Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill

I move, That the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. It is a huge pleasure to be speaking in the House a mere 1 hour and 50 minutes after my valedictory speech. It was something I did not expect I could do and—

💬 Denis O’Rourke: Coming back.

It does not betoken a comeback. No, no, it does not betoken a comeback. It merely betokens my delight and appreciation at being able to introduce for its third reading a bill that has been a long time in gestation. I have to acknowledge at this stage the support this bill has received across the House. It has been unanimously supported—

💬 Phil Twyford: It was a good dinner break Cam, was it?

—by my colleagues across the House. Mr Twyford was one of those to support it. I did not see him at the post-gathering celebrations but he would have been welcome had he not been so busy, as would my colleague here from New Zealand First, who is sitting in his leader’s position at the moment.

It is a pleasure to be at this stage, the third reading of the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill. Those who watch Parliament TV will have been aware that there was a lot of debate about this bill at the Committee stage. I believe Mr O’Rourke was part of that debate. Mr Prosser certainly was part of that debate and spoke fulsomely in favour of said bill. He is only human. It was the right thing to do because this bill is small and perfectly formed, and it will actually significantly increase the safety of all of us who travel by air in New Zealand. We have got an excellent airline, Air New Zealand. I was privileged to go along to its annual parliamentary gathering last night. Once again it surpassed itself in the excellence of its presentation, and, in fact, it is doing very well on the world stage.

Something like this in New Zealand will improve safety. Legislation does not stop idiots behaving idiotically. We know that. However, the fact that somebody will not be able to go out and stuff a high-power laser pointer, which many speakers in previous speeches in the House did point out are actually weapons, in their pocket and expect to get away with it will mean it will have a preventative aspect.

I first became aware of the dangers of laser pointers in a sporting occasion, strange as though it may be to report, in 1997 in Montpellier. What was the occasion, I hear you ask? It was the world pétanque championships. What was happening? Some recidivists in the audience were trying to put off some of the favoured players by shining laser pointers in their eyes. Even those of us who are not partial to the beautiful game normally—there are not many people in New Zealand who are totally immune to the delights of football. But many of us were watching the World Cup and we saw the Russian goalie—it was shown all round the world—who was attempting to be in full modus operandi for deflecting a corner kick. He was, in fact, struck in the face, in his eyes, by a laser pointer. Shortly after there was another attempt on the goal and he failed to repel that.

That is just a sporting occasion—but, of course, it is never just a sporting occasion. But it is not talking about the loss of life. More important is the potential loss of life that could come from laser pointers being used against the pilots of aircraft. Many people in the House, many colleagues across the House, have pointed out the dangers of this. I believe that this bill will have a preventative effect and reduce the chances of this happening.

Last year there were 119 reported laser attacks on aircraft and helicopters. The point was made by the New Zealand Airline Pilots’ Association that those are just the ones that were reported in New Zealand, because foreign aircraft would report their strikes to their authorities back home. So this bill is timely. This bill is necessary. It will be a valued legislative tool to improve public safety in our country. I appreciate the widespread support it has received to date in the House, and I commend this bill to the House.

I think it is well known that Labour members are supporting the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill. I wanted to use just a few brief moments to pay tribute to Cam Calder, who gave his valedictory speech this evening. Cam is one of the good guys of Parliament. The Deputy Speaker is also one of the good guys of Parliament, but he is not leaving, as far as I know.

💬 Darien Fenton: Yes, he is. He is.

Is he?

💬 Hon Member: Sadly, he is.

Crikey! That is terrible news, Mr Deputy Speaker. That is terrible news. All of the good people on the National benches happen to be leaving. I do not know why that is. But I just want to say that Cam Calder has been a very collegial parliamentary colleague since he entered this House. He was always good to work with on the select committees and a good contributor.

This bill will be the legacy of Cam Calder’s parliamentary career. We are supporting it because we think it is a modest but useful contribution that will prevent some risk to the travelling public, and particularly the hazard posed by people using laser pointers to interfere with aircraft that are coming in to land. So Labour is supporting this bill. We look forward to its progress.

On behalf of Cam, probably, I would like to thank Phil Twyford for those nice words. I am sure that they are most welcome. Yes, I would just like to congratulate Dr Cam Calder as well on the fine contribution he has made to this Parliament, on this Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, and also on his great speech this afternoon. I think there were two words that we had to look up in the dictionary, but apart from that—

💬 Dr Paul Hutchison: What about the French?

The French was fine. But apart from that, Cam mentioned this bill in his speech. I think his dedication and desire to make a difference in this Parliament goes far beyond this bill. It is something that is nice to be able to do today on Cam’s last official day, you could say, in the House. His contribution is such that it is much bigger and stronger than this bill, and it is something that we thank you very much for, and we thank you for your friendship and your support in this Parliament and for the work that you have done for the National Party.

This bill is a practical piece of legislation that will make a difference. I think during the select committee process we have all been impressed with the way that all members of Parliament from the different political parties have worked together constructively to get the best result we could for this bill. It is something that many New Zealanders probably do not think about that often but it actually can make a huge difference if it actually does occur in the public arena. There is the issue of a plane being under the guidance of one of these hand-held lasers, which could cause an accident to occur. Should such an accident have occurred, then I think the public would have demanded that Parliament do something about it. To take this action before that actually occurs is something that does not often happen in politics or in legislation, but when it can and does occur it is something that we should all welcome with open arms. I look forward to the other smaller political parties in this House—the Greens and New Zealand First—adopting a similar rational approach to the one that Labour has taken to this bill. That is something that we look forward to.

