Upston LouiseHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): Thank you Madam Chair. I'm very pleased to stand in the debate on Part 1 of the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill. One of the things that I just want to start with is the record of the previous Government around incremental increases to extending paid parental leave. But not only that; it was taking the opportunity to improve it to make it more flexible and to be more workable for Kiwi families in their variety of shapes and sizes. So this is a massive lost opportunity.I'm very bothered by the fact that we have a Minister who purports to be wanting to introduce legislation that supports families and won't even take a month two months to stop to consider what he's already admitted is a good suggestion. I think it's a simple demonstration of just a dogmatic position. I want to correct the record actually because I know for a fact that the Hon Amy Adams initiated discussions around the content of this Supplementary Order Paper (SOP) not just at 4.15 today but yesterday. The fact that the Acting Prime Minister made a view on it this morning that was a completely contradictory view to the Minister in the chair says that they know about it. They knew about it this morning. They made a decision about it. They couldn't agree on it. I guess you can kind of see why. One thought it was a good idea; the other one just probably didn't know the bill itself.But the reality is that this is an extension—like we extended from 14 weeks to 18 weeks. This is the logical extension in Part 1 from 18 weeks to 22 weeks but it is absolutely a lost opportunity to ensure we have legislation that is fit for purpose for Kiwi families and the opportunity for both parents—as I said whatever size shape or formation—to have really important time together and to make those choices. Why should a Kiwi family be penalised because the current Government is too narrow-minded and not willing to pause for a month or two months or whatever? We absolutely want it on this side of the Chamber to come in on 1 July. We are supporting the bill but we do think there is an opportunity for the Government to make a decision to say Right well actually there might be some issues that the Minister in the chair spoke to." Take a breather. Take some time. We want to support the legislation.As I said in my earlier reading the select committee process is absolutely the opportunity to get Kiwis to provide input that adds value and creates the opportunity and makes sure we have legislation that works for the citizens that we represent. So in terms of the Hon Amy Adams' amendments in SOP No. 3 I do think the Minister in the chair should be able to consider the fact that this is not just about extending; it is about improving. It's about making it easier for Kiwi families. Whether it's the first child whether it's the second whatever the parental arrangements are whoever the primary caregiver is should have absolutely no say by the Government. It shouldn't be the Government's decision about what works best for Kiwi families. Those are decisions that each and every Kiwi family should be making. The legislation before us given that it is the very first one of this Government—I would have thought you had the commitment that the Government had the commitment to make sure it worked for Kiwi families up and down this country and recognise that they have different circumstances different needs and different requirements.The other part I want to move to is Sarah Dowie's amendment on SOP No. 2—the keeping-in-touch days. I think this is an example of a Government that was in haste and missed a really obvious piece of the legislation that is a fundamental part of women and their return to work which surely is also an equal part of this. The Minister for Women today was talking about New Zealand's record in the number of women participating in the workforce which I agree is a great thing. But if the Government hadn't included it—Sarah Dowie my able colleague was the one that spotted the gap—because you were in haste that would have affected the ability for New Zealand women to ease their process to return to work. I would hate to think what the consequences are. The Minister for Women might have a view on whether or not actually that was ripping women off and their chances to stay connected to their workforce. Again when we extended paid parental leave not once but twice this was an important part of adding flexibility and adding the opportunity to ensure that women were connected to work. It made it easier for them to return. So this has got to be an opportunity that the Government shouldn't be wasting. Take a breath. Minister in the chair I really—[Time expired]"