Mallard TrevorHon RUTH DYSON (Labour—Port Hills): Can I just begin by saying that this legislation is long overdue. I want to acknowledge the many campaigners who for decades have worked for law reform. I want to particularly acknowledge Dame Margaret Sparrow; Elspeth Preddy; Terry Bellamak and all at the Abortion Law Reform Association of New Zealand; Helen Wilson; Steve Chadwick former colleague in this House; and many many others. The time has finally come. I want to thank the Hon Andrew Little for his leadership on this issue for finally taking it out of the too-hard basket and bringing it before Parliament.I had the privilege of chairing the special select committee which was set up for the purpose of considering just this bill. All parties in Parliament were represented on that committee and I think it was a very good model not just in its structure but in the process that we followed. I want to thank all the members of the Abortion Legislation Committee for the work they did but also the way they did that work. I think we improved the bill and we also treated a sensitive and very contentious subject respectfully. That's a good model for Parliament to follow. During our considerations we had exceptionally high-quality advice from both Justice and Health and also from Parliamentary Counsel. We had some rigorous debates because our committee decided to break some new ground—and I'll get back to that point later but we were advised against it. We considered the advice and didn't agree with it.The three main changes we made—and one of them is on the point which we got advice against—was to strengthen the process and legal requirements for abortions that are carried out after 20 weeks. We heard the concern that was raised. We listened to the experts in this area. We understand how few abortions are done after 20 weeks and the gravity of the reasons for them and the harrowing position that puts parents in who have to make that decision and go through that process.I refute the point that was made by the previous speaker Agnes Loheni. It was a consistent message that we got: abortions post - 20 weeks are not a convenience. They're not something that anyone wants to go through and we should respect that those terminations are done to a wanted baby. So we strengthened the process and the legal requirements for those and I think it was a good move.We expressed opposition to any abortion for the purpose of sex selection. That is not part of New Zealand culture and we never want it to be. And we improved timely and equitable services to contraception including emergency contraception which avoids pregnancy—it stops a woman becoming pregnant when she clearly doesn't want to be—and also sterilisation abortion and counselling services. We were quite dismayed by the inequity of services throughout the country and we hope that this bill strengthens access to services.I regret that during the process of this bill the ability to determine safe zones has been dropped. I strongly believe that staff at clinics and women accessing services there should not be subject to harassment to abuse to intimidation to humiliation and to feeling anything other than going through a procedure that is legal and which they're entitled to refer themselves to. I disagree with David Seymour with respect. There are no provisions in our current law which will stop this behaviour happening and that's why safe zones are needed and should be progressed in the future. I supported the attempt to do that today and I regret that it failed.As I said at the beginning this bill is long overdue. I am confident that we have reached the understanding in Parliament now that it is time to progress our legislative regime out of the Crimes Act and into health services alongside others. The accountability is there. The quality of provision is there. All it takes now is the political will of this Parliament to make this long-overdue step. Thank you Mr Speaker.SPEAKER: Paulo Garcia—five minutes.