Sepuloni CarmelFAMILIES COMMISSION ACT REPEAL BILLThird ReadingHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): I move That the Families Commission Act Repeal Bill be now read a third time.The Families Commission Act Repeal Bill repeals the Families Commission Act 2003 in order to disestablish the Families Commission and provides for residual management processes to manage the consequences of disestablishment. This bill intends to update and improve the effectiveness and efficiencies of social science research and advocacy for the interests of families and whānau. This is a straightforward piece of legislation and every party in this House has shown support for this bill. However as simple as it may be the bill plays an important role in supporting this Government's focus on improving the well-being of all New Zealanders.Earlier this month I was proud to announce that we will consult with the public with NGOs with iwi and with iwi organisations on our investing for social well-being approach. Well-being is about the ability of individuals and families to live the lives they aspire to as part of inclusive equitable and prosperous communities. This investing for well-being approach goes far beyond the previous Government's narrow focus on liability and risk. This Government wants to really invest in our people and support them to maximise their potential. Our framework of investing for social well-being will provide a means to truly tackle some of the deeply entrenched social challenges we face as a country. It will allow this Government to support and resource people to improve their well-being and the well-being of others in their whānau and communities creating a range of positive social outcomes.The Families Commission's work has given us a better understanding of the diversity of New Zealand families and whānau which has helped us to the level of understanding we have today. But our approach is to extend beyond where the previous Government was at and to focus just as much on the human experience as we do on analytical data. We value people and we are committed to treating people with dignity and respect. We first need to understand the complexities of people's lives if we want to develop innovative solutions and ensure effective services reach those who need them when they need them. The ability to draw on insights and to use a wide range of data and evidence in a careful and considered way is essential to this.This Government has recently announced that we will put an extra $1.9 million into the Growing Up in New Zealand study. This highlights our continuing commitment to growing our understanding and appreciation of the drivers of family and whānau well-being. The Growing Up in New Zealand study was previously the responsibility of the Families Commission and the study will continue to thrive and provide essential data and insights now and in the future under the Ministry of Social Development. The Growing Up in New Zealand study is the country's largest longitudinal study of child development. Since it began in 2008 more than 50 million pieces of data have been collected from more than 6800 families. Our decision to restore funding comes at a critical point where for the first time the study is hearing from the children themselves. I'm sure we can all agree that hearing the voice of children will make powerful contributions to the way Government policy makers and service providers understand how to meet the needs of diverse New Zealand families and whānau.Not only is data and evidence essential to decision making in Government and the formation of policy it is also indispensable to the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of our progress. We are continually looking to improve solutions for families and whānau and this requires collaboration across Government agencies and strong partnerships with non-governmental organisations and communities.Fortunately the need for effective research and evaluation of programmes is now a common part of core processes across Government. Likewise agencies are expected to work with each other on investing for social well-being and the State Services Commission is working on assisting agencies to work better together. Thanks to the Families Commission in conjunction with the Aotearoa New Zealand Evaluation Association we also have practice guidelines and tools to encourage more effective use of research. This is an effective resource that will continue to guide data use across Government. These tools and practice guidelines regularly support decision-making processes especially those involving Budget initiatives. All Ministers including myself value this information and these tools and guidelines will continue to apply once the commission is disestablished.Another initiative that supports this Government's focus on well-being for our families is the recent establishment of the social well-being board by the State Services Commission. The board is intended to drive and support Public Service effort on the Government's social well-being agenda." The board will be made up of an independent chair and heads of departments and chief executives with the role of supporting the social well-being Cabinet committee through policy advice resource allocation reprioritisation over time and performance of investments and work streams.There are many agencies and non-governmental organisations ready and willing to commit to the important task of advocating for families and whānau. I am confident that this Government has the ability to inform design and invest in our social services so that they are effective for the people who need to access support. We already have a better understanding and appreciation of how diverse New Zealand families and whānau can be and we know more about what drives well-being in families and whānau. I do want to acknowledge the Families Commission for their invaluable contribution to this but we also need to recognise that the social sector is very different to in 2004. We as a Government must change to reflect this.As you are aware all of the commission's key functions have already effectively been transferred to the Ministry of Justice the Ministry of Social Development and the Social Investment Agency. We're continuing to meet the deadline that the previous Government set and the Ministry of Social Development is working closely with the social policy evaluation and research unit (SuPERU) over key aspects of the disestablishment process. They are taking great care to preserve the considerable amount of useful valuable and meaningful information the commission produced over many years.Everyone involved in this process is working hard to ensure an orderly and seamless transition for stakeholders and remaining Families Commission staff. I'd like to give my sincere thanks to the SuPERU board chair Len Cook and board members Professor Sir Peter Gluckman Dame Tariana Turia Jo-anne Wilkinson and Haami Piripi and all SuPERU staff. Their hard work and commitment to New Zealand families and whānau will not be forgotten.I'm confident that this bill will improve the effectiveness and efficiencies of social science research and advocacy for the interests of families and whānau. More importantly this bill supports the Government's united focus on improving people's well-being success and ability to reach their full potential. I commend this bill to the House."