliament but as parliamentarians as a whole. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000520\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022073496a0-73b7-426f-97f8-916bd542b0fa\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u0022d92e98d879b648bc833dfd5e6a428038\u0022\u003EHon Meka Whaitiri\u003C/span\u003E: That\u2019s right. We take it seriously on this side. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000521\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002219ca7cfb70a94625acdd13cad37a395e\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY\u003C/span\u003E: I will take this seriously. I will take the whole 10 minutes, and I will talk about this in detail, because the brand of this country as a food producer deserves just that. It deserves our attention, and it deserves the full scrutiny of the House. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000522\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EI note that this bill will make a range of improvements to the legislation that underpins the food safety system in this country. Our exports, our economy\u2014a large part of our economy, as I touched on earlier\u2014depends on the brand that we hold our exports on. If New Zealand does not live up to its \u201Cclean, green\u201D, \u201C100% Pure\u201D image, the value that we can extract from our products is severely undermined, and food safety plays a big part in that. So, in amending the Food Act, the Animal Products Act, and the Wine Act, we are addressing many of the issues that were raised as a result of the whey protein concentrate inquiry. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000523\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003ENow, this inquiry came about as a result of the false botulism scare. Thank the Lord that this was only a scare. What damage could have been done to this economy going forward if the botulism scare turned out to be true? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000524\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EI think we should acknowledge the efforts of Fonterra in that regard, because in many respects there weren\u2019t the safeguards that were needed for the industry at the time. As a company, they were proactive and withdrew before even finding out if it was indeed true, and I think that is worth mentioning. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000525\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWhat is also worth mentioning is that this is a bill that was originally introduced by the previous Government\u2014the National Party; the party that is no longer in Government\u2014and well done to them for doing so. We\u2019ve said this a wee bit over the last couple of weeks. We said it about the Dairy Industry Restructuring Amendment Bill, and there are some similarities between the two. The main similarity is the fact that the National Party fluffed about on both. Both are vitally important\u2014this bill and the previous one\u2014and both were introduced in the previous term, but they fluffed about. This was introduced in June 2016, and here we are, in February 2018, finally getting the job done. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000526\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EI do, like the previous speakers, want to acknowledge the Ministers that were involved in this, but I particularly want to acknowledge the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor. A visionary. A visionary\u2014the man that has taken this by the horns and has finally got this across the line. Now, we could sit there, like those on the other side of the House, and point fingers and call names\u2014like the Hon David Bennett, who spent all of his five minutes getting told off by the Assistant Speaker and calling the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor names. But the man is a visionary. Just like this side of the House, he takes this issue seriously.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000527\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EI would, if I\u2019m permitted\u2014I don\u2019t know but I\u2019m sure Madam Deputy Speaker will let me know if I\u2019m not\u2014read a contribution from the Hon Damien O\u2019Connor to this debate when it was first introduced to the House, just to demonstrate what a visionary this man is. He says, \u201CIn order for this bill to get through, it will require the change of a Government.\u201D\u2014because the previous National Government were fluffing about so much. Damien O\u2019Connor said in the House that he \u201Ccan commit that the incoming Labour Government will progress this as quickly as possible\u201D, and that is exactly what we\u2019ve seen today. This bill, once passed, will make a significant contribution to our economy in ensuring that what we produce and what we export will live up to the high standards that we portray our products as. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000528\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWe do need to continue to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our food safety system. We need to make sure that the resources are allocated accordingly, to ensure that what we produce is, frankly, safe. One scare, that\u2019s all it will take\u2014one scare to undermine the economy and the significant contribution that not only primary production but food production and export play to that. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000529\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EWe also need to ensure that a level of regulation is justified and balanced. It could go heavy-handed here, just like there have been many examples in the past, sometimes under a National Government, sometimes under a Labour Government. These things happen, but it\u2019s important to learn from the mistakes of the past. We need to make sure that any regulation that we place on exporters and on business is justified. I note that, in clauses in this bill, it does impose more requirements on those that export, but I do believe they are balanced. It is up to those that export and produce food to ensure that what they are producing is, indeed, safe. