It is interesting that we hear from Dr Smith that the history of the bill is often depicted as being the "Winston Peters Bill", or the "New Zealand First coalition deal". That's what we've heard throughout select committee and in the previous iterations of this debate. But the truth was that it was a member's bill drafted way back in the late 1990s by the Hon Dr Michael Cullen, and that was in direct response to the defections between New Zealand First and National that were occurring around that time of the fourth National Government. The truth is that that bill, which was then drafted by Michael Cullen, was taken on by the Government, and that has now been reinstated. 