Statutes Amendment Bill

When we were last considering this bill, Chris Penk had the call. And, if he really wants it, he’s got nine minutes and 30 seconds left.

I do really want it, Mr Speaker, but I don’t know if you and the rest of the House do, but we shall see.

This is a bill that, in its spirit—and, indeed, by design—contains matters that are minor, technical, and non-controversial. For the sake of folks at home, I can confirm, on the latter point, that it is non-controversial by virtue of having been circulated to the parties in advance, and, I understand, certainly on the National side of things, I can confirm that we don’t find it controversial and, notwithstanding the considerable detail in there—some 42 Acts being amended thereby—that we’re happy with the way that it updates, clarifies, and becomes more user-friendly for the sake of a little local colour.

I’ll just note in relation to the Armed Forces Discipline Act, which is one of the statutes that is going to be amended, there is a little point about a person who is subject to the Act in that it sort of implies that it will be a uniformed member of the armed forces, but, in fact, it might often be the case that someone working in the Defence Force is no such person. So that’s just by way of example—there’s a little update there to reflect modern times.

I thought I’d be fast and furious, and, indeed, I see that I am gone in 60 seconds. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to take a call on the Statutes Amendment Bill second reading. I’d like to begin by acknowledging the Minister the Hon Aupito William Sio for the excellent work he has done here. As the previous speaker, Chris Penk, mentioned, this is a non-controversial bill which is simply updating some of the key statutes. So it enables Parliament to make technical, short, and non-controversial amendments to a number of Acts—for these people who are watching at home, just to give that aspect of understanding.

There certainly are a number of parts, and some of the parts that are highlighted: one being the Burial and Cremation Act 1964, amended to ensure the wording of the new audit threshold more closely aligns with the Charities Act 2005. Another example would be the Coroners Act 2006, and a few aspects there have been changed.

Part 33 I find particularly significant, which is the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012. There are some amendments there, which talk about, in new subsection (4A) there, in clause 118(2), “Despite subsection (1), if the application is uncontested, the chair of the committee may make an order instead of the committee.”—so just giving a little bit more authority there to the chair. But, just to highlight the aspect of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act, we had around 10 submissions to this bill, and I was honoured to be on the Governance and Administration Committee at the time. Two of those submissions highlighted this Part 33. One of them came from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, and they outlined the importance of improving alcohol licensing in New Zealand, and they outlined some of the harm that alcohol can, at times, cause our society. So, basically, they highlighted the importance of ensuring, around the aspect of the sale of alcohol, that that legislation is robust, it’s up to date, and it’s clear. That’s, effectively, one of the things that this bill does.

The second submitter on the topic of the sale of supply of alcohol was Alcohol Healthwatch, and they made similar arguments around the harm that alcohol can sometimes cause to society and just ensuring that we have accurate regulation, that we have regulation that practically works on the ground, and their words were around providing evidence-based information and advice on policy and planning.

Now, there’s not really too much more to say about this bill; it is supported on both sides. But it’s certainly very important that Parliament continues to have these statute amendment bills, just to ensure that the legislation is always fit for purpose and completely up to date. I commend this bill to the House.

Bill read a second time.