Blue Jackie: Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Blue Jackie: Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:638;Page:8937] 
Dr JACKIE BLUE (National) 
: 
 I rise on behalf of the National Party to support the Human Rights (Women in Armed Forces) Amendment Bill. The purpose of this bill is to repeal section 33 of the Human Rights Act 1993 which will allow women employed in the armed forces to participate in active combat roles. The Human Rights Act of 1993 is outdated. This bill means that modern practices occurring today can now be addressed and it clears up an anomaly. For the last 7 years it has not been the policy of the armed forces to discriminate against women yet it has taken 7 years to get this legislation to come to the House. Again like other members I congratulate Lynne Pillay on the introduction of her member’s bill which has been taken over by the Government. 
The passage of this bill will remove the last exemption for gender discrimination in employment in the armed forces. Any decision to send armed forces personnel to an active combat situation should be based on competency and ability—not on gender race or religion. It seems very fitting that this bill was introduced in 2006 the Year of the Veteran. It also seems very fitting with Anzac Day celebrated only a week ago that this bill will pass its last hurdle today. I like many other members of the House laid a wreath at my local RSA. It was a fitting tribute. I laid the wreath on behalf of the Mt Roskill electorate National Party. I was the only MP there but wreaths were laid by almost 20 organisations including the local school. Anzac Day is a day for all New Zealanders to pay tribute to our armed forces. At the Onehunga RSA the address was given by Commander Margaret Weller commanding officer of the Naval Reserves. Her address was very moving. She spoke about the time she spent at Gallipoli and she reflected on what life would have been like for those soldiers compared with soldiers in our armed forces today. There were a few tears in the audience. 
This bill has not been contentious; it has quite rightly been supported by the House at all stages. The Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade Committee received six submissions on the bill only one of which it heard orally. Submissions were received from the New Zealand Defence Force and the Ministry of Justice. The Defence Force in particular supported this bill. There were no major changes. There was one minor wording change to the member’s bill where “at the front line” was substituted with “in an active combat role”. 
The title of the bill is very apt. It is all about human rights. Women have reached out in all walks of life and although the numbers of women who enter the armed forces are low across the board at the present time—only 16.7 percent of the Defence Force are female and amazingly that is an all-time high—women should have the choice of whether they serve in active combat. I doubt that with the passage of this bill the ratios will improve. There will have to be hard work and a drastic rethink on how to improve the ratio by attracting more women into the armed services. Women should not be discriminated against in respect of gender religious beliefs ethical beliefs colour race ethnic or national origins or disability. This bill will remove the last barrier and hurdle for women in our armed forces. Women should be free to choose their employment. 
It would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity to acknowledge the efforts for New Zealander Nancy Wake who was commonly known as the White Mouse to be recognised by this Parliament for her bravery in World War II. Nancy Wake is 94 years of age she lives in the United Kingdom and she was our most notable Allied servicewoman in World War II. She has been honoured by France the UK the USA—everywhere except New Zealand. That is a disgrace. She was born in New Zealand. She left when she was 12 but she is a New Zealander. It seems amazing that we are abandoning her by not recognising her. The RSA has given Nancy Wake its highest honour. It is the first time that it has given that medal to a woman. This woman has been recommended for a Queen’s honour on countless occasions and still there has been no recognition from New Zealand. That is the bitter irony and hypocrisy of this bill. Here we have a bill that removes discrimination and leaves the way clear for women to fight in active combat. And here we have Nancy Wake who fought on the frontline over 50 years ago and still there is no recognition. It is not too late. We have the June Honours List coming up. I hope—I hope—that she is on that list. 
As has been noted before I was in the Army territorial university medical unit as a medical student. There was no difference in the training; we matched the men in every task. Although the women may not have been the fastest around the 5 kilometre course with a 30 kilogram backpack we still finished it. Women have proudly proved themselves in every walk of life; they can hold their own and do so proudly. Although my time in the university medical unit was limited I quickly appreciated the absolute necessity of having trained competent and skilled troops who work unquestionably as a cohesive unit. I certainly applaud those women who choose to go into active combat roles and go down this very brave and courageous path. Females have been deployed and have made valuable contributions in many overseas operations such as Afghanistan Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands. 
I also note that the removal of this exemption which discriminates against women from serving in combat positions will enable New Zealand to ratify its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. 
I would like to take the time to acknowledge Colonel Louisa Parkinson the highest-ranking women in the territorial army. I know Louisa personally and she is a great role model. With women like her—positive and inspiring—I am sure the numbers of women in the armed forces can increase. 
National supports this bill. We are a party that believes in personal choice. 
Bill read a third time.