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Delegation to the 139Th Inter-Parliamentary Union

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Delegation to the 139Th Inter-Parliamentary Union Delegation to the 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Geneva The Belgian Federal Parliament Flemish/Vlaams Parliament Parliament of Wallonia/Parlement de Wallonie European Parliament The French National Assembly and Senate French Parliament/Parlement français Brussels, Namur, Paris and Geneva, October 2018 Report of the New Zealand Parliamentary Delegation to the 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland, and Bilateral visits to Belgium and France, 8-19 October 2018 Introduction The New Zealand Parliament is a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and was one of 145/178 member parliaments present at the 139th Assembly held 15-18 October in Geneva. The New Zealand delegation was led by Hon Anne Tolley MP, Deputy Speaker, and included Rt Hon David Carter MP, Jenny Marcroft MP, Greg O’Connor MP and Tim van de Molen MP. Report The IPU issued a comprehensive report of the Assembly: https://www.ipu.org/event/139th-assembly-and-related-meetings/4395-outcomes. The Assembly General Debate was on the theme of Parliamentary leadership in promoting peace and development in the age of innovation and technological change. Hon Anne Tolley spoke to this and her speech is attached. The New Zealand delegation video report is available. This includes their comments on the bilateral visits to Belgium and France. https://www.parliament.nz/en/watch-parliament/video?itemId=29017 https://www.facebook.com/NZParliament/videos/1196393423864872/ The New Zealand Parliament is a member of the Asia-Pacific and Twelve Plus geo- political groups of the Assembly, and delegates participated in meetings with those groups before and during the Assembly. The groups coordinate positions on key Assembly issues and propose candidates for vacancies on committees and groups in the IPU. The delegation also met with the Australian, British and Canadian IPU delegations (CANZUK meeting); Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Timor-Leste IPU delegation members, and the Pakistan IPU delegation. These meetings discussed developments at the Assembly as well as bilateral and inter-parliamentary relations. 2 Photos IPU countries Twelve Plus Geo-Political Group Asia-Pacific Group Hon Anne Tolley presiding an IPU Assembly session; NZ Delegation: 3 Parliament of Wallonia: Belgian Federal Parliament, Flemish Parliament, European Parliament: 4 France: National Assembly and Senate: 5 PU Assembly: Jenny Marcroft MP and Tim van de Molen MP with Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Timor Leste delegation members: Hon Anne Tolley MP delivers New Greg O’Connor MP at the Assembly Zealand’s speech 6 Jenny Marcroft MP with the Climate Change Emergency Item drafting group: IPU: with Pakistan delegation (above); Assembly item under vote; Geneva 7 General Debate – IPU Assembly Parliamentary leadership in promoting peace and development in the age of innovation and technological change Hon Anne Tolley, New Zealand October 2018 Tena koutou katoa. Greetings colleagues. I am Anne Tolley, Deputy Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. It is an honour and a privilege to be here today to join you in discussing this very important topic. As many of you know, New Zealand is a small, somewhat isolated nation. We occupy a unique place in this world, both culturally and geographically. Nonetheless, we face the same challenges many other countries face when it comes to harnessing the potential of science, technology, and innovation for the benefit of our nation. We ask the same questions that many of you ask. How do we ensure science has an active role in guiding policy? Conversely, how can parliamentarians promote scientific engagement among the public? And how can our parliament foster mutually beneficial relationships with business, academia, and other stakeholders who deserve a say in the future of our country? These questions are important because science has a part to play in addressing virtually all of the challenges in today’s society. In addressing these questions, and the many more the future will bring, it is essential that we take a pragmatic, informed approach. There are several ways we can do this, by not only listening to objective, evidence-based advice, but proactively seeking it. The New Zealand Government has, as many others do, a Chief Science Advisor. Our Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor is a team of dedicated scientists bringing a collective wealth of academic and industry experience, with several roles. It advises the Prime Minister on science policy issues and promotes public engagement with science. For instance, the previous Chief Science Advisor released a report earlier this year recommending a new approach to reducing youth crime and reoffending. This was borne out of the previous Government calling on science advisors to research ways to address growing mental health and youth suicide numbers. The report acknowledged that it is a highly political issue, but brought robust scientific evidence to the table and called for strong government leadership. We