Salesa JennyThird ReadingHon JENNY SALESA (Associate Minister of Health): Kia orana Madam Speaker. I move That the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Amendment Bill be now read a third time. In 2018 this Government committed to overturning the discriminatory Part 4A of the New Zealand Public Health and Disability Act which has caused national and international concern. Today we're delivering on that commitment. I would like to thank all of our submitters for your valuable feedback on this bill as well as the committee of the whole House for your consideration of the bill. This is a brief bill that represents a huge victory for our disabled New Zealanders their families and their whānau and carers. For far too long our disabled people families and carers have had a fundamental right removed from them. It is wrong that some disabled New Zealanders have been silenced from being able to challenge the carer policies that affect them in this way. Today I would like to thank the Health Committee for their consideration of the bill. I acknowledge and thank everyone who made a submission and those who appeared before the committee especially during level 4 lockdown. I would also like to acknowledge the deliberation and input of all parties to this bill which is one part of a three-part work programme to change funded family care including legislation policy and implementation. The Ministry of Health has worked with the sector in the development of the changes to funded family care since 2018. Positive policy changes have been implemented for funded family care policies administered by both the Ministry of Health as well as the district health boards. These changes will result in a fairer policy for people with high or very high care and support needs and their families whānau aiga and carers. With changes to the funded family care we've expanded carer eligibility to spouses and partners so that they are able to be paid to provide care to people with high or very high support needs. We've expanded carer eligibility to 16- to 18-year-old family members so our young carers are able to be paid to provide care to the people with high or very high support needs and we've also expanded client eligibility to include under-18-year-olds with high or very high support needs. We've also removed the current requirement for an employment relationship to exist between a disabled person and their resident family member in order to receive paid care for disability support services and we've lifted the pay rates for family carers from the minimum wage of $20.50 to $25.50 per hour. Extending eligibility to these key groups will enable more people to be eligible and to receive care and support in their preferred way. Changes to the funded family care eligibility will pay rates that will help improve the health and wellbeing of people with high or very high support needs and their families and whānau and carers. These changes will be especially welcome for several groups especially our Māori and Pacific people and those who are on lower incomes and those who may not currently be accessing these services. The disability sector has been eagerly awaiting the changes to funded family care and the repeal of Part 4A for a very long time. I'd like to acknowledge the contribution our disability sector have played in raising their concerns providing input into the policy changes and the ongoing work in monitoring the implementation of the changes and the outcomes for those receiving care and for those providing care. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the Minister for Disability Issues the Hon Carmel Sepuloni; the Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero; and disabled people's organisations for their work and advocacy in terms of repealing Part 4A. I'm really pleased to commend this bill in its final reading to the House. Thank you Madam Speaker.