There were some changes during the progress of this bill through the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee, really to make sure that we had the best possible legislation going forward that would cover all the bases and deliver the right results for our communities. This is a good piece of legislation. It is something that I think Dr Cam Calder should be proud of, and we thank him for his wider contribution. We look forward to the bill passing through this House this evening. Thank you.

It is a big day for Cam Calder. I want to join with others in congratulating him on his valedictory today and also on his third reading speech on this bill, the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, which was very enlightening. In fact, I have to say that Cam Calder has lit up this Parliament over his time while he has been here. But he has decided to turn out the lights on his parliamentary career, so we say that with some regret and we say farewell to him. [Interruption] I could do more. Do you want more? Would you like some? OK.

It is a big deal to get a member’s bill through the Parliament and it does not happen for many members. Certainly I have tried many times. I have had four bills drawn from the ballot. But I did not have a cooperative party opposite me that was prepared to be as accommodating as the Labour Party has been with Cam Calder’s bill, in terms of the spirit with which we conducted the examination of this bill in the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and the camaraderie with which we have worked over the time spent on this bill and on many other bills, in fact. That is a disappointment for me, but, however, this is Cam Calder’s legacy, and it is not a bad one to leave, actually.

When you think about it, aircraft are very much on our minds at the moment because of the horrific downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. It just gives you a reminder of the reality of what happens when a plane comes down, by whatever means. Lasers and the pointing of high-power lasers being used to deliberately interfere with a flight path, to shine a light into the pilot’s eyes, and the consequences on public safety and on human life, are enormous.

The only note of disappointment I would want to contribute to this debate is that I missed all the excitement during the Committee stage. I understand that exercised Government members for just about the whole night, 2 weeks ago. I thought: “Well, this is great. They are practising their debating skills on such an important bill. They are all getting up and saying what they think and congratulating Cam Calder, and so on.” But, of course, the really disappointing thing—it was really disappointing—was that it was about defeating a Labour member’s bill. That is the truth—that is the truth. It is such an abuse of parliamentary process. I think that member Cam Calder, who is such an upstanding MP, probably felt pretty uncomfortable about that. However, we will get through the Committee stage of the parental leave bill tonight, and it will be ready to pass after the election, when Labour wins the election.

Having given my congratulations to Cam Calder, I do say it is a worthy bill, which is why Labour is supporting it. I really hope we have the same camaraderie tomorrow when I deliver my valedictory, and you will join me in a verse of solidarity. Thank you.

I rise to take a short call on the third reading of the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, and would like to offer my congratulations to the member on going out in such style. Not many MPs would get to have a bill passed on the evening of their valedictory. I think that is quite an achievement. I do think you are one of those MPs who have worked really collegially in this House and will be missed.

We are supporting this bill, of course, because it just makes sense and is a good idea. I would like to say, though, that some of the joy of this moment, Dr Calder, has been tainted for me, I have got to say, by the behaviour on the last members’ day of that side of the House. I notice that things are moving quite quickly this evening on this third reading. There is actually not much substance. Although it is a very, very important bill, there is not a huge amount of detail to it. The fact that that side of the House took 23 speeches on the last members’ day to discuss this bill, which has very little detail to it, does make me very sad, because it was about a political point. That your party chose to use your bill to do that has tainted it somewhat, I think.

💬 Scott Simpson: What a sanctimonious, arrogant comment from that Green member.

I am being called sanctimonious and arrogant for sharing my disappointment at the fact that this has prevented New Zealand families getting 26 weeks’ paid parental leave before the election. I think that is a bit of a shame. It was also a shame hearing some of the members on that side of the House after the debate last time saying “Well, that was fun.” as they prevented families getting 26 weeks’ paid parental leave. It was one of the more disappointing moments for me in this House. But I will leave it there, on a final note of congratulations again to the member on making a difference and on going out with such flair.

I am really pleased to take a call on the third reading of the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, and to shine a little light on Dr Cam Calder. In fact, I have been shocked during the course of this bill. I have learnt two things: first and foremost, tonight I have learnt you can deliver a valedictory speech and then return to the House and give a speech. I have almost been as shocked as I was in the Committee stage when I found out that Mike Sabin was a police officer.

💬 Mike Sabin: Really?

Yeah, I am still recovering from that.

💬 Hon Member: What’s his family background?

Yeah, exactly. Quelle horreur! I do remember, actually, in speaking in defence of what the last speaker was accusing this side of, that we actually saw it as relatively important to draw out the important consequences of this bill. I remember that Committee stage well. In fact, my father was here at that time. I suspect he is listening in again. He certainly sent his best regards to you, Cam, as you delivered your valedictory.

This is an important bill. I think the member opposite, Darien Fenton, addressed it well when she referred quickly but quite appropriately to what has happened with flight MH17—not so much the particular nature of how that airliner was downed but the fact that the bringing down of an aircraft by whatever means is a major incident.

