Doocey MattMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): It is a pleasure to rise in support at the second reading of the Children Young Persons and Their Families (Advocacy Workforce and Age Settings) Amendment Bill. I think as deputy chair of the Social Services Committee that this is a good bill that is coming back from the select committee stage. We are bringing in a range of amendments basically to bring this bill in to support the framework for the Government's new Ministry for Vulnerable Children. I think it was very clearly laid out by the Minister what the reasons were behind this bill. The issues preceding this bill the recommendations made by the expert panel and the history behind it have been well traversed so I will not be covering much of that—just to say that we talk about modernising Child Youth and Family but this is very much a major root-and-branch review and a root-and-branch reform ultimately supporting some of the most vulnerable young people we have in New Zealand. When I thought about the expert panel's recommendations one phrase sprung out at me. There was a comment made that we did not know whether we were causing more harm by removing the young person from their family and putting them in care; we did not know whether we were causing them less harm. I think that is something that resonated quite strongly with me. When you look at these vulnerable children and young people the statistics are that seven out of 10 young people in care will leave school with no qualifications. Eight in 10 leave without NCEA level 2 or equivalent and that is two times higher than for the general population. Ninety percent of these young people in care will go on to be on the benefit by age 21—that is 2½ times higher than for the general population. Four in 10 young women will be on a benefit with a child by the age of 21—that is four times higher than for the general female population. For young men six in 10 young men will have a corrections sentence by the age of 21—5½ times higher than for the general male population. With young people young men in care a staggering 21 percent will have received a custodial sentence—that is 11½ times higher than for the general male population. I just want to acknowledge the work of our very efficient and effective select committee chair Alfred Ngaro who I think has steered this bill through the submissions process. But I do want to acknowledge all the select committee members across parties from around the House. I think that the time in the select committee hearing the submissions was very collaborative it was very productive and it ultimately brings this bill back into the House—with a few amendments—in good shape. We received 22 submissions—not a lot of submissions. I think that demonstrates the overall support for this bill from the people of New Zealand. Sixteen of the submissions were from organisations six of them were from individuals and 11 submissions were heard orally. Every submission was in favour of the intent of this bill. There was not one submission that was not in favour of the intent. So that is a good place to be and it is a good place to bring this bill back with some minor amendment. I want to touch on three amendments in this second reading. The first one was to change the date of commencement from 31 March next year to 1 April 2017. That is just to align this bill with the new operating model in place for the Government's new Ministry for Vulnerable Children. The second amendment is going to allow greater participation for young people and provide better clarity. We talk of young people being involved in some of their care meetings and family group conferences. The replaced section 11 inserted by clause 8 will allow and provide for children and young people to be involved in the preparation and planning meetings as well so they can voice their concerns their interest and their intent at the planning and preparation meetings for their family group conference. The replaced section 11 will give greater clarity for support workers to be involved in those preparation meetings. They will be for young people for whom because of their age there might be a barrier to understanding the process. It might be around the translation services with languages involved or a disability. Finally we are going to amend section 7 around sub-delegation as the previous speaker Jacinda Ardern spoke about. Part of this bill is talking about the delegation of the chief executive to an appropriate professional. That might end up being a manager who will not be undertaking that activity so the bill will now allow a sub-delegation to an appropriate qualified professional. That will need to be publicised publicly as well as be freely available in the chief executive's office. So overall this is a great bill that lands in a good place with the amendments and sets up for the Government's new vulnerable children's ministry. Thank you.