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000530\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThere are two questions that I am certain that those who have been watching and listening to this House today would have wanted answered. The first is, of course, why does the Director-General of Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) need wider powers to require information? \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000531\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002203fd985b-4fb8-4111-ba38-5033a254d962\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002299f13922e5fd4044b3c82536c066f86c\u0022\u003EBrett Hudson\u003C/span\u003E: Oh, they\u2019ve been waiting all day to hear this.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000532\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsBy\u0022 id=\u002274c6133b8d6e4bf2b0791eb825dab163\u0022\u003EKIERAN McANULTY\u003C/span\u003E: That is a good question, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to provide some insight to the members on the other side of the House. Now, information is often needed to determine answers, isn\u2019t it? This will be able to require the Director-General of MPI to actually do the job. No one wants to go off half-cocked. This provision will ensure that the director-general actually has the oversight and the powers to do what is needed to do this properly. But what about future-proofing the bill? We could bring something in now, and five years later it becomes irrelevant or ineffective. So, looking at the automated electronic systems in here is one way in which the Minister has identified that we are able to future-proof this bill, coming forward.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000533\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EOf course, it is not just our view; I think it\u2019s important, just for the reassurance of the House and also those that might be affected by this, to consider the contributions that were given to this bill by those who made submissions in the select committee process, because we want to ensure\u2014not just those in the export industries but the general public as a whole\u2014that there is confidence in this bill. There\u2019s no point playing silly political games. Just give it the respect it deserves, which I\u2019m pleased that on the whole this House has done today.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000534\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThe New Zealand Meat Industry Association stated in their submission that they do support this bill. They identified that it is vital for them, their industry, and the people that they deal with that they can absolutely demonstrate what they claim as a country\u2014that their food is safe. But it\u2019s not just exporters as well. Organisations and companies such as Foodstuffs submitted a submission to this bill demonstrating general support, because they themselves know that if they, as a large-scale retailer in this country, get implicated in a food safety scandal, then that affects not only their customers but also themselves. The same can be said for the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council, which has a much broader mandate than just one individual company, obviously. They demonstrated support for the bill. They don\u2019t represent just exporters but they also represent those that are domestic players as well. [Deputy Speaker\u2019s phone rings] If I may continue, Madam Deputy Speaker\u2014I wasn\u2019t sure if that was the Deputy Speaker\u2019s opportunity to interject, but it wasn\u2019t, so I will continue, even though I now have only 34 seconds remaining, which is a real shame.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000535\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EThe Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand also submitted in favour of this bill. They actually identified the high importance for New Zealand of maintaining a robust, fit-for-purpose food safety framework. That is exactly what this bill does. I think the people of New Zealand will be pleased to see it happen, and they\u2019ll be pleased to see that the Labour Party, at least, has given it the respect that it deserves. I commend it to the House.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000536\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a1f7bbd1-b6ae-41c0-963b-dbe1251f5540\u0022\u003EBill read a third time.\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=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000537\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubjectHeading\u0022 id=\u002248c7013582454c7bb7f29bb8aba4088e\u0022\u003ECustoms and Excise Bill\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000538\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u00229bea5885503644d7b922a03a000cf684\u0022\u003EIn Committee\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000539\u0022\u003EDebate resumed from 14 February.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u00222ede8070525240f6b6554b51e2157588\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000540\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00222ede8070525240f6b6554b51e2157588\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: I would like to remind members that, in accordance with a determination of the Business Committee, we are debating the bill in four themes: information disclosure, powers and obligations, revenue and trade, and mechanics and miscellaneous. When we were last considering the bill, we were debating the powers and obligations theme. Raymond Huo had the call and he has four minutes and 55 seconds remaining.