Dr Calder, right at the start, indicated just the sheer number of times that this problem with lasers is reported by New Zealand pilots, but, importantly, noted that a lot of the reports go to other airlines, as is appropriate. This is a problem. It has taken Dr Cam Calder to see that issue, to engage with the community and those experts in the field, and to take the time and effort to draft this bill, bring it to the House, guide it through the House, and bring it now here to the third reading, where—well, looking at the clock at the moment—it will, I assume, pass unanimously tonight. I think it is an excellent legacy for Cam. Again, an earlier member alluded that not many members of this House have the opportunity to even have a member’s bill, to get one drawn out, and then if it is drawn out to have it concluded in the House. So, Cam, I think that is yet another achievement that you have brought here.

I say “yet another” because this bill, a good bill, sits alongside an enormous amount of other work that Cam has done. I want to quickly highlight two of those elements. The first, of course, is as a hard-working MP in the heart of Manurewa. As someone who briefly worked alongside you, Cam, I saw day after day that hard work. It has now translated into something like this bill here around the summary offences. I think you will be missed, Cam, from this caucus, from this House, and by the people of Manurewa. I will miss you, mate—that has to be said. The other side, though, is this Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill. It is not the only contribution you have made. Obviously as the chair of the Education and Science Committee you are bringing to a closure the cross-party inquiry into parental engagement in schools. I think that is fantastic, as well. But this bill is important, and I am really pleased that everyone, basically, is supporting it.

The misuse of lasers is a problem. I was talking to police officers a few months’ back when I had the privilege of going out with them on patrol. They were indicating that even those on an eagle helicopter were getting blinded. We had in a public meeting in Tāmaki a few weeks after that some people from the Airline Pilots’ Association noting the trouble that it was causing them. We in the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee have taken quite a bit of time to go through this bill, and I think that was reflected in the Committee stage.

I just want to touch on, as we hit this third reading, some of the elements that the Committee of the whole House considered. The first is around the name of the bill. I think actually it was the Hon Kate Wilkinson earlier who, in her valedictory, indicated that words are important and good wording leads to good ideas. We have changed the name of this bill, retitling it by using the words “high-power laser pointers”. Initially, the bill title mentioned hand-held lasers, and we thought that it was actually just a bit too specific. Lasers do not necessarily have to be hand held.

This was a bill whose title we thought we could broaden out. The changed title, which talks about high-power lasers, accurately reflects the types of lasers that it can control. We had a lot of debate in the Committee stage around what those types of lasers were, and a few constituents actually were emailing me at the time—obviously, there is everything from military use to those interested in astronomy.

One of the things I know Cam rightly pushed for and pushed back against was around the whole question of the commencement date. Once this bill gets the Royal assent, should it come into immediate effect? Others said we should push it out for weeks, or months. I think, Dr Calder, we came to a good agreement that we would allow this legislation to come into effect 28 days after it receives the Royal assent. I would suggest that there is an element of sort of natural justice in the way you have to give people an opportunity to understand the law and integrate it.

The seizure of lasers was something that was particularly brought to my attention in a public meeting by a representative of the New Zealand Airline Pilots’ Association who, it had turned out, was actually a constituent of mine, so it was doubly good, and who was wondering about the seizure of these lasers. She was querying why there were not particular elements or provisions in the bill about this. We considered this, and the reason it is not specifically there is that we are able to draw on the search and seizure legislation, which this Government has proudly already pushed through, so we were able to use that. I think that is an illustration not only of this Government but of the House understanding the import of existing legislation and how we use that moving forward.

The last area, as you would expect, was around the whole definition of what a hand-held laser or a high-power laser device is. We took a long time considering this. We wanted clarity not only for the public but obviously for the police and the courts. They are ultimately the ones that need to manage this. We basically went down the line. I have to read it here specifically. It is the Customs Import Prohibition (High-power Laser Pointers) Order 2013. So this is an existing law on the statute books, a regulatory power, given—and I have forgotten the exact name of the official, but they define what a laser is.

One of the big elements of that is that a pointer needs to have an output of greater than 1 milliwatt, but I think Dr Calder, in his speeches throughout all stages, has noted that even the smaller powered lasers can have an impact, but we have felt that it is the right way to go by defining this as a power output greater than 1 milliwatt. And what is important here—and those who have heard me talk on various elements of legislation would note this—is consistency. So this Act in the name of Dr Cam Calder will use the same structure as that customs import prohibition. [Bell rung] Although that was a bell that rang, this is ultimately a bill about lights, and I want to end as I began, which is—

💬 Scott Simpson: Bells and whistles!

No, no bells and whistles, unfortunately. That might be a member’s bill for the honourable member for Coromandel. I think, actually, banning whistles in the likes of Mission Bay late at night would go down very well with my constituents. But I turn back to Cam Calder, who has sponsored this bill, created this bill, and drawn it through the House. Cam, I think it is absolutely fantastic that even post-valedictory you get the opportunity to speak in this House, and may I join with other colleagues who have spoken in thanking you for your service to Crown and country and for being just a bloody good mate.

It is always a pleasure to follow the erudite and enlightening Mr Simon O’Connor. I am very pleased to rise to take a final call on the third reading of the good Dr Calder’s most excellent member’s bill, the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill. New Zealand First supports this bill. We are proud to support it and pleased to have the opportunity to support it. This is a fine bill, and we in New Zealand First believe that it will make a quite splendid law.

