Ngaro Alfred: Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 23 July 2014. Volume:700;Page:19443. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National):Kia orana Mr Chair.The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson): Meitaki.ALFRED NGARO: Meitaki maata Mr Chair. I rise to take a call on this Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave) Amendment Bill. I want to begin by saying that we know that families are important and children are important to us. I know that in the last Committee debate on this bill there were a number of accusations coming from across the Chamber. I wanted to stand to speak because one of the accusations was that we as politicians on this side of the Chamber in this Government do not care for families and do not care for children and that is absolutely not true at all. I also want to make the point that the comments that seemed to keep coming from the other side were that because we oppose this bill we do not care for children we do not care for families and that is not true at all.It is not true at all because when we look at the record of this Government and at the things that are absolutely important to this Government—at a time when we had the global financial crisis and at a time when things were difficult—it has been said time and time again that this Government actually stood firm and stood strong on the things that were absolutely important and that is our children and our families and the things that matter most to most Kiwis. So I just want to put on record that we absolutely do not agree with the comments that have been made from the Opposition at all.So how do we show that? This Government has actually said quite clearly in regard to paid parental leave that it was not against the aspect of the time period. In fact it has shown in Budget 2014 that it has been extended by another 4 weeks. Why? Because the fact is that as in all Governments and in governance you have to balance your responsibilities along with the rights that are actually important and that is what this Government has absolutely done. These are the things that actually show.For those who are New Zealanders out there those who are Kiwis out there those who are mums and dads and families out there who want to know what this Government has done and is doing in that regard Budget 2014 was really clear. We wanted to continue that role of working for families in New Zealand. So what is important is around health—free general practitioner visits and free prescriptions for children under the age of 13. We have increased that ability so that the mums and dads who are out there know that when their child is sick they can take their child to the doctor and can get a prescription. In fact it was Mr Faafoi who was talking about being down in Porirua where he saw prescriptions sitting on a chemist’s shelf waiting for parents to pick them up. Mr Faafoi actually talked about that. He talked about prescriptions in Porirua—you will remember that in his speech—and about how parents were waiting to pick them up but they could not afford them.It is quite clear that the extension by this Government to have not only free general practitioner visits but also the ability to pick up those prescriptions Mr Faafoi is important. We do care to ensure that families do get the medication they need as well. He is getting ready now. I can see a speech coming from him but there is more to come.The other thing that is important is that 4 weeks’ extra paid parental leave has been extended to a number of caregivers who were not traditionally eligible and that becomes important. We have increased the parental tax credit by $70 a week to $220 a week and extended it by 2 weeks to 10 weeks. That we know is truly making a difference to those families out there.What is also important out there is the issue around education. We know that ensuring our children can get into early childhood education makes a difference to their ability to go from the non-compulsory sector into the compulsory sector. We think that is important. In order to be able to do that again the party of actions has ensured Mrs Martin—the fact is that we have increased early childhood education services to get more kids participating and to keep fees down so that parents can access those services like Nukutukulea for instance in Māngere where we took the Prime Minister and where he met with that Niuean preschool and where they celebrated and enjoyed the fact that we have extended those hours as well.Le'aufa'amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor: Same name last one.ALFRED NGARO: That is right Mrs Asenati Lole- Taylor. They made sure that they enjoyed the opportunity to extend their care. This is what they actually said. They said: “Thank you Prime Minister because under your Government we have thrived as well.” So we know that participation in early childhood education has grown as well under this Government.The other thing that is important is to say that we care for our children. I have been involved in a sector where we know that our children are vulnerable. The issues of abuse and neglect have been of great concern to this Government as well so we have extended support for vulnerable children. It includes eight new children’s teams to work with at-risk children and families and to support children in care as well. That becomes absolutely important as well. With extended and expanded paid parental leave and increasing the parental tax credit this will give parents more choices about what is best for them at an important time for their families as well.The other thing we have done as well that is important is around again extending the ability for health early childhood education and secondary education and I know that becomes important. I know that Ms Martin is talking about the fact of charter schools and so forth and we know that that becomes a point of difference because it gives communities—[Interruption] Here we go again.I challenge Ms Martin to go to those communities look them in the eye and say to them that their vision for their children young and old and parents who are looking after their children—I challenge that member to go to them and say to them that actually their vision of a better tomorrow and a better outcome for their children is not valid. I challenge her to do that. She will not do that. Instead she will sit here with parliamentary privilege and begin to quote all the things that she thinks go wrong but she will not enter those communities. Why? Because they are the very communities that have actually asked for it they need it and they want it as well. That becomes absolutely important to what we are doing.I just want to begin to slowly sort of sum up what I want to say on this because I think it is absolutely important. It is making a difference. I do want to say that those schools—and I want to acknowledge the Rise UP school as well—are really important. They have said there in Māngere that these are the things that they need for their children whether young or old children who have got parents and parents with their children whom they are bringing along. They are saying that that is absolutely important to them as well.We know that the fact is that as a Government we are doing all the things that are necessary and that are needed to care for children from health to education. At the same time too we want to say that caring for children is not just about extending parental leave. It is about a whole range of things that make a difference to our families in our communities as well. I stand on behalf of the Government to say that we oppose this bill but what we do support is children. We do support parents in their role to care for their children as well hence the stance that we are taking at the moment. I stand here as a father of four children and a grandfather of two knowing the fact is that the things we are doing do make a difference. I am confident in knowing that fact. What I do support is the fact that—