Pugh MaureenMAUREEN PUGH (National): I too stand in support tonight of the Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Bill in the name of Green Party MP Jan Logie and I add my congratulations to Miss Logie on her initiative in writing this bill and also on her good fortune of having it pulled from the ballot. I did hear her speech tonight. It was an impassioned speech and I congratulate you Miss Logie on your dedication to this cause.I too believe there is a lovely quirk of fate that sees this House debating this Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Bill today because we are celebrating International Women's Day and the theme for International Women's Day 2017 is Be Bold for Change". It is a call on the masses or individuals to help forge a better working world—a more gender-inclusive world. So there is a lovely irony in what is happening here today. As we have also heard here tonight this is an issue that we all agree needs to be tackled by everyone across this Parliament. We will enjoy I am sure united support to get this bill through this first reading today.The purpose of this bill looks to introduce a new leave entitlement for the victims of domestic violence. It is an omnibus bill that seeks to amend five pieces of legislation: the Domestic Violence Act the Employment Relations Act the Health and Safety at Work Act the Holidays Act and the Human Rights Act. I do have to confess that I did not quite understand how the Health and Safety at Work Act actually could be introduced into this bill. But on reading the background I do appreciate the need to have it included.From my own conversations with NGOs that work with victims of domestic violence there is a clear need to support women at work who have fallen victim to domestic violence. For women who work in front-line roles where they must interact with the public it is essential for them to have their privacy protected especially if a woman bears the marks the bruises the impacts from a domestic violence episode. Also at work an abuser makes it very easy for a woman to be trapped to be captured in her workplace and to become yet a further target for abuse. The most effective way that an abuser does that is through violent or abusive phone calls or emails. But also it becomes a risk for others in the workplace and therein lies the impact on employers in terms of making their workplace a safe workplace.I also acknowledge the work as others have done tonight of the Hon Amy Adams who has also been working on a substantial programme of work looking at the ways we address family violence and the type of support that can be offered to victims of domestic violence. I too am looking forward as a member of the Justice and Electoral Committee to furthering the work on this bill under the leadership of Sarah Dowie. I also look forward to speaking with the wider community on the details of this bill and having those conversations through the submissions stage.New Zealand has a shameful record of domestic violence and one of the things that I certainly look forward to is the day when women are empowered to the point where we no longer call them victims. I have great pleasure in supporting this Domestic Violence—Victims' Protection Bill in its first reading. Thank you."