This is a short, simple bill but it will have quite far-reaching effects. By removing powerful hand-held laser pointers from the hands of people who have no legitimate purpose for possessing them, Dr Calder’s bill—his swansong, his legacy for this august institution—will make New Zealand a safer place. Of this there is no question. As we debate, even as we plan their demise here in this House of the people, there are ne’er-do-wells out there who look to the skies with lasers in hand and malice aforethought. Dr Calder’s bill will make flying in New Zealand a safer undertaking. Removing powerful lasers from persons of nefarious intent will materially lessen the risk and incidence of such devices being used to interfere with airliners on approach to our airports, with other aircraft, and with police and rescue helicopters. Indeed, it will make driving on our roads safer, as well.

We are fortunate here in New Zealand that we have not, as yet, suffered greatly in the way that some nations have as a result of the same kinds of idiots who think it funny to blind pilots by using their dangerous toys to dazzle, and to distract drivers on the motorway. This has happened in other parts of the world, and it would have been only a matter of time before this country came to suffer similarly. Fortuitously, Dr Calder’s bill has come before this House and through its processes just in the nick of time.

Via this new mechanism, we the people can negate the potential for harm posed by such persons and their illicit use of these devices. We can remove the said devices from the possession of the aforementioned scoundrels and bang said scoundrels up at Her Majesty’s pleasure for a short, sharp 3 months. May it be an unpleasant and uncomfortable 3 months for anyone so convicted.

Tonight we have been treated to Dr Calder’s valedictory speech as he prepares to depart these halls for whatever adventure life has in store for him next, and a fine speech it was too, I might say—as fine a speech as this bill is a fine bill. Standing ramrod straight and fixing us with a gaze every bit as steely and direct as any laser beam, Dr Calder has bid us farewell and left us with this, his legacy. Well done, I say, Dr Calder. Well done and thank you—fair winds and flat seas.

We have come to the end of this process of lawmaking. At the conclusion of this debate we shall vote this bill on to the statutes and into law. It will be a fine law. It is a necessary law, and, as I have said, a law that has found us just in the nick of time. I do not intend to delay the passage of it unnecessarily. Over the course of this bill’s passing through the House, we have learnt about the need for such a piece of legislation, we have examined the science of lasers, we have heard harrowing tales from overseas and from the skies above us, and we have learnt about legitimate uses for lasers, as well.

I bought another one myself only last week. Strolling as I was with no particular intent, as one does, through one of the admittedly less well-trod corridors of one of the lower floors of my extensive armoury, I discovered a certain sporting long gun that I had somehow omitted to fit with a laser sight. That omission, I can tell the House, has now been rectified. But that is a legitimate purpose, and what we are dealing with here is improper use. This bill addresses that improper use. It is a fine bill from a fine member who will be genuinely missed. We support it, and I commend it to the House. Thank you.

I am very pleased to be able to take my last call on this bill, the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, and I will join with all others in this happy moment, this happy-fest, to congratulate Dr Cam Calder on his fine valedictory speech today, but more so on his outstanding contribution to New Zealand, to the community of Manurewa, and to us, as a caucus team. You will be sadly missed, my friend. I am saying that only because if I need a diagnosis of something on the cheap I will obviously be coming to see you.

💬 Hon Michael Woodhouse: He was an expert on prostate cancer.

Was he? Well, I will withdraw that request.

In all seriousness, can I just acknowledge Dr Calder for getting a member’s bill across the line. When it comes down to it, when parliamentarians come and go, there are very few who will get the honour of being a Minister. I guess that in that position, certainly, the legacy that Ministers leave is the ability to really be in charge of the legislative agenda, and many laws are made or taken away, and so forth.

The other vehicle for parliamentarians in the main is the member’s bill, and many members’ bills are in the ballot. Some have merit and probably many do not, but the fact of the matter is that to get a member’s bill drawn from the ballot is pure luck. To actually succeed in getting a member’s bill passed into law is about skill, determination, and having an absolute understanding of what this place is about and what the community needs in terms of legislation.

Members’ bills face exactly the same scrutiny as any Government bill, so the point I want to make on that is that although Dr Calder’s effort on this laser bill is something that most people will not stay awake at night wondering about, it is a very important piece of legislation. He should be commended for the fact that he has been a parliamentarian who has successfully brought a member’s bill through this House and has been successful in getting it passed. So I just offer my congratulations on that score.

Surprisingly enough, we had some quite robust debate on the bill and a lot of discussion on a number of the facets of the bill. One of the main ones was whether it should be about high-power laser pointers or just about hand-held lasers. [Interruption] Yes, so there was a lot of discussion on that and on where that should land. I certainly raised the analogy of when we have the unlawful possession of a knife, for example—so, the possession of a knife in a public place without a reasonable excuse—where the offence is not determined by the length of the knife, but it is simply that the knife is in the possession of a person, without reasonable excuse.

I sort of felt that Dr Calder’s point in terms of the same rule applying to a laser pointer was actually very valid. But as we progressed and looked in more detail at the implications for all those university professors out there and all those teachers and people who frequent the land of the hand-held laser, it was clearly determined that with this being a preventative piece of legislation, it should fall squarely in the area of high-power laser pointers, which would ultimately cause the most damage. If Dr Calder can just remind me, is it 60 miles that the laser could reach?

💬 Dr Cam Calder: Yes.

It is an astonishing distance. So Dr Calder gracefully accepted the advice of the officials, and I actually think it has landed in a very sensible space on that. The point is that it was last year, I think, when there were more laser strikes on aircraft than ever before. The Civil Aviation Authority—if I am correct; I am not exactly sure—

💬 Dr Cam Calder: That’s correct.

