O'Connor SimonSIMON O'CONNOR (National—Tāmaki): Thank you Madam Chair Tolley. Look I want to take I think a relatively brief call on this but we'll see if that ends up being true. I think the concept of this is a good thing and why it's quite positive—it's in a very similar vein to the previous one in terms of having someone do an overview. But why this is particularly important and why I believe the Hon Louise Upston has put it forward is that it is an acknowledgment first and foremost as we would expect that the Minister his officials and the various ministries will be doing their reviews. We can anticipate that the Ministry of Social Development the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and so forth will actually be reviewing and that's excellent. I imagine various select committees will be looking at this; that's excellent too.So I think it's important in the initial context that we understand there are some reviews. But really there isn't much better than having an independent source and I know from both sides of the House that there is respect for what the Children's Commissioner does. We've heard throughout the course of the day—in fact even in the policy development over all this of this entire bill which this particular amendment addresses—the talk about reviews and evidence base.Well I think—and I would hope but we would welcome the Minister's reply—that a little bit more evidence would be a welcome thing. Again evidence-based" is being used many many a time here and if you couple that with the respect that the commissioner has regardless of the particular person then here is a great opportunity. So even though someone like myself is broadly opposed to a lot of what this bill is doing—or more the how it's doing it—I am supportive that there is going to be if this tabled amendment is accepted a further mechanism to review.Now the Children's Commissioner will have a very prescribed role. The fact that it's every year I think again is positive. It could have been for longer. It could have been a three-year cycle but when we're talking about our children in particular they grow up and they grow up quickly. For those of us with children—or in my case inherited—you realise that they change very quickly in a short period of time so I don't think it's unreasonable of the member who's put this amendment forward to make it a yearly report.As it says it's there to look at the impact of every element of this bill. It's not here to be particular on any part; it's an overall impact. I think and I would hope for—and it's perhaps something outside effectively what the amendment needs to be—is actually a conversation between the Minister and the Children's Commissioner for what that review might look like in coming in front of the House. And look there's always the chance that the Minister or the Ministers responsible for this will get challenged.But you know what? The Minister too might even get—to put it into a little bit more childish parlance—some warm fuzzies. He might even get some—not literal ones but you know some warm fuzzies from the Children's Commissioner. And actually perhaps if I could even float this as a small token a positive set of reports from the Children's Commissioner as a result of this amendment may provide that Minister the opportunity to ask this side of the House to reconsider its position. So think of the opportunity—think of the opportunity. [Interruption] That member too but I'm sure it wouldn't go to his personality might be able to take such reports which would be glowing of his families package and beat the Opposition around the head. Now I know that's not his style. He's a very quiet man but there is that opportunity.Look I think overall this does sit—and I'm sorry that the previous amendment was defeated down but this one is particularly looking at our young people. Maybe as a way to try and influence the other side in thinking about this—while we may be looking in the previous part at superannuitants and there isn't necessarily a lot of change in their lives this is about the young people in those first years of their life which this overall families package is addressing and seeking to embetter. There is an enormous amount of change and perhaps just perhaps the initiatives being put forward in this bill aren't quite landing in the space that they're required. So I'll conclude by returning as I often do in my speeches to where I started from acknowledging that there are a lot of good speech tactics.Hon Member: A very small circle.SIMON O'CONNOR: Oh no not a whirlpool—going up actually. But no seriously I understand the Minister will have many people providing him advice but the Children's Commissioner provides a very particular if not unique perspective—one that is independent and dare I argue here it actually could be that independent type of review and commentary that all sides of the House would be able to take respect and understand. So I commend this amendment to the House and certainly urge members to give it serious consideration."