Mr Speaker,
On behalf of the Green Party I'd like to say how pleased I am to see this National Library Bill go through its final third reading this afternoon, almost exactly a year since it was first introduced to the House in May 2002. I am sure there will be a sense of relief and indeed celebration once this legislation is passed today, given the years of uncertainty and at times distress faced by supporters of both the National Library and the Alexander Turnbull Library over the last decade or so.
My heart has gone out to employees and friends of the two libraries who have had, for example, to try to stop the destruction of material, the selling off of books, the cutting of funding, the casting out of good staff and so on. The cultural devastation which peaked in the managerialist era of the late 90s has cast a long shadow over New Zealand's recent library history.
We are indeed fortunate to have had a Minister and a Government in power who have had an understanding of the critical role our national libraries play in our society, economy, history and culture, and I thank Marion Hobbs and those who worked with her for putting this Bill forward in what I believe was really just the nick of time.
The National Library Bill is the culmination of years of hard work, negotiation and compromise among and between people and organisations with a whole range of different vested interests but who all share a commitment to preserving and clarifying the status of both libraries. This was brought home to members of the Select Committee during the hearings process when we heard what might truly be called a fairly eclectic assortment of heartfelt submissions from a whole variety of viewpoints.
I'd like to pay my respects to all the submitters who made the effort to contribute to trying to improve the Bill, and I'm glad that quite a large number of changes were subsequently made as a result of points which were raised by submitters. I realise that some people will be frustrated that their particular points were not picked up, but a number of particular issues were raised that while important, weren't within the scope of the Bill, and I hope some of them will be dealt with elsewhere as appropriate.
Overall, the Bill has presented a long awaited opportunity to tidy up and make clear not only the overarching governance arrangements for the libraries but also a number of organisational details which are critical for implementing the underlying intent of the legislation, to safeguard, maintain and enhance the National and Alexander Turnbull Libraries in all aspects of their collections and work.
I hope future Governments will not meddle with what is being established here tonight until such time as it is truly necessary to do so. The libraries deserve a long period of stability in which to build again on their many strengths, and to incorporate the new provisions of the Bill into their daily work.
I think this is an appropriate moment to acknowledge the new National Librarian, Penny Carnaby, and the sense of optimism she brings to her position at this critical juncture in the Library's history. I'd also like to particularly acknowledge the Friends of the Turnbull Library, who have fought so hard and so long for the Turnbull to maintain and regain its rightful place as a unique, independent and invaluable part of our country's heritage.
While I'm on acknowledgements, I also want to thank all the library staff who gave up hours of their day to take Select Committee members on our own private and very informative tour at a time of day when I'm sure they all had better things to do. I never like to assume that the work of MPs is more important than anyone else's work, but I hope that the Bill we're passing here this afternoon will be the best concrete expression we could give of the genuine appreciation and support many of us have for the invaluable and irreplaceable work of the National and Turnbull Libraries.
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