Local Government Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill

Thank you, Madam Chair. National supports this Local Government Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill. I have to say that as I was getting my notes ready for this afternoon, there were several local government bills and I had to look very carefully to make sure I was addressing the correct one, because there are a number of bills which are not particularly notable. But here we are.

We support this bill because it’s our bill, essentially. It’s good. It’s pragmatic. It absolutely does what a regulatory system bill should do. [Interruption] It clarifies and brings up to date. Sorry, Mr McAnulty, what was that?

💬 Kieran McAnulty: I was just saying speak to the part. It was a funny joke, but the moment’s gone. Carry on.

Yeah, OK. It was a joke and it wasn’t funny. Is that what I heard? No, I think that’s what I heard.

CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): I think actually that’s my role. He does get that confused. That’s my role.

Thank you so much. So Kieran McAnulty does get confused and has been reminded by the Chair that it’s her role, so another great contribution from Labour.

💬 Hon Members: Ohh!

I know.

There are a number of Acts which are being amended through this. I have to say that of the variety of Acts—so Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, yep; Local Government (Rating) Act; Rates Rebate Act—

CHAIRPERSON (Hon Anne Tolley): Actually, could I just remind the member we are on Part 1. It would be really nice if the member could mention dogs, because we are on the Dog Control Act.

Good—good. OK—right. My chance to mention dogs—that’s wonderful.

What this provision in the bill allows for is for disability assist dogs to now be noted against a schedule. So if there is a new organisation who provide services around disability assist dogs, then, instead of having to come back to Parliament to get an amendment to the Dog Control Act, they now will have the ability to have their organisation—say it’s the new disability dog assist organisation or something like that—just apply by Order in Council to have that new organisation registered as a disability assist dog organisation.

So that is Part 1 of the bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to take a call on Part 1 of this Local Government Regulatory Systems Amendment Bill, which deals with the Dog Control Act 1996. The amendment to the Dog Control Act will replace the definition of the disability assist dog, align the notification requirement of local authorities with those in the Local Government Act 2002, and clarify the organisations authorised to certify the dog as a disability assist dog.

It is important because we want to make sure that those organisations which are able to identify the disability dogs can help people with the disability, and it will be easy for them to get this. So it will be a collection of another regulation and will help the disabled people. I commend this.

Part 1 agreed to.

Part 2 agreed to.

Part 3 agreed to.

The question was put that the amendment set out on Supplementary Order Paper 199 in the name of Jami-Lee Ross to clause 26 be agreed to.

Amendment not agreed to.

Part 4 agreed to.

Part 5 Amendments to Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987