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000541\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsSubproceedingHeading\u0022 id=\u0022d4ea67b874fc4427aed3aabd6eb46a08\u0022\u003EPowers and Obligations (continued)\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022 data-id=\u00229bb4a679b1324eb8b288ee9439efede9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000542\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00229bb4a679b1324eb8b288ee9439efede9\u0022\u003ERAYMOND HUO (Labour):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Chair. I thought I had broken the record by delivering the shortest speech in the House; it turned out to be not the case. It\u2019s a great pleasure to stand in support of this bill. The Customs and Excise Bill strikes a balance between border control and economic growth, between border risks and the law enforcement, and between the existing powers and privacy concerns.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000543\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe Customs and Excise Act review has led to the establishment of a modern and fit for purpose legislation that supports economic growth by making it easier for traders to do business. Now, we\u2019re not only talking about traders; we\u2019re talking about travellers, international visitors, and holidaymakers coming to New Zealand. So it is a great pleasure for us to learn from tourism Minister the Hon Kelvin Davis that international visitors\u2019 spending reached a record high of $10.6 billion in the year to December 2017.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000544\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe latest International Visitors Survey result from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, released yesterday, showed expenditure increased 5 percent compared with the year ended December 2016. Australia and China remain our biggest markets, with Australians spending $2.6 billion and the Chinese spending $1.5 billion.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000545\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe Customs and Excise Bill enables customs to deal with considerable growth in trade and travel, and the security and other challenges this growth brings. This bill strikes a balance. Theme 2 covers powers and obligations. I can give two examples. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000546\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EThe first one we can see is in clause 187, \u201CCases requiring investigation for public health or law enforcement purposes\u201D. A person who has arrived into or is departing from New Zealand and is suspected or is liable for arrest or detention, has contravened a court order, or has contravened specific Acts may be directed to remain in a designated place for up to four hours for questioning. On the recommendation of the Regulations Review Committee, the select committee removed the ability to extend the range of statutes covered by this power by Order in Council. The power in this clause can now only be extended by Parliament, through statute. \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000547\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EAnother example we can see is clause 207, \u201CData in electronic devices that are subject to control of Customs\u201D. This clause restricts customs\u2019 power to search data in electronic devices, in comparison to the current Act. It does this by setting out thresholds and other safeguards that are designed to protect privacy. In particular, a two-threshold test would apply to the search of data in an electronic device by a customs officer.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000548\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002248d9e7fe-3603-456c-bd32-c8d6177395fb\u0022\u003EA test of reasonable cause to suspect relevant offending would be used for an initial search of a device. To carry out a full search, namely a forensic search of a device, the customs officer must have reasonable cause to believe that the device contains evidential material relating to relevant offending. If a threshold is met, access to information such as passwords must be provided to a customs officer. It is an offence to fail to do so. So this bill\u2014[Time expired]\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022 data-id=\u00224114502a843248daad692199dc862028\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000549\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u00224114502a843248daad692199dc862028\u0022\u003EHon ANDREW LITTLE (Minister of Justice):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Chairman Rurawhe. It\u2019s a pleasure to take a call on this very important committee stage of the Customs and Excise Bill. If I could just pick up where my learned friend Mr Huo had left off, he was talking about the two-stage threshold test for the examination by customs officers of electronic devices. The bill provides for that power of search and examination, but in order to exercise that power, a customs officer, first of all, has to be satisfied, or at least to have a reasonable suspicion, that a person in possession of such a device\u2014it would be a cellphone or a laptop or anything else that might be described as an \u201Ce-device\u201D\u2014has been involved in criminal offending.