Upston LouiseHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): Thank you Mr Speaker. I think of anyone who's been watching this debate and of the 39000 people that submitted on this legislation I don't think that anyone could argue that this wasn't a thoughtful respectful debate on what is a particularly challenging issue. I do want to acknowledge David Seymour for bringing this member's bill to the Parliament. One of the things that I undertook when I became a member of Parliament—because you're always asked beforehand What will you do when it comes to a conscience vote?" It's easy to think about our own life experiences and to say "That will be the basis of my conscience vote." But I decided before becoming a member of Parliament that actually my responsibility in undertaking this role would be to hear both sides of the argument to listen to learn and to respect the wide range of views that were held. That's exactly what I've done on this end of life bill having attended functions in Parliament with those who were advocating for the bill and those who were advocating against the bill.I've met with constituents as I'm sure every member of this House has but I also took the step of asking my own questions contacting experts contacting people who deal with this issue every day—because clearly I don't—listening to families but more importantly listening to those that had terminal illnesses. As the bill as introduced includes a much broader group of people than those with terminal illnesses I listened to them very carefully. So I have approached this issue with an open mind but I think at the end of the day—you know I have been conflicted because at the core of me I do believe in the value of individual choice but I also believe fundamentally that we have a responsibility as members of Parliament to represent those that don't have a voice that don't have a strong voice or a loud voice or a powerful voice. We have a responsibility to represent those that may have a disability that may be unwell whether unwell of body or of mind or of soul and we have a responsibility to represent those older New Zealanders.I think part of the conflict very clearly for me has been that I'd love to say I live in a country where we look after our own. I would love to stand here and say that we have a wonderful proud record as a country of families looking after their precious family members. The reality is we don't. We have a terrible track record of abusing those in our own families that we should be taking care of. Others have talked about you know the 10 percent record of elder abuse and so I take that as a context into this decision because it is a significant one. It's hard not to have any influence of our own personal experiences. I remember looking in my mother's face hours before she died and I remember seeing fear in her face. And it's not of a deep religious view but I also thought that night and I thought as I encouraged my brother to not resuscitate her anymore and to let her go that actually there is something dignified in every death and I don't think as human beings we should be afraid of it. So it has been a very tough decision and I will be voting against this bill."