Pallett SarahSARAH PALLETT (Labour—Ilam): Thank you Mr Speaker. This evening I rise with gratitude to speak on the Employment Relations (Extended Time for Personal Grievance for Sexual Harassment) Amendment Bill. I say with gratitude" because this is needed legislation and I'd just like to thank my colleague Dr Deborah Russell for bringing this to the House. We've heard the need for this from two of our colleagues already and I imagine that we will hear more before the evening is up. But I just wanted to add to the words that my colleague Dr Russell said and just to define for the House again what we mean when we're talking about sexual harassment. Sexual harassment as we've heard is any unwelcome or offensive sexual behaviour that is repeated or is serious enough to have a harmful effect or which contains an implied or overt promise of preferential treatment or an implied or overt threat of detrimental treatment. This bill is asking for a very simple change to the Employment Relations Act. Basically what it's asking for is that it will extend the time that a personal grievance involving sexual harassment can be brought to 12 months. I understand that in the select committee process this may not be where the bill lands but certainly that's what sits before us at the time. And we know that this is primarily an issue that affects women although by no means exclusively. We've heard from Mr Goldsmith this evening that he was sadly a victim himself. I can say that I too have been a victim in my past of sexual harassment. And I would be astonished if anyone here could say that they had not. Although I obviously can't speak for any of my colleagues I can speak for my friends and for people who I've spoken to on this issue and they confirm that this is a widely felt issue of deep concern. As Dr Russell said the Colmar Brunton survey did reveal that 31 percent of women said that in their lifetime of work in law they had experienced sexual harassment. Thirty-nine percent of the people said—and that included the men—it had affected their emotional or mental wellbeing and 32 percent said it affected their job or career prospects so this is no small issue. Nineteen percent of lawyers said that they had resigned from their job and so why is it do you think that we see so little reporting? Well people report fear of consequences; they fear that things will be made worse by reporting. The fear that this is not felt to be serious enough. And that's what the lawyers were saying they felt. Others report concerns that this won't be kept confidential and that we know that reporting sexual harassment in itself is traumatising. So we can understand that there is a need for a little extra time so that people can come to terms with what's happened to them to maybe get the help that they need get the support that they need to ensure that when they do come forward they are not at risk. It's undoubtedly true as I said that this is an issue that primarily affects women but as well as affecting men we know that our rainbow whānau are also disproportionately affected by issues around sexual harassment. Men though and women I challenge you to not let this be our future. At 54 it breaks my heart that this is still a reality; that I've had to listen to young people come forward and describe changes that they've made to their careers as a result of experiencing sexual harassment. We know that men are victims too. Men and women and everyone: I need you to step up. I'm going to put a challenge. I'm going to ask you that in addition to passing this piece of legislation we actually challenge it every moment and at every opportunity any issues that we see in front of us of sexual harassment. Don't tolerate it because this needs to stop. This is going to go some way to helping this bill and that's why I commend it to the House."