Sio Hon Aupito WilliamFAMILY COURT (SUPPORTING CHILDREN IN COURT) LEGISLATION BILLThird ReadingHon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO (Minister for Courts) on behalf of the Minister of Justice: I present the legislative statement on the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill.CHAIRPERSON (Hon Jacqui Dean): That legislative statement is published under the authority of the House and can be found on the Parliament website.Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: I move That the Family Court (Supporting Children in Court) Legislation Bill be now read a third time.I thank all the members in this House for their contributions to the debate on this bill. I acknowledge my predecessor the Hon Andrew Little for initiating this work under the previous Government.Hon Simon Bridges: Why?Hon AUPITO WILLIAM SIO: Because he was a good man. The importance of improving the process for children and their whānau when they're going through the separation process cannot be overstated. This bill forms part of the Government's commitment to getting things right for children and young people. It is one important step towards a family justice system that is more accessible safe and responsive where all the parties have a voice. It supports the Government's Child and Youth Wellbeing Strategy particularly our aim for New Zealand to be a place where children and young people are loved safe and nurtured.The bill emphasises the importance of the child's right to participate and of engaging children appropriately in processes that affect their care. It will help ensure that children feel supported safe and informed as they move through the Family Court. The academic literature is clear about the benefits of appropriate and safe participation both for children and for decisions made about them. Studies show that providing children with opportunities to participate can help parents focus on the needs of their children rather than their own conflict. It can also help children adjust to their parents' separation.There can be both medium- and long-term consequences for children who are not listened to. The immediate effects include feelings of isolation and loneliness anxiety and fear sadness confusion anger and difficulty coping with stress. Longer-term effects include a deterioration in closeness in parent-child relationships feeling of loss and loss of trust in parents and adults. The bill will help us avoid these outcomes. Its purpose is to reinforce the expectation that a child should have reasonable opportunities to participate in decisions affecting their care and welfare (2) ensure that lawyers appointed to represent children in proceedings are suitably qualified to represent the child and that they can explain proceedings to them (3) require lawyers to facilitate the efficient resolution of disputes in order to minimise harm to children families and whānau and (4) reinforce the need for the court to respond appropriately to family violence particularly its impact on children.I want to thank the submitters and the members of the Justice Committee and all those who participated in the select committee process for giving their time making submissions and sharing their experiences and expertise. I'd particularly like to thank the Justice Committee members for their efforts to improve this bill. I commend the bill to the House.ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Jacqui Dean): The question is that the motion be agreed to.