Yes, the Civil Aviation Authority reported that there were more laser strikes than ever before in the last year, and there has certainly been in excess of 100 strikes a year in recent years, which is phenomenal. When you see how these things reflect in a cockpit, it literally blinds the pilots. It is horrendously dangerous, which is why I think that over a number of years now we have actually seen hand-held lasers used in warring countries to literally bring down aircraft. We have seen them used against rescue helicopters and a police helicopter.

It defies belief why some idiots out there would think that that is a fun or an interesting thing to do, or would even consider doing something as stupid as that. Possibly it is because they do not know of the impact of them—that they can be so effective at literally blinding the pilots or bewildering them—but I think that many have come to that conclusion, because there has been a lot of publicity on this for a number of years. So one can only assume that they are actually doing it, knowing full well that they could bring about a pretty significant outcome. We have seen them doing it at vehicles from overpasses, and so forth. Dr Calder pointed out that we have even seen them used at the Football World Cup, and they have certainly been used at rugby matches, and so forth.

There are some serious idiots out there, and this law is about those serious idiots and about saying that, actually, this is not on and that there will be a consequence to doing it. This bill will make it an offence to be in possession of a high-power laser pointer without reasonable excuse, and so it should be. So it is a preventative thing, rather than a punitive move, and that is why there is a 28-day period, I guess. It is to get some education out there, and to get the police in the right space in terms of them using this bill as a deterrent. Prevention will always be better than cure and, my goodness me, if there was ever a commercial aircraft taken down, heaven forbid.

So in that sense, this bill is in many ways about preventing the loss of life. Although we have trifled and we have had a bit of fun, Dr Calder, I think it is fair to say that the reason this House is supporting this bill is that it is just good, practical, common sense. It is not the New Zealand First variety of common sense, of course, because that is just sort of sloganized, populism stuff. This is the real common sense that New Zealanders actually know and understand, not the one that you just paint on a sticker and that means that that is what we must have.

In any event, the bill is practical, it is common sense, and it is preventative, and I think in that sense it certainly has deserved the support of the House. It has had the support of the House. I think that Dr Calder should be commended for the fact that he has been willing to concede some points in this bill, to ensure that it was a bill that was fit for purpose right across the House, and with the officials, and so forth. I think the Labour Party certainly raised some concerns and said that it should apply to high-power laser pointers. I think that Iain Lees-Galloway famously said in the House that he actually uses a laser pointer at home to play with his pussy. I was not quite sure where he was going with that one. I mean, I usually use a ball of wool or something like that, but fine, play with your pussy with a laser pointer—fair enough. We all have our different ways of entertaining the cat. Although we did trifle with that, the reality is that a low-power laser, or one under 1 milliwatt, is it—

💬 Dr Cam Calder: Under 1 milliwatt.

It is under 1 milliwatt. You know, if it is good enough for Iain Lees-Galloway to play with his pussy, it is probably not likely to cause the sort of damage that a high-power laser pointer would, and I think that is why we have—

💬 Moana Mackey: Grow up.

I am fully grown, I think. I was supposed to be a lot taller, of course, but something went wrong along the way.

So can I just join the House in commending Dr Calder for this piece of legislation. It will ultimately be something that does save lives. In all seriousness, I think that the member should be commended for that, and I wish him very well in his life beyond politics. He will be remembered well here, and will be a friend to us all for a long time. Thank you.

It is a pleasure to rise and speak on the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill. I think that as we enter the final sitting days of this 50th Parliament, it is appropriate and timely to embark on what I think we are all really here for—that is, to act as parliamentarians. Occasionally, it is permissible to shed the political colours and banners under which we arrive here in order to celebrate and honour the traditions of this fine House and the role that it plays at the heart of our democracy. You see that in valedictory speeches, or you usually do. There were some valedictory speeches in which that generosity of spirit was not expressed today. That, unfortunately, reflects the true state and the modern state of today’s National Party—lacking in generosity, charmless, graceless, a miserly and miserable party—which explains, no doubt, why Cam Calder is leaving.

Cam Calder is somebody whom I have come to know in my 3 years here and is a man amongst men, but he is one of those men who I think genuinely epitomises the spirit of leadership, compassion, and humanity, which is not widely found in every political party in this House. Cam Calder has a number of other redeeming features to him. It helps that he hails from Taranaki—the mighty province, the great province, and the province generating great wealth not only in its minerals and its financial resources but in its people. Cam Calder is one of them and he wears, I see tonight, the colours of Taranaki—a region of which he is so proud even though he does not live there currently. Of course, he is also known for another great achievement and that is his pétanque playing. We do not often talk about that about Cam but he is an accomplished and, indeed, an international-grade pétanque player. I defy any member of this House to challenge Cam Calder to a game of the mighty boules and see whether they can hit the kitty or do whatever it is they do with their very heavy, hefty little items.

But I want to talk about the legislation—because that is what we are here for, after all—and to join with my colleagues who have, I think, been very generous not only in their acknowledgment and honouring of Cam Calder, the author of the bill, but also in paying due heed and seriousness to the objectives of the bill, which is, as Mike Sabin has said, a public safety measure. It is about the safe conveyance of passengers and crew on aircraft. I know that Richard Prosser said the bill is about ensuring that there is not improper use of these high-power lasers. Actually, it is not that. It is about the possession of high-power lasers without reasonable excuse and that is not a subtle difference; it is a very important distinction. There are very few legitimate uses for these sorts of devices. Obviously, lecturing, training, and imparting information are some of them, but there is no need for people to be walking on down the streets or hiding behind the bushes and dazzling passing traffic whether it is cars, trucks, whatever, and certainly not air traffic.

