Upston LouiseNew Part 4Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): Thank you Madam Chair Tolley. I'm pleased to rise to speak in support of my amendment which introduces a new part Part 4 and changes to the functions of the Children's Commissioner. I am hoping that the Government although they weren't interested in measuring the impacts of the well-being of retired people will be interested in measuring the impact of their legislation on children. So I'm very pleased that the Minister in the chair Grant Robertson is nodding and agreeing and agreeing that this amendment is important and that measuring the impacts are important.So the amendment that I have tabled is to require the Children's Commissioner to report on the impact of Part 1 of the Families Package (Income Tax and Benefits) Bill on the well-being of children. There have been lengthy debates in this House today as there should well be when a bill is being debated under urgency without the public's input. The debate has been not so much on the objectives of this bill but how the objectives can best be delivered through legislation. This side of the Chamber has put forward a number of suggestions and this one is quite simple and quite straightforward and that is that a new function is added to the Children's Commissioner to provide an annual report on the impact. In this House and across New Zealand actually we understand and respect the important role that the Children's Commissioner plays a very important role both in terms of their independence but their advocacy for children.I know this Government has made a lot of children and that the Prime Minister has taken on a role herself in terms of reducing child poverty. So I'm sure that's why the Government will be giving serious consideration to supporting my amendment to ensure that such a significant policy—such a significant policy—that the Government has introduced actually delivers. I think that annual report by the Children's Commissioner and the ability to report openly and transparently on the impacts—because it might well be that in the first year it's not been as successful as the Government may have wanted—the ability in measuring the impact means you can then adjust. I think it's a sign of a responsive and responsible Government who measures reports and then is able to adjust where necessary. It might be by providing greater levels of support in one area than another.Using the Children's Commissioner and having this annual report into the impact I think provides a fantastic way—it's a fantastic barometer—for the Government to be able to then say Right in the next Budget we're going to put even greater amounts of support in this one area." By using social investment for example by having greater levels of data and analysis they may then say with the support of the Children's Commissioner's report that it might be that we need to put more into paid parental support or it might be that the Government may backtrack on the unwise decision they've made today that those who are on paid parental leave can't get the baby bonus for example.And it may well be that in the annual report on the impact of this policy and the implementation of this legislation might highlight that that's been an opportunity that should then be taken up. I would really encourage the Minister in the chair to answer any questions around this new Part 4 that I'm proposing in terms of measuring impact because there's been a lot of talk but there is nothing in the legislation currently which is why I think this amendment fills a much-needed gap in terms of being able to measure and report on impact. This is probably of anything the Government does probably in the next three years the most expensive. So I do think that there is a duty and obligation on the Government to report on its impact and to do that independently through the Children's Commissioner I think is the best avenue available. At the end of the day the speakers on the other side—and there haven't been that many to be fair—have talked about the fact that this is about increasing the well-being of children and some that have been in poverty they want to lift out of. Well I think the New Zealand public deserve to know if it's worked or not."