Maritime Crimes Amendment Bill

I am delighted and, actually, quite a bit surprised to have the opportunity to take a call on the Maritime Crimes Amendment Bill, which we support. I haven’t been involved in the committee stage of this debate, which is of great regret to me, but I have been perusing the Minister’s Supplementary Order Paper (SOP), which I think is SOP 5, and I’d invite the Minister in the chair, the Hon Phil Twyford, to perhaps make a contribution to that SOP, because, as with the previous legislation that we have been discussing, the Labour, Green, and New Zealand First parties move their support on the basis of the amendments made in the SOP rather than to the primary legislation. It’s not quite as dramatic as the amendments to the Maritime Transport Amendment Bill but it is quite significant.

This bill is, of course, in the name of the Rt Hon Winston Peters rather than the previous Minister, Julie Anne Genter. But, again, it’s a bit of a reminder of the strength of our new Ministers in this Labour, New Zealand First, and Green coalition Government that we can have quite separate party leadership being demonstrated in the particular legislation that we’re debating now. So I know that there will be several other speakers wanting to take a call on this legislation. I hope they’re ready to take a call.

💬 Todd Muller: And she looks around.

Well—Mr Müller, isn’t it?

💬 Todd Muller: Muller.

Sorry, Mr Muller. I would challenge that member to take the next call, because he generally does make a considered contribution in debates. I think he’s from an area that has coastline around it—is that right? You are not from Manawatū, landlocked? Where is the member from?

💬 Hon Member: Bay of Plenty.

Bay of Plenty? There you are, there’s lots of water around there, and I would think this particular discussion would be of interest to him.

So, as I’ve said, I encourage the Minister to take a call, just primarily to summarise the SOP, because that is a part of this debate that we haven’t yet had an opportunity to consider. The select committee has obviously considered the original legislation and the submissions. In the meantime we have had a change of Government, and I know that some members haven’t yet accepted that as being the outcome of our democratic election but it has meant that this legislation is now able to be seen in a supportive way by the Labour Party, by New Zealand First, and by the Green Party. That is on the basis of the SOP, and I look forward to further debate on that soon.

I raise a point of order, Madam Chairperson. The previous speaker, Ruth Dyson, was referring to the member for Bay of Plenty’s coastline. I know she was just winging it, but, actually, this bill isn’t about coastlines.

Well, that’s very interesting, but it’s not a point of order. Is anyone taking a call? All right. We will put the question for Part 1. The question is that the question be now put. All those in favour of Part 1 say Aye; against, No. The Ayes have it. The question is that Part 1 stand part.

We come now to Part 2, clauses 26 to 42. [Interruption] My apologies.

The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 5 in the name of the Hon Julie Anne Genter to Part 1 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

Part 1 as amended agreed to.

Part 2 agreed to.

Schedule 1 agreed to.

Schedule 2

The question was put that the amendments set out on Supplementary Order Paper 5 in the name of the Hon Julie Anne Genter to schedule 2 be agreed to.

Amendments agreed to.

Schedule 2 as amended agreed to.

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 agreed to.

Bill to be reported with amendment presently.