This is a well-directed piece of legislation and it rightly has the support of the House and it has the support of the Labour Party. I think it will send a very clear signal and a very clear message to those who think that this is some zany sort of fun now that there is an explicit sanction against it and some real penalties against those who would behave in that sort of way. I congratulate Cam Calder on having the bill selected and shepherding it through all the stages. I think there was a pretty good and detailed and serious consideration of it at the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee. This will be a good piece of legislation, as that reflects the author of it and the contribution that he has made to this House in the time that he has been here.

It is always good to speak after the member Andrew Little because he also provides a little platform to speak on. We know that the party slogan of the Labour Party is “Vote positive”, but he could not stay on message. He began negative, and talked about the National Party and all its negatives tones. Some of us wondered how Labour got its branding and logo. We sort of think the party members got together and they realised that the polls were not doing well, so they had a little committee. They met together and they questioned what was going wrong. What was going wrong was that they kept on talking negatively about everything that was going on. So what they said was this: “Let’s go out there and let’s tell people to vote positive.” The difficult thing for Mr Little is that every time he tries to act positive it is very difficult and he goes negative. But he did go back on message. I would have to give you that, Mr Little. You went back on message and became very positive as well at the same time.

I want to join in that positive stance because really tonight is the night we want to congratulate our member, our colleague, “Mr Tripod” here, the honourable member Cam Calder—because he is an honourable member. One thing I have absolutely enjoyed about our colleague in our time here is that on the many times he has stood up in the House he has been very passionate, he has been honest, and he has been true to his convictions and what he believes is important for the communities that he serves. Here he is. Yes, he is the man from “the Naki”. He may live on the Shore but when the opportunity to serve Manurewa came, he went in there, boots and all.

Even today I actually said to Cam: “That’s right—Manurewa hard.” He said: “Alfred, we’re no longer going to go there. It’s Manurewa proud.” And he began to tell me about the reasons. He said that for the community that he serves out in Manurewa, so many times things have been hard. He said he wants to change that. For the time that he has been there serving that community—over 6 years—he has been talking about how this community can be proud of the place that they live in, of the things that they have there, of the schools and the services they deliver. So I really want to commend you, Cam, because you have been absolutely a champion of the community of Manurewa. When people look into that community they may judge it by all sorts of different things, but as you have worked in there you have wanted to say that Manurewa, its community and its people, should be proud of the place that they live in, should be proud of the community that they serve, and should actually grow that community from the inside out to be transformative. I want to commend you for the Government that you have been working in and the role that you have played as well.

It is an honour for anyone to be able to have their own member’s bill drawn, and we have talked about it being the roll of the dice. There you go—you have come out of the ballot and you have had your member’s bill drawn. But as my colleague here Mike Sabin said, it is one thing to get drawn; it is another thing to take the bill to completion. One thing that I know from my colleague here is that as Cam Calder has worked on the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill—

💬 Mike Sabin: He’s lobbied like you wouldn’t believe.

He has lobbied in a way that has made a difference and here is the proof in the pudding. He has been the chairman of the Education and Science Committee where he has had to work in a collegial way, knowing that the fact is that the balance of power can sway either way. That is testament to your chairmanship. That is testament to the fact that you have lobbied and you have worked. You wanted to get a collegial and consensual response to supporting the things that you have led as well. You have done that and you have done a great job with your bill as well.

There is another thing I want to say about this bill—and it is my first time to speak so it is actually an honour to be able to speak to this bill. But can I say that people have commented that it is only a small bill. But it is a small thing that makes the difference. You may tick it as an output saying yes, the purpose of this bill is to be preventative in its impact. But you see it is the outcomes that I often look at, which do make the difference.

So here are some of the outcomes that I think make a difference. The bill tells juvenile offenders who are out there and it tells young people—and we have all been young in our days—that when they go out there that, yes, you can be a little bit cavalier, you can maybe go out in a bit of folly and play. I am trying to use these words that I know that Mr Cam Calder would use. But the fact is that there comes a time when you need to be responsible, and I think that is the key word. This is preventative because people are going to be responsible even for the things that they take into their hands. You have talked about this: that a hand-held laser can be used in a way that it can become a weapon. So here is an outcome that it is doing. It is sending a message to people who are out there to be aware and be responsible for their actions as well.

The second outcome that I think is important is that it puts in the hands of our enforcement agency a tool that enables them to use this in a way that actually ensures that they can enforce this provision. It allows them to be able to take action, if needed, and to enforce the legislation and the laws that come out of this bill as well.

When we think about this we think about the Malaysia Airlines tragedies and so forth and what happened there. I began to think about this hand-held laser legislation and the impact that it could have and I thought about NZ474. That is the 6.40 flight that leaves Wellington through to Auckland. I know that often Cam and a number of us Auckland MPs catch that flight. I think on average there would be about 12 to 15 MPs on there. Could you imagine if that flight NZ474 was coming down to land in Auckland and it was blinded by a laser, all of a sudden it lost its path, and the tragedy of all tragedies happened and 15 MPs of Parliament were tragically taken away? That would be a tragedy of all tragedies. We could have been in that situation.

💬 Dr Cam Calder: Some people may disagree with that.

