Dog Control (Cancellation of Microchipping Requirements) Amendment Bill - First Reading

SUE KEDGLEY (Green): I think the amendment to the original legislation in respect of the microchipping of dogs is like a case study of poor legislation. I am sure that if the microchipping of dogs amendment proceeds, students in universities will study it as a classic case of where Parliament had a rush of blood to the head and came up with poorly drafted legislation. Carolina Anderson came along, her case tugged on our heartstrings, and, for all the right reasons, we passed the wrong legislation.

The Greens have already explained that we voted for this amendment because it was slipped into a whole suite of amendments, the rest of which we supported. I think it is now time, after a bit of calm reflection in this House, to admit we got it wrong. This has happened before in this House. We are hearing comments today that admit that. We heard from Minister Burton, who said that this legislation will not stop a dog from biting a child. Gordon Copeland said that, too. New Zealand First's Brian Donnelly said he had reservations about the legislation and if it was not working we should look at it again in a few years. All that members are saying is that we are starting to admit we got it wrong. It would be a terrible, cruel thing for New Zealand First if people had to go to all the expense and hassle of microchipping dogs all around New Zealand, only for this Parliament to then say we got it wrong. That is what we will say at the end of the day — we got it wrong.

When we get it wrong in this Parliament, there tends to be a rising tide of opposition to the legislation. That is exactly what we are seeing now — a rising tide of opposition throughout New Zealand. Throughout New Zealand society — including sensible councils — people are telling us the legislation is unenforceable. When a large percentage of society is opposed to a law, it will not work. We have seen it with cannabis legislation and we have seen it with many other laws. When we come up with legislation that is widely opposed and that society thinks is stupid, it will not work. So why are we going to all this trouble and expense? Let us admit we got it wrong.

Another issue that has not been raised today in the debate was hinted at by Ron Mark. He yelled out a witty quip: "Let's microchip the National Party members!". It was said as a joke, but it is absolutely true. We have to acknowledge that this is a surveillance technology — an Orwellian technology. As Tariana Turia said some time ago, it is dogs today, humans tomorrow. Actually, it is not even a case of it being humans tomorrow. In Mexico the Attorney-General has ordered that all of his 160 employees be microwaved — I mean microchipped, although microwaving might be next! He has ordered that his employees be fitted with a microchip that is the size of a grain of rice. Humans are also being microchipped in America. George Orwell warned about this. Let us realise that microchipping is a way of legitimising surveillance; it is Orwellian technology — dogs today, humans tomorrow.

But there is a wider issue we need to address. Whatever happened to the relaxed, trusting, friendly New Zealand society, where we trusted each other and communities got on with each other? What has happened that makes us run around microchipping dogs, even when we know it will not work? Someone already wants cats to be microchipped. Then it will be humans. Whatever happened to our relaxed, trusting New Zealand society that we are fast turning into an authoritarian, Orwellian society?

The Minister has admitted that the Local Government Law Reform Bill will not stop a dog from attacking a child. Therefore it will not work. United Future has a policy of supporting members' bills going to a select committee, so that they can be debated there. Why will it not allow this issue to be re-debated? If we listen to the views of New Zealanders, we will hear overwhelming opposition to the Government's stupid legislation. It will not work; people will not microchip their dogs. All we are doing is creating a problem. If the bill is passed, we will look back in a little bit of time and say we got it wrong. Why can we not admit that fact honestly now? We got it wrong. Let us pass the Dog Control (Cancellation of Microchipping Requirements) Amendment Bill today. All it requires is for New Zealand First and United Future, which already admit that the microchipping of dogs will not work, to be honest and say to the people of New Zealand that they are sorry, they got it wrong, and they are big enough and wise enough to admit that and change their minds.