regularly draw on recommendations from other experts as well. One such example is the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment, an independent officer of Parliament. Our previous Commissioner produced a high-profile report on 8 the use of the 1080 pesticide. This pesticide is used widely in New Zealand to protect our native wildlife and their habitats from introduced mammal pests, such as possums. New Zealand’s Department of Conservation notes that 80 percent of our bird species are at risk of extinction. In addition to being a serious threat to our native flora, these pests carry diseases such as tuberculosis. Despite its effectiveness, we’ve seen a small, but increasingly vocal and aggressive, group of protestors calling for a ban on 1080. Researchers, as well as the Department of Conservation, have consistently agreed that there are no practical alternatives to air-dropped 1080; it is simply the fastest, most affordable, and most effective solution we have. Moreover, there is strong evidence that birdlife, temporarily affected by 1080, returns following the control, so there is little reason to be concerned by its long-term effects. In fact, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s report not only agreed that it is the most viable solution, it recommended increasing its use. In examples such as this, we see the value of a robust, independent, and educated voice shining a scientific light on key contemporary issues in New Zealand. We also need to strike the right balance between short-term electoral goals and the long-term implications of our policies on future generations. To do this, we need to actively engage the public and the policy community in scientific discussion to gain a good cross-section of insights. An initiative called the National Science Challenges has been set up to promote this. It consists of cross-disciplinary programmes that bring together academic institutions, Crown Research Institutes, businesses, and non-government organisations to tackle New Zealand’s biggest science-based challenges. The challenges are organised into 11 streams, one of which is the “Sustainable Seas” National Science Challenge, hosted by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research. It focuses on enhancing the use of New Zealand’s marine resources within environmental and biological constraints, with the vision that our marine environment is understood, protected, and used wisely. The panel looking after this challenge is made up of five of New Zealand’s top universities, a Crown research institute, and our country’s largest independent science organisation. Meanwhile, a more public-facing initiative, our Nation of Curious Minds, is designed to encourage New Zealanders to better engage with science and technology. It has three main action areas: enhancing science teaching and learning by supporting our educators, increasing science and technology engagement in communities, and growing connections between research and society. Finally, parliamentarians need to take a leading role in shaping public debate. Technological developments have forever changed the media landscape. Ongoing debates in New Zealand, such as over the use of 1080 I mentioned earlier, demonstrate how easy it is for minority groups to take control of news narratives. 9 Only a couple of months ago, 1080 protestors launched coordinated social media campaigns, exaggerating the perceived dangers of 1080 and spreading a misleading photo of dead kiwi birds, claiming they were killed by 1080. In actual fact, these birds had been killed by other animals and cars, the photo was two years old and repurposed without permission, and the Department of Conservation has not had a single recorded instance of a kiwi being killed by 1080. There is no doubt that we live in an exciting time. Disruptive technologies are introduced every year, posing new challenges and threats but at the same time, presenting opportunities to cross unprecedented barriers. I am proud that New Zealand continues to punch above its weight and make strong, meaningful contributions to the global science community. As parliamentarians, we have a duty to take a leading role in leveraging the power of science and innovation to shape stronger countries and brighter futures. Thank you. 10 MEDIA RELEASE: Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives New Zealand Parliamentarians attend major global parliamentary conference Deputy Speaker, Hon Anne Tolley is leading a five-member delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, to the 139th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly from 13 to 18 October 2018. The delegation comprises Rt Hon David Carter, Jenny Marcroft MP, Greg O’Connor MP, and Tim van de Molen MP. Hon Anne Tolley is on the IPU Bureau of Women Parliamentarians and Rt Hon David Carter is on the IPU Committee on the Human Rights of Parliamentarians. Our Members of Parliament will be actively engaging in conference subjects such as legislating on food and nutrition; building bridges between parliaments and scientific communities; and where parliaments sit in the fight against sexism and harassment, and in combatting terrorism and violent extremism.
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