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000550\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EThat suspicion, no doubt, would be the subject of guidance, both judicial and non-judicial\u2014so somebody walking through the customs hall at Auckland Airport sporting a T-shirt that says \u201CI support the Mafia\u201D may well find themselves under suspicion as they surrender their bags for examination. Then, when they place their cellphone and other devices before the customs officers, if the customs officers have a sufficiently reasonable suspicion that the person is involved in criminal activity, then the customs officer may then examine the device to ascertain whether there is evidential material of criminal activity on it. So they will look for various apps or messages that they can get access to.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000551\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EAnd it doesn\u2019t stop there, of course. The power of the customs officer extends to requiring the person to assist the customs officer to get access to the device, either through relaying or disclosing the password or any other thing that is required to break the encryption of the e-device. This provision alone highlights the significance of the customs function and the role of customs officers, and sometimes I think we take for granted the functions of the Customs Service\u2014the very important function that they play, which is to protect the Crown\u2019s revenue and to ensure the safety and security of New Zealanders as people pass through our borders. I would say that the powers of customs officers are second only to the powers of the police in this regard, which is why it\u2019s important that the legislation we have governing our Customs Service achieves the objectives that this legislation sets down for it, which is that they are clearly laid out, they are coherent, they are clearly spelt out, and they are defined in a very modern and 21st century way. That\u2019s what this bill seeks to do, and indeed does.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000552\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EIt is important in this day and age, when this Parliament is granting powers to officials of the State, that we make those powers very clear, and, when we are granting extensive powers to officers or officials of the State, that we do so advisedly and carefully and cautiously. I think that the examination that this bill has been given in the early proceedings in the House, to the point where it now provides for the powers that I and my colleagues have been talking about\u2014I think it is in a very satisfactory state.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000553\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EThere are many powers that customs officials have, and that the Customs Service has. One of those is the power to require craft and vessels that are coming from overseas, or coming from outside our territorial waters to land at ports in New Zealand, to disclose passengers on the vessel, the names of crew on the vessels, and any cargo or goods that the craft or the vessel is carrying. So our Customs Service gets to know exactly what is crossing our borders and who is crossing our borders.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000554\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022106966ef-8cc3-434a-9dbe-dd76b708c2a1\u0022\u003EThe legislation, in order to be effective, also sets up various offences: a failure to provide information that is required or requested, a failure for a vessel or craft to get the appropriate authorisation, a failure for those required to assist the Customs Service to do so, and a failure to answer questions posed by customs officials at the border to assist them in doing their job and to protect New Zealand and the safety of its people. So these powers are extensive. They are now cogently and carefully and coherently laid out in this bill.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022 data-id=\u0022ed59ae9ef18b4b1d94123cc7277ca1f9\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000555\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u002281825190-fd5d-4ed0-bb80-f12f3c93e653\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022ed59ae9ef18b4b1d94123cc7277ca1f9\u0022\u003ERINO TIRIKATENE (Labour\u2014Te Tai Tonga):\u003C/span\u003E Thank you, Mr Chair. I\u2019m very pleased to take a call on the Customs and Excise Bill. We are considering the theme of powers and obligations. I wanted to, actually, just start my contribution by going back to real first principles and asking a real basic question around a key role within the bill\u2014\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ca name=\u0022member\u0022 data-type=\u0022article\u0022 data-memberid=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022 data-id=\u0022f8f911ef7ef345d3910a0dc81b9af048\u0022\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000556\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsByToc\u0022 id=\u0022f8f911ef7ef345d3910a0dc81b9af048\u0022\u003ECHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe)\u003C/span\u003E: I\u2019m sorry to interrupt the member, but the time has come for me to report progress.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000557\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EHouse resumed.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000558\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EProgress reported.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000559\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EReport adopted.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n      \u003Cp id=\u0022id20180222de3b35a279224a5195b97356a2e2c995000560\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022HpsNormal\u0022 id=\u0022a434482b-7ac1-4862-9ce7-13e63289dee3\u0022\u003EThe House adjourned at 5.56 p.m.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n    \u003C/div\u003E\n  \u003C/body\u003E\n\u003C/html\u003E"