That is right. We laugh at it and we jest, but the truth of it is that in the wrong hands, in an irresponsible way, we know that hand-held lasers can cause damage. We know that, for instance, as has been quoted, the number of incidents of laser strikes has increased and it can only increase unless this bill, which is an important bill, enforces a key message of responsibility for people who are out there as well.

What we also know is important is that this has caused damage. Here is some of the evidence that we know is out there. In June 2011 a young boy who played with a laser purchased in Thailand reflected the beam in his eye through a mirror and he suffered damage to his eye. We know they cause harm. In June 1998 at a Waikato rugby union game approximately 30 cases of arc eye were reported after a rugby match. So we know that it does happen, we know the impact that it has, and we know the damage it can cause.

I just want to finally finish up on this. I just want to acknowledge my colleague. He will go out there. I just say that it is a proud moment to be able to ensure that at this third reading he has got unanimous support. Not many bills get unanimous support, so that you can say that right across the House people support its intent, they support its action—not only its output but its outcomes—to truly make a difference to our communities. I salute you, Dr Cam Calder, and thank you for your work and for your service to New Zealand, to this Parliament, and to the National caucus.

This is a split call—Sue Moroney.

On the issue of every party in the House supporting this Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, can I say that, yes, it is supported by every party, and therefore how bizarre it was that the bill was filibustered for so long, given every party supports it.

But before I come back to that issue, can I just congratulate Dr Cam Calder on his valedictory speech today, on his parliamentary career, and on the very, very good timing of getting a third reading of a member’s bill through on the same day as his valedictory. That is some remarkable feat of timing, and I congratulate him on that.

However, on the issue of timing, I am very disappointed that this bill has been used to stop families from getting 26 weeks’ paid parental leave. I think it is a very great shame that that has been the primary use of this bill, because it deserves so much better treatment than that by the National Party. But that is indeed what has happened. It is an important measure that is being dealt with here. It is one that is worthy of Parliament’s time, but it was not worthy of that much parliamentary time, quite frankly. I do take it a little personally. I had my parents here on their 59th wedding anniversary, and they had to sit and listen to the most bizarre, boring speeches from the National Party about lasers.

💬 Denis O’Rourke: That’s normal.

I know it is normal. But I had to explain to my parents why this was happening. The fact that it was happening was an affront to New Zealand families, and that is the great shame of it. I know that the National Party members opposite have just made reference to a couple of times when the Labour Party has filibustered. Can I say that the Labour Party has never filibustered to get in the way of supporting families. That has never happened, and shame on the National Party for using this bill in order to do that.

However, my congratulations go to Dr Cam Calder. I think it is a great shame the way that this bill has been used, but I congratulate him none the less on bringing it forward to this Parliament, having it debated, and getting it through its third reading.

I am pleased to be able to speak briefly to this bill, the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill, as well. I note that when it was first presented to the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee following its first reading it needed some tuning as such. Tuning maybe is the right word when we are talking about lasers. It is good that the bill has ended up where it is, and I congratulate Dr Cam Calder on that. The current bill is probably what was aimed for in the first place, and it was probably a little bit broad initially.

💬 Sue Moroney: Excuse the pun.

Yes, many puns. That is one of the congratulations. The other congratulation is, again, for Dr Calder’s valedictory speech and some of the points in there. Some I might have found a little bit too much towards the National Party style and philosophy, and I did not agree with it all, but I felt it was a very good speech all the same.

I would like to congratulate Cam as well—and I just use this laser bill in terms of the protections it is intending—on his wearing of the white ribbon. As a White Ribbon ambassador I have looked even further today, Cam. I fully intend, and it will be on the Hansard, to get you nominated to be an ambassador for the future. We have talked about it at times, and it is a shame that I have not had the response from White Ribbon to ensure that this has happened. But we need a couple of referees, and the job will be done.

I would like to leave with those congratulations. Again, in terms of filibustering, I find it is a shame as we could have had another bill through, such as the foreign-chartered vessels bill. If we had managed to get some other bills through too, that bill would have stopped a lot of harm to another bundle of people. It is great that this bill is here, but the foreign-chartered vessels bill should get through. It would be great if National would see the way to get it through next week. Thank you.

This is a split call—two National calls.

It is a pleasure to rise in support of this very good bill in the name of my friend and colleague Dr Cam Calder, the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill. I have not participated in this debate previously, nor did I sit on the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee, but I have had an opportunity to hear some of the debate—some of the very good debate—that has occurred in the lead-up to this third reading. I have got to say that I am disappointed to hear from the members opposite who somehow want to discount the role and right of this member, Dr Cam Calder, to bring his bill to the House, to have it debated fully and properly and have it adequately considered by this House, because they think that their bill somehow has some kind of precedence, or some kind of greater moral importance or substance than Dr Calder’s bill. That is an arrogance of enormous proportion, but it is an arrogance of proportion that we see so often, particularly from members of the Green Party and the Labour Party.

It is a very big day for Dr Calder. I have had the very great privilege of knowing Dr Calder for a good number of years. In fact, in a previous life I was chair of the northern region of the National Party, and I well remember a conversation had, maybe about 10 years ago, when Dr Calder asked to meet with me and he had an important matter to discuss.

💬 Hon Member: In Auckland?

