Dowie Sarah: Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave and Work Contact Hours) Amendment Bill — First ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeDowie Sarah: Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Paid Leave and Work Contact Hours) Amendment Bill — First Reading[Sitting date: 16 September 2015. Volume:708;Page:6737. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]SARAH DOWIE (National—Invercargill): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker for the opportunity to take this call on the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months’ Leave and Work Contact Hours) Amendment Bill 2015. It is quite a lengthy title but I think it is one that goes obviously to the heart of the bill. Although I do rise in opposition to this bill I am not ungracious and want to acknowledge the work of Ms Sue Moroney in championing this topic. It is a very valid topic to bring to the House and I think it is a worthwhile debate.Paid parental leave is a concept that has been part of our system and our law books only since 1987. It started with humble beginnings with a simple mechanism to ensure that working parents were protected with 12 months’ employment in their jobs. Of course there was not paid parental leave at that stage. It was simply a protection for their employment. In fact we need to acknowledge the history of this topic in that it was a long row to hoe and it was not until 2002 that 12 weeks’ parental leave was brought into our law.That was after of course a lengthy campaign led by a number of different bodies but of course won with the establishment of the Ministry of Woman’s Affairs as it was called back then which led some research on paid parental leave and the benefits of that. So as I say it was a long row to hoe but we are fortunate enough now to have paid parental leave in our books.But in my mind it goes to a wider issue and that is about also enabling equal opportunities for women in balance with what is best for baby. There are several published and documented outcomes on the benefits of paid parental leave. Of course some of those include increased breastfeeding opportunities and all the health benefits that are associated with that. As we are aware breastmilk is a perfect food source for baby. It is made up of the correct compound of vitamins and proteins and because of that extra time bonding it is easily digestible for baby and helps prevent infections from bacteria and viruses. That is one of the benefits of paid parental leave.I touched on it before—this time gives parents and mums that valued quality time to bond with baby. In some cultures they even exclude visitors. They basically keep that time those initial few months for immediate family members so that there is quality bonding. The family unit is seen as having the utmost importance so they exclude visitors.But one of the great things about paid parental leave and certainly one that I experienced as a mother is that it gives parents the time to connect into the community and to connect into different community groups such as support clubs and community activities. This promotes camaraderie and that community spirit especially if somebody is isolated and away from their immediate family members.In my case one of the things that I got involved in was through the Playcentre Federation. There was a programme called SPACE. Albeit the first year as a first-time mum with my baby was quite a blur and I probably could have been called spaced out SPACE does not mean that. It is an acronym that stands for Supporting Parents Alongside Children’s Education. It was designed for first-time mums. A group of about 14 of us would come along weekly with children aged between zero and 4 months. We were all first-time mums. As those children were going through the same developmental phases in their lives we were able to learn about that. We were able to share information and support each other through those changes and build that camaraderie. I am really pleased that the women in that group are still part of my life today. That support network is invaluable as we move forward as mothers and now as working mothers in our careers. Part of being able to stay in touch is of course the use of electronic media which was debated earlier in the House. So I certainly support that.But the other thing that is great about paid parental leave is that of course it reduces financial stress on families. That of course is a real help when you suddenly find yourself with a new baby. You have finished work for a time. Babies are expensive and every little bit helps families. All of this is a great foundation to springboard the improved well-being of children as they develop into the future and achieve their hopes and dreams.One last point about paid parental leave that I will mention is that it has been found to reduce the risk of post-natal depression in women. I just say to people out there that that is a very real illness it is a very serious illness and it can have devastating effects on families.As I mentioned also though paid parental leave goes to a wider issue in that it protects employment opportunities as well. It enables a person to have their position safeguarded and hopefully to have their career progression safeguarded as well. Mums or dads in that case who take parental leave and go away to raise their child and bond with them in those initial first few months do not have to worry about the employment side of things. But also when people go back to work after having a child it is really good for our businesses and for our country.The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): Order! The member’s speech is particularly interesting but I want to invite her in the last 3 minutes to actually address the bill. Thank you.SARAH DOWIE: Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker.It maintains diversity. This bill goes to paid parental leave which is a concept that basically maintains diversity in the workplace. It is better all round for our country because it promotes better decision-making and better solutions.In respect of Budget 2014 we extended paid parental leave in this country from 16 weeks from April this year to 18 weeks from April 2016. That extension as opposed to this bill was brought in after considerable consideration of finances and the costs of other competing priorities and services that this Government has to provide for New Zealanders. Notwithstanding this as the member opposite Sue Moroney mentioned the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety has now worked with interested parties to extend the eligibility requirements for paid parental leave in his recent Employment Standards Legislation Bill. I note that the member opposite Sue Moroney is a member of the Transport and Industrial Relations Committee and I know that she will contribute to that debate well. I look forward to that also. I know that we can have a really positive outcome for New Zealand that is fully costed as well.In respect of this bill there is mentioned in this bill the concept of “keeping in touch” hours but that is something that the Employment Standards Legislation Bill also introduces. As it is detailed there it is about enabling employees to go back to work for 40 hours during the period of receiving parental leave payments. That is really important when you do have a career. Specifically in my case as a solicitor you can lose your confidence when you are at home raising your baby and you are out of the profession. So I think that is a really great initiative to allow women to go back to work to stay in touch albeit not in those first 4 weeks because that is a really crucial time for bonding. But it enables people to stay in touch with their work and maintain their confidence in that respect. So look the intent of this bill and the spirit of this bill are good I acknowledge that but—The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Hon Trevor Mallard): I regret to interrupt the member. Her time has expired.