Racing Industry Amendment Bill

Members, we come now to our final debate, clauses 1 to 3. This is the debate on title, commencement, and principal Act.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Look, I want to ask the Minister for Racing a question about commencement. So this is one of the changes that the Governance and Administration Committee put into place as it was originally introduced. The Minister will know that the suggestion was that the relevant sections, as they relate to the point of consumption charges being, effectively, repealed, would come into force two years after Royal assent—those point of consumption charges being those overseas operators, basically, being charged a fee as a result of consuming product from New Zealand. What the committee heard was, actually, there’s a possibility that it could be much sooner than that. So what’s provided there is for a regulation or by Order in Council to, basically, bring forward that trigger, I guess, if things were able to be done that way. Now, the Minister has already, in committee stage, talked about the advice that he has received from the TAB and from the department. We understand that that is what has led to his Amendment Paper that’s been received and accepted by the committee.

But has the Minister received any specific advice from either the TAB or, indeed, the department around the plausibility of that early implementation? It’s obviously something that the committee turned its mind to and sought to initiate the change, but how confident is he, again, that things could actually be, effectively, repealed when it comes to that point of consumption charge earlier than the two year, or maybe he hasn’t received any advice around that?

That’s an excellent question, but it’s like night follows day. They can’t begin that work until this legislation gets passed.

Tangi Utikere: But any advice—you received any advice?

Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: Yeah, well, that’s the advice—that’s the advice: “We can’t start until you’ve passed the law.” So here we are, waiting with great impatience, trying to help an industry. The whole world’s watching, and we’re waiting upon you to just say, “Yes.”

Clause 1 agreed to.

Clause 2 agreed to.

Clause 3 agreed to.

Bill to be reported with amendment.

House resumed.