Omer IbrahimIBRAHIM OMER (Labour): Thank you Madam Speaker. I'm pleased to be speaking on this very very important bill that's going to affect predominantly I would say women because they are the ones who go through the physical loss but also fathers who lose their unborn babies. So it's a very very important bill. I would also kick off my contribution by reiterating the words that Kathryn used: miscarriage is strange; it's also secret births and deaths and those are the profoundly strong words of a brave woman who has gone through a lot but also who has done a lot to bring this bill to this House.Every Kiwi in this country is entitled to provisions that guarantee bereavement leave through the Holidays Act 2003 but when it comes to bereavement through miscarriage this legislation is confusing it's unfair and it's also unclear. So the fact that this bill is designed to fix this is good. Can I also go back to the beginning and add my voice to every single person who contributed to this bill especially for those who are no longer with us in this House today. I just want to mihi to them.So this bill goes to the heart of workers' rights issues. I will just go back and mention what E tū union said in its submissions. One of the things they mentioned is that pregnancy is supposed to be a time of joy and celebrations as the parents look forward to their unborn child. But the joy and the happiness can be also quickly turned to deep sorrow and profound loss when the eagerly anticipated child is miscarried. So this can be really heartbreaking but the last thing the parents want is to have to deal with a difficult employer to get their leave. This should not be the case. As a union organiser in my previous job I have seen a lot of people going through this and I have seen the struggle—it's real. Even with intervention from the advocates and the union organisers things can be really difficult. So losing an unborn child an anticipated child is difficult but having to deal with difficult employers just adds another layer of difficulties.So for all these reasons the Holidays Act 2003 is not clear around this and often when you have to deal with ethical employers that allow you to take time whenever you want life can be easy but I have seen employees being asked to either use their sick leave or go back to work early because they don't have an option and also the third one is going back to work without leave. This also can be heartbreaking—on top of the load that is already inflicted on you losing the financial support or the financial income can be also another issue.Not only the people that I know and the people that I advocated for people who are close to me through family or friends—I have seen them going through this. When the employer is good and ethical like I said before life can be easy but when you have to deal with a difficult employer life can be really difficult. So I just wanted to make a point around the difference that having a good employer makes so that no one having to deal with the loss of an unborn baby also has to worry about their income or has to fight the difficult employers.So every change that has been suggested in this bill is quite refreshing. It's a really good thing to see also that the House from all sides is coming together and collaborating on this. So I just want to shout out to everyone who spoke before me but specifically my friend Ginny Andersen who has done a lot. Before I came to Parliament in 2019-2020 I was watching from outside Ginny working on the No 1 bill and I just can't thank Ginny enough for doing this.So when this bill was introduced I wasn't part of the select committee that heard all the submissions but in the very short time that was allowed to me I went through some of the submissions. The stories can be heartbreaking but at the same time also refreshing because the conviction and the strength of this woman who went through this is something.So at the end of my speech I highly commend this bill to the House. I'm just going to leave it there. Thank you.