SpeechAGNES LOHENI (National): Talofa lava Mr Speaker. A pleasure to take this call on the Veterans' Support Amendment Bill (No 2) and it is a pleasure—it is indeed a pleasure—to take this call. There wouldn't be anyone in New Zealand who does not feel grateful or indebted to our wonderful veterans and pleased to see this bill come into the House which ultimately provides additional strength and support to the Veterans' Support Act 2014 which gained cross-party support.I'd like to particularly acknowledge the veterans and their advocates who made contributions to the report and particularly also to commend as has been acknowledged already in the House the work the dedication and the commitment to this from Professor Ron Paterson. The Paterson report of course laid out some really significant concerns and the issues that veterans have faced in accessing their support entitlements and so I'm pleased that back in 2014 it was the National Government that commissioned Professor Paterson to undertake this work and so pleased to be here to see it being processed through.As I stand in support of this Veterans' Support Amendment Bill (No 2) I cast my mind back. I've heard fantastic stories of ancestors of my children who made contributions in the two World Wars and it is with pride and humility that I look on those efforts that those people made that enable me to stand before you today. Also as the associate spokesperson for Pacific Peoples it is with equal pride that I think of the Samoan Tongan Niuean and Cook Islanders who joined our New Zealand contingents putting their lives on the line for the freedoms and the liberties that we enjoy today. And I acknowledge our veterans today the men and women that have served in various theatres in recent years and should rightly be supported in their later years.I do though have to express a little bit of disappointment that it has taken the length of time it has to get this bill back in front of the House given that we've got a very short window of time left leading up to the election. The Paterson report a review required of the original 2014 Act was undertaken and tabled in 2018; yet here we are in the midst of—still—a lockdown period event two years later only just addressing the issues that report raised.That said I am pleased to see that the recommendations of the Paterson report were largely adopted by the Minister and this bill today pretty much reflects much of that. I'm also pleased that the consultation process with the veterans and their families is under way. That's very important that they have the opportunity to voice their feelings to share their stories and to add into this. It is a testament of course to the power of good legislation when a full parliamentary process is followed. The report-back period is critical to the passing of good legislation. This bill and the process we are following stands as an example of proper legislative reform. Perhaps there's a lesson in this for all of us in this House. So I'm pleased to see that this bill picks up much of what has been proposed and I'd just like to highlight a couple of those recommendations from the report. One in particular was giving Veterans' Affairs New Zealand the ability to fund mental health services—a key crucial area established—and the ability to fund treatment and the rehabilitation services when a veteran is imprisoned and the addition of extending the limited entitlement to treatment or counselling to the veteran's spouse their partner their children their dependants and any other person providing non-professional support. I'm very pleased to see the extension of the children's bursary to include industry training organisations in New Zealand or overseas. And I'd just also like to note the abolishment of the five-year restriction on childcare assistance.So I'd like to acknowledge you Mr Ron Mark. We are here now and what a great day to be able to progress through for those veterans that we are very indebted to. I commend this bill. Thank you Madam Speaker.