Quinn Paul: Child and Family Protection Bill — Second Reading 
Quinn Paul: Child and Family Protection Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:666;Page:13879] 
PAUL QUINN (National) 
: 
 It does not give me pleasure to speak on the Child and Family Protection Bill and the reason is that it is a sad indictment on society that we have to deal with this sort of stuff. I do not disagree with the examples we heard earlier from Su’a William Sio and the personal experiences of Te Ururoa Flavell. They are sad; there is no question about that. But the sadder situation is the fact that we have to try to legislate for them. In my view although legislation may do something the bottom line is that ultimately we cannot legislate against evil. 
Phil Twyford 
: We can do good. 
PAUL QUINN 
: I say to Phil that we cannot. We cannot legislate against evil. In the same way we cannot legislate against stupidity. We can provide some tools and that is what this bill does. 
The reason I say that in terms of legislating against evil and against stupidity is that I have been disappointed to hear from the Opposition what I believe to be political point-scoring on a very serious matter. The Opposition members said that this bill is OK but asked why the Domestic Violence Reform Bill is not further up the Order Paper. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: There’s another bill on the statute book that’s all. 
PAUL QUINN 
: I ask the junior Opposition whip when she was the constituent member for her former electorate what the date was of the Nia Glassie occurrence. I will let her know: it was August 2007. When was the brilliant legislation that that member claims is so wonderful brought into this House? It was September 2008. It was more than a year later. Yet that member sits there and lectures us about not doing a good enough job. 
Chris Hipkins 
: What a disgraceful speech. 
PAUL QUINN 
: It is not a disgraceful speech; it is facing some of the realities of the politicisation of this matter that members on that side of the House have brought to this debate. I have no qualms— 
Chris Hipkins 
: Grow up. 
PAUL QUINN 
: The boy tells me to grow up. The boy from Upper Hutt tells me to grow up. I suggest that that member gets out of his little shorts and goes out and earns in a proper job for the first time instead of sitting at the trough of the taxpayer for the whole of his life— 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: I remind the member that all members in this House are honourable members. He should proceed with his speech. [ 
Interruption 
] 
PAUL QUINN 
: Thank you for your direction Mr Assistant Speaker— 
Chris Hipkins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. An interjection like that cannot be allowed to stand. You have just made a ruling. A member cannot comment on your ruling regardless of whether it is by way of interjection. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: I am sorry but I did not hear the interjection. I ask whether the member said something that was inappropriate. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: No. 
Chris Hipkins 
: Yes he did. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: The member has taken offence so the member who made the interjection will withdraw and apologise. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I withdraw and apologise to the boy. 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Eric Roy) 
: The member will withdraw and apologise without qualification or he will find himself in serious trouble. 
Hon Rodney Hide 
: I apologise and withdraw. 
PAUL QUINN 
: In any event it is sad that legislation like this comes before the House. I accept that society as represented by this House has a responsibility to provide some protections. But sadly it cannot protect against evil and in most of these cases it is evil when this sort of situation occurs. 
I do not have much more to say on this bill. We have had some discussion on the difference between the ages of 17 and 18 with regard to defining who is a child but in my view that is not a fundamental issue. I ask what the difference is between the ages of 18 and 19 or 19 and 20. The age is a line in the sand. The simple fact of the matter is that the Justice and Electoral Committee has provided its report it has given reasons for its recommendations and I am very happy to support those recommendations. Thank you. 
Bill read a second time.