Bennett PaulaHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National): Madam Deputy Speaker I did hear you referred to consistently there as Mr Speaker" but I am delighted to see a woman Deputy Speaker in the House. I know Trevor Mallard's not here but can I please acknowledge his standing.Ladies and gentlemen what you just heard there was a man who has not transitioned to Minister of Finance. What we heard then was an angry student politician ultimately. He didn't actually have the gumption to get in there and sound like a new Minister of Finance a man that's proud of his new role that's grown into it and that feels the gravitas actually of such an important role. What we still heard was the kind of angry bitter Labour politician that wants to blame everyone else instead of standing up. Look we heard consistently from Ms Ardern from the Prime Minister that what she wanted to see was positivity for New Zealand. She wanted those smiles. I just say simply to Grant Robertson "Turn that frown upside down; you have made it to the Government benches." Congratulations to you all revel in the moment but at least try and grow into the jobs instead of still standing like you did three months ago quite frankly when you were standing on this side of the House.So here we are in the 52nd Parliament and it is a great honour to be here. Can I congratulate particularly all the new members that got sworn in. I see them from all sides of the House. It's a buzz yeah? I do remember that buzz and it genuinely has been really interesting listening to maiden speeches hearing you put your hearts on the line. For your families actually it's something that's really significant and I know it is for you yourselves so I do sincerely want to congratulate everyone. Make the most of it. John Key always used to say that there are people that sort of talk about getting here and perhaps have a wish that they might get here; you guys have so be it and be in it and all the best to everyone and that kind of thing.Obviously I would rather be in Government. Ha ha! That's the truth of it. You don't campaign like we did you don't do what you do to actually go into Opposition so I make no bones about it. But there's a key thing here: we were not going to be in Government at any cost and New Zealand First know that. Mr Peters there's a price that one pays and we weren't willing to pay that so that's just kind of how things go.As they say it's not whether or not life throws you curve balls; it's whether or not you've got the gumption to pick that ball up and throw it back and this is going to be an incredibly strong Opposition. This is one that has convictions in what they stand for. This is 56 MPs who are here to make a difference and we shall do that in Opposition as we did in Government. We look forward to the next few years as we play our role on behalf of the Queen in the role of being Her Majesty's very faithful Opposition and it's something that we will take seriously.So there've been many many many many many promises. We have heard the promises and they have been rolling out. We just heard another one. There they went again; yes they've said it before: eradicating homelessness. So let's hold them to that on behalf of those people. We will remember of course that they had homeless people in motels back in the 2000s. That's when women actually find themselves in violent circumstances need to leave can't find a house that day and the State in sticking up for them and looking after them would at times put them into motels.Well we were told that was dreadful. It was OK when it was the previous Labour Government absolutely dreadful when we did it but now we've heard from Mr Twyford that it's OK again because they're in Government. So he's going to keep using motels by the way and that's OK. They won't quite be eradicating—they'll just be trying to make it better but don't actually hold them too much to account on it because they're not sure how they're going to do it. They don't actually have a target; it's all just another wish list.We're going to have rail everywhere; we're going to have zero emissions. Good on Dr Clark; he's personally going to reduce suicide which might be admirable but actually I think it's a slant on how complex the issue is. It takes more than one person and it's going to take something that is genuinely across a whole lot of people.We've had a lot of rhetoric we've had a lot of what it all sounds like; now we want to see real targets—we want to see what that looks like in practice. I think the smile might fade as good intentions hit the wall of reality. The smiles will start fading pretty damned quickly.I'm suggesting they get organised. Cabinet committees are actually there for a reason and they're a damned good idea because it means you test things against them to make sure that you've got no unintended consequences—for example like paid parental leave where you could take an idea that actually is fair for families instead of ramming down their throats how you believe families should actually be raised—sorry not you of course Madam Deputy Speaker but those on the other side that are telling us that they know best how a family should work. So they know best about that first couple of years. When we hear from new mums and dads that they actually want to be with their partner and spend that bonding time and see that why shouldn't we actually support them to decide how to split paid parental leave?Jami-Lee Ross: How does Sue Moroney feel?Hon PAULA BENNETT: It's a good idea that's come up. Yeah Sue Moroney who was a member that pushed this of course for many many years actually supports the idea that partners should be able to take some of that leave so that they can decide how it works for their families. But don't worry; Labour knows best on how it works! They will dictate exactly how that happens.If they'd actually had a select committee process which we were lectured about repeatedly from that side of the House—about how important it was and that due process for even a week would count we were told repeatedly. Well if they meant that send it to select committee. Let's toss this around. Let's really work out what's best for those women for those children for those dads for those same-sex partners—what really matters the most to their family unit.I only hope they take some advice because they've been taking a little bit. We see that Mr Hipkins has taken some now on national standards—not such a bad idea now. They're OK so that's good—that's good. Now we're hoping they take some advice on partnership schools. I will not have that Prime Minister stand up and lecture us on vulnerable children and what needs to be done without looking after some of our most vulnerable young people that are actually learning in an environment that works for them. Can I commend even some members of this House who are part of the partnership schools and how they work recognising individuals the different way that those kids learn and how important that is for them. Instead of being ideological and dissing a good idea I hope they take some advice and listen to what needs to be done.Can I just say how disappointing it was not so much when the Government made a mistake on day one—they didn't know their numbers; it's as clear as that. They did not know if they had the numbers. Actually we all make mistakes and it was their day one and I get that. What was a real shame after lecturing us repeatedly on how much better and more principled this Government was going to be was that the first thing they did was spin it. The first thing they did was actually walk out of here and not tell the utter truth. If they'd done that Mr Hipkins and simply stood there and said "We made a bit of a mistake. We'll never make it again." I reckon the public would have given them a bit of kudos for it. But instead they proved themselves to be absolutely as flawed as the rest of us. Welcome to the real world but you should have had the guts to actually stand up and prove it and say it is what I say to it.Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! I don't like to interrupt but the member knows well that that is not parliamentary.Hon PAULA BENNETT: I didn't mean to offend but I got a bit carried away there.Can I say as well that we are going to be holding this Government to account for all of those promises. We want to see those targets really in place. Let's put some real numbers on it. Let's see intergenerational welfare families in it for decades not just the last three four five even nine years but actually decades; families that have been falling into traps of poverty and traps of welfare dependence—let's see you get into the heart of what the real issues are instead of spreading money around and merely hoping that you throw it to the right person who does the right thing with it. It is hard complex work. There are systems in place. I hope you take advice. I hope you take a breath. I hope you look at the things that are working and not throw them out just because you ideologically believe that you know so much better than anybody else.So I end on wishing for this 52nd Parliament: that it be robust that we have a contest of ideas and that we don't ever lose sight that it is about New Zealanders—and not just about everyone passionately being right—and doing it well. Thank you."