Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5179] 
8.  
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (NZ Labour—Mana) 
 to the  
Minister of Social Services and Employment 
: What progress is being made to establish the Families Commission? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Social Services and Employment) 
: 
 Legislation has been introduced today to establish the Families Commission. Supporting families—and parents in particular—formed a major element of Labour Progressive and United Future pre-election policies. To fulfil those commitments 4-year funding of $28.233 million has been allocated in this year’s Budget for the establishment and operation of the Families Commission. The Families Commission Bill proposes that the commission be established as an autonomous Crown entity from 1 July 2004. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: What role will the Families Commission have in promoting parenting as stated in Labour’s pre-election policy? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The parenting role of families is critical to the development of New Zealand as a successful and innovative nation. The Government therefore intends to ask the Families Commission to take an early interest in the issue of parenting. This work will include examining all existing parenting support programmes both here and overseas in the development piloting and promotion of effective specific parenting programmes—as asked for in our pre-election commitments. 
Katherine Rich 
: When the definition of family groups is so broad that it basically encompasses all New Zealanders why is this ill-defined bureaucracy—which will duplicate the work of other Government departments—anything more than a $28 million election bribe to lock in the support of United Future? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The work of the commission will not duplicate anybody else’s work. It will pick up a need right across all Government policy to focus on how we can promote the interests of the family. I regret that the National Party is so anti-family that it will not support it. 
Gordon Copeland 
: How is it intended that the Families Commission will raise the profile of families in this country? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: In its advocacy role the commission will promote family interests and issues across Government agencies and the community; purchase promote and disseminate research into family issues; and contribute to policy development across government as a key stakeholder in family-related issues. Those functions will ensure that the commission becomes an effective stakeholder in those issues and an advocate in increasing understanding and raising the profile of New Zealand families. I repeat that the commission will be investing specifically in parenting. 
Dail Jones 
: How can the Minister say that the Families Commission Bill is a bill about families when in fact the word “families” is not interpreted anywhere in the bill but family groups whose members have significant psychological attachment to one another are regarded as being within that concept? I presume that includes homosexuals and lesbians—groups that I thought United Future did not support? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The agreement between the parties involved in this policy is one that accepts a diverse interpretation of what a family is. For example it allows for a reconstituted family where psychological bonds between people who have no biological relationship are the foundation of that family. Yes it will accept gay and lesbian relationships and in the 21st century I am sad to see that that member does not accept that. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Is it not true that this bill has deliberately adopted a broad and inclusive definition of the family precisely to ensure that all New Zealand families and all New Zealand children will benefit from the commission’s work? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes. In every discussion between Labour the Progressive Coalition and United Future all parties have stated their commitment to a broad and inclusive approach to the family. The legislation defines the interest of the commission in advocating for and strengthening all forms of the New Zealand family. That is why those parties represent the broad range of New Zealanders and why parties on the other side of the House are so marginal to New Zealand life. 
Dail Jones 
: Would not a common-sense approach to support for families suggest that the word “families” ought to be interpreted and would it not be equally common sense for a family party supporting marital relationships and a good standard of values to oppose any bill including homosexuals and lesbians withdraw supply from its coalition partner and stand up for what it believes in rather than running along on the coat-tails of the Government for the sake of jobs? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I think anybody who understands this issue would say that a family that provides love nurture support and boundaries for the behaviour of children would represent a family. The obsession with structure by dinosaurs like Mr Jones is why he is a marginal politician. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member will withdraw that comment please. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I withdraw that comment.