Bennett David: Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill — Recommittal Third ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeBennett David: Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill — Recommittal Third Reading[Sitting date: 25 February 2015. Volume:703;Page:1954. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]DAVID BENNETT (National—Hamilton East): I would just like to congratulate that last speaker Parmjeet Parmar on a very fine speech which was representative of somebody who has intelligence integrity and a desire to make a difference unlike the speaker before her Ruth Dyson who attacked her when she was speaking and tried to make it personal. That is a disgrace from that member from Christchurch from the Labour Party who has not got the ability to debate in this House like that last speaker has. It really is something that is the nature of this Parliament. I would like to also congratulate Mr Matt Doocey as well. I thought he gave an excellent speech. I thought he was right on the mark there. He talked about families commitment making things work and how there is that time and desire to do something by the Government for families. I thought his speech was brilliant and I thought that for a new member coming in that speech was a real speech of integrity as well. I think those last two National speakers can be very proud of the way that they have not played politics with this issue. They have talked about it and they have worked through the issues in a constructive and balanced way just as the Government has. I also think it is important to acknowledge Sue Moroney here today. She has put a lot of work into the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill. Sue is also from Hamilton and I know that this is something she is passionate about. Whenever we have debates in Hamilton she brings it up and I would like to commend her on that. I think that she has shown passion within that area.Phil Twyford: Always a gentleman.DAVID BENNETT: Yes yes! No I do. I think she has done a good job on that and it is a shame that some members of this House try to play politics with the issue rather than actually look at what is going on and work towards getting long-term solutions that everybody can work with and that are in the best interests of New Zealand families.I think that is the most important thing because we all want the same thing. Nobody in this House wants to deny New Zealand families the best start that they can have. That is part of being in this House; it is the future of our country. Of course we want that. Of course everybody will work within their own ways to do this. Did you say something Mr Nash?Stuart Nash: Are you going to cross the floor and vote for it?DAVID BENNETT: Mr Nash wants me to cross the floor—it is more likely Mr Nash would cross the floor this way and vote against the bill but that will not happen will it Mr Nash? I am sure that cosy seat there is just too nice to do that. The fact of the matter is that all members of this House will feel the same way. It is a matter of balance and of what can be done constructively within the Government. This Government has made changes in regard to paid parental leave. We are working towards making more available for those in that situation and towards giving our youngest and our brightest and our families the best opportunity we can.There was one point that was raised by the previous Labour speaker: she mentioned the surpluses that Labour had encountered when it was in Government and that is true. It had great economic times. It did not have a world recession. It did not have to rebuild our second-biggest city. It had great economic times and it was probably set up by some great policies before that. It also took New Zealand into recession a year before the rest of the world but we have to forgive it for that because it did not know what it was doing. It was just following the economic policy that it had learnt that was inherent to its beliefs. It had the opportunity then to extend paid parental leave but it did not happen did it? Did it happen under Labour when it had the money there? No it did not. But then the provision comes into this House and Labour makes it an issue now. And I think that is sad because Sue has spent a lot of time on this bill. Sue really did mean well and it is disappointing that Labour has not reflected that in her role in Labour now. I think that is an indication that it does not believe in what it is doing. I am disappointed for you in that regard Sue. I think that Labour had that opportunity; it did not do it. We have been in more difficult economic times and we have still made moves in that area. OK it is maybe not what everybody wants but we have to take the steps that we can. This is a balanced approach.In summary I would just like to say that everybody in this House will no doubt want to see the best for our families and our children. There is no doubt about that. This bill is part of that process of getting the best for our young children and our families. There are going to be some changes. There is a programme ahead in the Government that has reflected a number of Government initiatives that will deliver for our young people going forward. I would like to thank everybody who has been involved in this bill. Thank you.