Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Amendment Bill

Thank you, Mr Chair. Yesterday, I spoke in relation to the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Amendment Bill at its second reading. What a difference a day makes. We’re here today asking the questions—I think I perhaps spoke for two minutes in relation to this bill, which was probably sufficient in relation to the matter.

I guess rising today to speak in committee stage, as a whole, is a different case, and I wanted to really just start to have the conversation a little bit more in case people don’t fully understand what this bill means.

So, firstly, let’s again address the purpose of this bill—

CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Order! We’re on clause 1, which is the title of the bill.

The title of the bill—right.

💬 Tamati Coffey: Four minutes!

Ha, ha! I’ve got five minutes to talk on the title of the bill.

CHAIRPERSON (Adrian Rurawhe): Well, you don’t have to talk for five.

My apologies—I thought we were doing the whole part. Okey-dokey. So this is not my best work today—ha, ha!—I’ve got to say.

💬 Marja Lubeck: Go word for word, Angie.

Word for word—I have to find it. Essentially, if we look at the work that we’ve had to do over this last month or so, essentially, we have very few pages here. So I’m just pulling out the bill in relation to—oh. Department—[Handed bill] Oh, thank you!

💬 Hon Chris Hipkins: Sit down for a minute, and I’ll just sort it out.

Oh, we’re going to have some—all right. Thank you.

Given the way the bill is drafted, and to ensure that the debate can be a reasonable one, I seek leave for the debate on all of the clauses in the bill to be taken as one debate, with each clause put separately at the end.

Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There appears to be not. Just a moment—just for clarification, it’s now one debate, but each question will be put separately.

Clauses 1 to 7 and Schedule