1. Paid Parental Leave—FlexibilityHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime MinisterORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSPaid Parental Leave—Flexibility1. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN (Prime Minister): Yes.Hon Paula Bennett: Why is the Government opposed to parents having flexibility in how they use their paid parental leave?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I thank the Opposition for bringing forward their suggestion. I personally see merit in the amendment they've suggested; that's why we've said we'll look into it next year.Hon Paula Bennett: Why doesn't the Government then send the bill to select committee to consider the changes given that they do not take effect until 1 July 2018?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The current legislation that's been considered under urgency has gone through a select committee process twice. That's why we've suggested—[Interruption] That's why we've suggested that—Mr SPEAKER: Order! Sorry for interrupting the Prime Minister. Who made that interjection suggesting that the Prime Minister might be misleading the House? Who said it?Hon Gerry Brownlee: Well that was me.Mr SPEAKER: You will withdraw and apologise.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I withdraw and apologise. I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The current bill before the House has not been—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The member's tempting me to use my powers for the first time. The member will stand withdraw and apologise and he will not dispute a ruling that I have made or add to his withdrawal.Hon Gerry Brownlee: I withdraw and apologise.Hon Paula Bennett: I seek leave to move a motion to refer the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill back to the relevant select committee for further consideration.Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that process? Yes there is.Hon Paula Bennett: So this bill is not exactly the same. There is an opportunity because—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I don't like getting up and down as we're trying to get things to flow but the member—again it's been a while but members are not allowed to preface a question with a statement. So x y and z" is a statement; it's not a question.Hon Paula Bennett: Thank you Mr Speaker. Can the Prime Minister explain then why she would not allow this bill to go back to select committee when there is plenty of time for that to be done? She's often stated about their preference to have Parliament actually exploring things well. There's plenty of time for it to go to select committee and they could actually explore these changes there.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: As I've actually said I see merit in what the Opposition have put forward which is why I've given an undertaking that we will look into this issue further and use further opportunities when we're looking at other employment legislation—if it proves to have merit.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she think that her intentions to look at this at a later date are good enough for those families who will suffer financial hardship because they won't have the opportunity to simultaneously take paid parental leave when there may be causes where a woman is unwell or the baby is unwell and both parents need to be at home?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I think parents will appreciate that unlike the last Government we're extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks. I think it's disappointing given the vehemence that the member's showing that she didn't use the opportunity when in Government to pursue this issue.Hon Paula Bennett: So does the Prime Minister think she knows what is best for individual families with all their uniqueness; and if not why not simply instead of having good intentions do what is best and allow flexibility?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: For clarity again I have already said I see merit in the idea which is why we are undertaking now that our first priority is to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks. We will then look at the idea that's been brought forward by the previous Government. I have to again say that if this was an idea that they felt so passionately about the last nine years would have been a good opportunity to do it.Rt Hon Winston Peters: Would she and her Cabinet and the Government be so much more wise and informed on this matter had the Opposition put in place this policy in the last nine years?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: The Deputy Prime Minister is absolutely right; this is an issue that could have been pursued in the last nine years. In fact I do need to point out we reached out to the member who put up the Supplementary Order Paper and she's refused to collaborate with us on her very suggestion. Hon Paula Bennett: Can I simply say what does she suggest then to these dads and same-sex partners—what does she suggest that they do if they want to support these new mums and their babies but can't afford unpaid leave and would benefit from paid parental leave with flexibility?Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: I will say again: we are going to look into this issue because as I've already said we see merit in it—we see merit in it. Our first step however is to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks which is a milestone we should all be proud of.Hon Paula Bennett: Does she accept that she's actually the Prime Minister that could take action and do something—instead of just talking about intentions and whether something has merit she could actually do something about this?Mr SPEAKER: Before the Prime Minister replies I'm going to indicate that there will be an additional supplementary to the Opposition because of the noise made from the Government benches while that supplementary was being asked.Rt Hon JACINDA ARDERN: Taking action means within our first 100 days pursuing 26 weeks' paid parental leave which was an issue the previous Government not only voted against; they vetoed."