We were in Auckland at that stage. Dr Calder said that he had an important matter that he wanted to discuss me, and so I met with him over coffee, I think, and he revealed to me that he wanted to pursue a parliamentary career. He wanted to offer himself to the National Party as a candidate. He said that he wanted to take his voluntary role further, to the next step, to become a candidate and then ultimately a member of this Parliament, and he did that. He has worked hard and diligently all that period of time. He sought selection a couple of times, then ended up as a list MP, and has done six very good, solid years, not only on behalf of his party but on behalf of this Parliament and the people of New Zealand. I want to congratulate him and I want to share my words of support, along with other members who this evening have also wanted to express their support, and congratulations on his very fine valedictory speech delivered this afternoon.

This bill is one that is very important. I do not share the view of Opposition members that it is somehow of minor importance. This is a bill that is all about closing off an area of potential harm and risk to New Zealanders, particularly when they are travelling. I think that it is a very important matter. I like the way that the select committee has relabelled the bill, to indicate the better definitional approach to the naming. To call it the Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill does, I think, more accurately reflect the type of laser it seeks to control. Those possessing these lasers will be treated in the same way as someone who maybe is carrying a knife in a public place without lawful cause or purpose, and I think this is very appropriate. As a previous speaker—my colleague Mike Sabin from Northland—said, there are some irresponsible ratbags who are part of our society. They are irresponsible. They are irresponsible in their actions and they are irresponsible in the way that they use these devices, with real harm and potential harm being done to people on public transport, particularly aircraft.

This is, I think, a very good bill. It is a bill that has been well considered both at the select committee and in this Chamber. Currently, there are no laws to govern the possession of hand-held lasers in a public place. One would think that even with modern technology moving quickly, it would be the responsibility of this House to keep up to date with these things. That sometimes is not the case, and so sometimes it is beholden upon members to use the member’s bill process in this manner to achieve the result that Dr Calder has been able to do.

It is very appropriate that tonight, on the same evening that Dr Calder has given his very fine valedictory after six very successful years of contribution to this House, to the National Party, and to the Parliament of New Zealand, we should be passing this bill in his name. It is my absolute pleasure and delight to stand here, as one of the final speakers in this debate, in support of his wonderful personal achievement. I congratulate him, and endorse this bill with enormous energy to the House for its finest commendation. Thank you.

I want to thank my colleague and friend Scott Simpson for the opportunity to share this call and I also give acknowledgment and congratulations to Dr Cam Calder not only on getting this Summary Offences (Possession of High-power Laser Pointers) Amendment Bill through to the finish line but also on his contribution to the National Party caucus and also to the class of 2008, of which he is such a valued member who will be missed. One of the things we will miss, I think, is his erudite articulation, his ratiocination, and the extra-large words he is able to inject into his speeches.

He is a member of the parliamentary sports club, the Parliamentary Rugby Team. We will miss him rising like a salmon from the middle of the line-out, leaping for and catching those balls for the half back to spread wide and, as our colleague Chris Tremain said, for those twinkle-toed wingers to get all the glory. What we will not miss are those embarrassing things that poke out the bottom of his shorts and that he calls legs, which skinny sparrows would be embarrassed to call legs. Nevertheless, somehow they do eject him into the air, and he can catch the ball with such aplomb.

At the risk of injecting a little bit of negativity in here, I want to add my voice to the rejection of the criticisms that somehow in the Committee stage of this bill there was filibustering of the worst sort. I will say two things about that. Firstly, it is the chairman’s prerogative to decide the length, quality, and quantity of the debate in the Committee stage, no one else’s. Secondly, if there was a textbook written about filibustering, it was written by the Labour Party in 2011 at the end of the 49th Parliament in the Committee stage of the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill. Those in that Parliament will remember the Royal Society of New Zealand Amendment Bill. It was not filibustered for a day; it was not filibustered for a week. We spent about 9 months talking about a bill that did not matter so that that party could avoid a member’s bill in the name of Heather Roy being passed in that Parliament. It was unsuccessful—

💬 Sue Moroney: It wasn’t against families.

Oh! See, there is the moral high ground. It was not as noble as Sue Moroney’s bill. There we go. It is the arrogance of the noblesse, and I do not accept it. I do not expect we would agree with that at all.

I want to just touch on Darien Fenton’s comments, because she spoke with a note of sadness, I think, of the fact that she had had four bills drawn out of the members’ ballot but was not able to get one passed. I just want to remind her that she will go down in the history of the 49th Parliament as the first member for 88 years in this Parliament to have a member’s bill defeated at the Committee stage. She was the unfortunate victim, I suppose, of the fact that the Government had changed between the second reading and the Committee stage of the bill she had. But she will be noted for that. I certainly acknowledge her for her efforts, and we will hear her valedictory tomorrow, I think.

It is time, as we come to the end of the 50th Parliament, to acknowledge the contributions of all members. I particularly want to talk about Dr Calder’s commitment to Manurewa because I know as much as anybody how hard it is to be a list MP in a red seat and to act in all respects like a constituency MP. It is a thankless task. “List MP” is a pejorative term amongst some. But I have seen his effort, his energy, and the commitment he has made to the people of Manurewa and the people of New Zealand. I think he can hold his head high and describe himself as one of this Parliament’s best list MPs in serving the community that this party, this caucus, asked him to serve. I think that of all the things he will be remembered for, it will be this bill, it will be his collegial support of this great Government, and it will also be his commitment to the people of Manurewa. For that, Dr Calder, you can hold your head high. I commend you and I commend the bill.

Bill read a third time.