Lotu-Iiga Sam: Child Support Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Lotu-Iiga Sam: Child Support Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 08 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:2022. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Peseta SAM LOTU-IIGA (National—Maungakiekie) 
: 
 It is a privilege for me to speak in support of this bill the Child Support Amendment Bill and I thank the Minister of Revenue who has just left the Chamber for what is another sensible piece of legislation introduced to this House.  
One of the Government’s key social policy objectives is to ensure that all New Zealanders have an equal opportunity in society and this bill reinforces that objective because it includes a safety net through the benefit system for those who are unable for whatever reason to look after themselves financially. This bill follows the great work that this Government has already done in the area of welfare reforms and in the area of the green paper consultation around vulnerable children. This bill supports again the welfare of children in our country because they are the future and they are certainly part of what is important in New Zealand society today.  
In the context of child support this means that child support payments are collected and they are delivered for the benefit of those children they are intended for and that parents through whatever disagreements or whatever separations occur do not pass those responsibilities on to the rest of society. So as a member of the party of personal responsibility and the party that supports people taking responsibility for their own actions I say that this bill supports the ethos that people should be responsible and take the consequences for their actions. That is why parents can be liable for child support even when the custodial parent receives a State-provided benefit.  
As has already been stated by the previous two speakers we see these issues in our electorate offices constantly throughout our time here at Parliament. They are often heart-wrenching cases where inequity and unfairness pervade the child support system. People have strong views on child support and with good reason because children and the welfare of children often need to fit in with their busy lives as has already been demonstrated.  
But child support needs to fit in with the realities of parenting and raising and supporting children today. This amending legislation amends the core Child Support Act from 20 years ago and in many respects New Zealand has moved on. In many respects our society has changed. That is why the changes that have been promulgated in this bill are actually consistent with the changes that are reflected in our society and that is why I certainly support these changes.  
The bill will affect over 200000 children—200000 children who need support—and although our society changes the needs of our children do not change. The needs of our children—to be educated to be clothed and to be loved and cared for—do not change and this bill supports the need to provide for those children who are certainly in need. Today of course frequently both parents are working childcare arrangements can be quite complex depending on the child concerned and these arrangements need to be fluid and they need to be flexible to respond to the changing needs of our society.  
As the Minister has already pointed out there was extensive consultation. Consistent with the Government’s approach in terms of its multi-agency approach to solving some of society’s more difficult problems a range of Government departments have been involved in this consultation from the Ministry of Social Development of course to the Ministry of Justice Ministry of Women’s Affairs Treasury and the Families Commission. So it has been a multi-pronged approach from Government in solving these issues. There has also been significant public consultation as the Minister has referred to. Following the  
Supporting children 
 discussion document of 2010 we had over 2000 participants in an online forum consultation that was discussing the issues relevant to this bill and a further 112 written submissions.  
The changes are really about a child support calculation formula that will take into account some of those issues that I have already alluded to around shared care around the different income levels of both parents and around the estimates for expenditure that have changed for children in New Zealand society today. This bill firstly modernises an Act that has been in place for 20 years and that many in this House recognise is outdated and requires reform. Secondly there are going to be changes to update the schemes in terms of taking into account other key factors like recognising significant daytime care and relying on parenting orders and agreements.  
I support this bill. I am glad that the Labour Party the “Party of No” is also supporting this bill because the “Party of No” clearly is against jobs clearly against opportunities against mining and against convention centres. I am just glad that it is supporting this bill in terms of the welfare of our children which is paramount to many on this side of the House. I look forward to the select committee process to hear submissions on what is a worthwhile and constructive bill.