SpeechCHRIS BAILLIE (ACT): Thank you Mr Speaker. It is a great privilege to rise on behalf of ACT for the third reading of the Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Day Bill. I grew up in a family that supported the Queen and the monarchy and although sometimes it was a topic of debate I've always always respected the royal family and appreciate the influence they have had on our lives. I'd suggest that I have more respect and understanding of the importance of the role of the monarchy than many people in this House. But everyone loves a day off and it doesn't surprise me at all that this holiday is being pushed through even though it isn't necessary. I really believe despite the umbrage taken by Minister Wood that Queen Elizabeth II would not have approved. New Zealanders are feeling the loss of the Queen a true leader who served the Commonwealth every day of her life but is having a day off at enormous cost to children and patients the right way to honour a woman who worked all her life? We don't think so. Having a day to pay tribute to such an incredible leader is fair. But businesses should not have to pay the cost our health system shouldn't grind to a halt and schools should be free to choose how they recognise it. It should also be within an appropriate time frame of the event we're commemorating; not on the first day that suits the Prime Minister's schedule. This holiday is unprecedented. Never before in our history has it been deemed appropriate to give everyone a holiday so they can grieve the passing of royalty. I've heard a number of speakers today say that it is appropriate for a holiday but I've just got to ask why. As David Seymour pointed out: King George VI 1952 a 15-year reign no holiday; Edward VIII a one-year reign no holiday; George V a 25-year reign no holiday; Edward VII a nine-year reign no holiday; and Queen Victoria a 63-year reign no holiday. Although 63 years isn't quite enough for Michael Woodhouse; he'll only settle for 70 years. What is it about the entitlement attitude of today? Are we really that more united than previous generations? I think from some speeches we heard tonight I don't think we are. Unfortunately it's pretty obvious for those employers and hard-working employees that it starts at the top. There were smarter and fairer options available. A couple of ideas: for those willing everyone sing God Save the Queen in unison around the country at the same time for one last time; a minute's silence; a minute's applause; or an unpaid public holiday. The precedent has been set for forcing costs on to employers so surely you can force costs on to employees too. You can guarantee unions around the country are grinning away just waiting for the chance to fight for the next public figure to be acknowledged with a day off. We've heard some suggestions tonight. Watch this space. Or there could be an optional public holiday with each business to decide for themselves. We could have had an optional annual leave day today after the funeral. Employees pay for it themselves if this is important to them. I do wonder how many people called in sick today because they watched the funeral all night—another cost to employers. We could have met in the middle with a half-day public holiday in the afternoon allowing businesses to start early if they needed to get their work done or hold a public holiday in memorial on a Saturday or a Sunday. Holding a full-day public holiday at such short notice and one week after the Queen's funeral is nuts and is unfair to businesses especially after a nightmare 2½ years through COVID measures another week's sick leave—Andrew Little told us that that won't affect us much because it's only $2 billion—another public holiday domestic violence leave rapid increases in the minimum wage and inflation and closed borders. This Government constantly pats itself on the back but it's easier to spend someone else's money and they're experts. The $450 million for this holiday will cost businesses not the Government. Michael Wood disputed this figure but I believe Treasury—I know it's only selective when he wants to believe them. Grant Robertson told The AM Show that businesses won't suffer that much because people will be out spending. That's great: The Queen's memorial—everyone go to the mall." The insincerity of this holiday is obvious to everyone. I heard him today tell the people that he looked after businesses during COVID. The wage subsidy looked after employees and rightly so. The small business loan is a loan that has to be paid back—but Mr Robertson I suppose that if you keep repeating something often enough. When the president of the Council of Trade Unions said in an interview last week that "It's only one day." employers around the country despaired. It just confirmed who the tail is that wags the Labour dog and I'm amazed to hear a couple of speakers from National say the same thing tonight. Has anyone thought about our kids and their education? What a brilliant teaching opportunity this day could have been. Students could learn about our history where our fantastic democratic system came from and the reason this country is so great today. New Zealand history is so rich and varied. Schools have had unprecedented disruption over the last few years. Truancy has gone through the roof academic results are down the drain mental health issues in schools are having a huge effect on our young people. Young people just want some stability in their lives and a reason to get out of bed. Kids will expect a day off if they feel sad and why shouldn't they? The precedent has been set. It would be very naive to expect otherwise. You shouldn't have to own your own business be a teacher or have kids to understand the damage that has been done to this country over the last 2½ years. Unfortunately student politicians union organisers and those who have a sadly flawed and unrealistic ideology just don't get it. We don't need this holiday. Businesses will suffer young people will suffer and sick people will suffer. If someone is serious about a memorial they could have used one of their four weeks' annual leave to mourn in their own special way. The only justification I've heard is that "Australia's doing it so we have to." and I don't think that's a good enough reason. To suggest that we don't care or are being churlish is just silly. ACT is the party for the people—employers employees young old and sick—and because of this ACT opposes this bill. Thank you Mr Speaker."