Doocey MattMATT DOOCEY (National—Waimakariri): It is an honour and a pleasure to rise in support of the Children Young Persons and Their Families (Advocacy Workforce and Age Settings) Amendment Bill. I think that last speaker Carmel Sepuloni said it all—9 years in Opposition and all they have got to say is: Spend more money." Spend more money—an Opposition that has got a litany of failed social policies. In 2008 those members' last year in Government the Salvation Army came out and said that with all their extra expenditure—they blew the budget—they did not even get social progress to increase by 1 percent. Nine years on the Opposition benches and all they can say is: "Spend more money." That says it all.On this side of the House what we are looking to do is bring in reforms that will support vulnerable children and vulnerable young adults. We know with the feedback from the final report of the expert panel what it identified is that what we should be doing is ensuring all vulnerable children and young people who go through the care system come out with the opportunities that the average New Zealand child has. It is clear by the state of care that we are not providing that and it is amazing to think that we could be taking vulnerable children and young people into a care system and not knowing whether we are harming them or doing them any better.What this bill is based on is a very vulnerable cohort of young children and young people. We know from the regulatory impact statement when you look at the statistics that roughly 1 percent of young people who spend more than 3 months in Child Youth and Family (CYF) at the age of 15 or 16—seven out of 10 of these will leave school with no qualifications. Eight in 10 will leave without National Certificate of Educational Achievement level 2 or equivalent; that is two times higher than the general population. Ninety percent will have been on a benefit before the age of 21; that is 2½ times higher than the general population. Four in 10 of the young women are on a benefit with a child by the age of 21; four times higher than the general female population. Six in 10 of the young men have a corrections sentence by the age of 21—5½ times higher than the general male population—and 21 percent have received a custodial sentence a rate shockingly 11½ times higher than the general male population.It is clear that over decades the care system has let young people down and that is why this reform is much needed. That is why this Government is taking a social investment approach. It is not only about social funding; it is social investment it is allocative efficiency—people on the street will know that—and it is how we spend money wisely how we get it to where it needs to go and how we get good bang for the buck. What we know is that for these vulnerable young children and young people who have been in care at the age of 15 and 16 future liability by the age of 35 will be around half a million dollars for the Government. So we know actually that if we look at that future liability and we invest upfront then we can support these young children and young people to not only go on and be aspirational but to expect what the average New Zealand Kiwi kid expects in life opportunities. That is what this bill is supporting.When we look at some of the outcomes of this bill I am very much looking forward to being part of the Social Services Committee ably led by the chair Alfred Ngaro. We are going to kick the bill around no doubt with a range of submissions and really think about whether it is going to be fit for purpose for protecting our young children and young adults. We will be raising the age for statutory care and protection up to the 18th birthday. At the moment it is just before the 17th birthday. I have some sympathy with Opposition members who are talking about it needing to be higher. I agree. The next stage of reform will look at that. You could easily imagine some transitional service up to 21 and even for complex young people up to 25. What adolescence and being young people is about is transition. It is about moving from being a young person into adulthood and we should be looking to support them so that they become productive members of New Zealand society. That is why I commend this bill to the House."