SpeechHon TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West): Thank you Madam Chair. Before I add my support to the two Supplementary Order Papers (SOPs) in the name of Melissa Lee could I just note that this is the first time I've spoken in this debate and I want to thank all members because I believe it's been a very respectful debate. This is a very emotional and challenging issue for all of us and I'm delighted that we haven't had too much acrimony. Of course it's been highly charged that's right but I am glad that it's been a respectful debate.Although I haven't taken a call I've been listening carefully to what has been said by all members and I want to thank them for those very thoughtful contributions. One of the reasons why I haven't sought the call before now is I do believe that this is one issue where the woman's voice should be heard first and foremost. It doesn't mean that men don't have a valid opinion—of course we do—but until such time as men can understand the difficulty of an unplanned unwanted pregnancy and agonising over a decision that might need to be made particularly if there's an abnormality in the pregnancy we do need to respect the fact that our world view is very different and I do therefore respect the views particularly of women in this debate.But I want to turn now to the two SOPs in the name of Melissa Lee. I'm the father of two wonderful daughters. They are talented they are funny they're intelligent—Hon Ruth Dyson: You're biased!Hon TIM MACINDOE: —they're caring they're motivated and yes Ms Dyson I am biased but they are the best. I remember so vividly even though it's quite a few years ago now the utter delight the joy of the night that my first daughter was born. I was the happiest father in the world. Nothing could take away from my absolute pleasure my joy that evening. Then just 17 months later our second daughter was born. I'm going to confess that just for a moment—because I think all men probably do want to have a son—there was a moment of disappointment that I'd had another daughter. Well I apologise to my second daughter because she is the most beautiful young woman and I love her dearly and almost within a few minutes once I'd adjusted to the fact that I was now the father of two daughters I realised how lucky I was and she has given me nothing but pleasure and pride and joy and my wife since then.So I mention this Madam Chair because I think it's relevant. I can see you're telling me to focus on the bill. We are facing the possibility of replicating a situation that we know exists in some countries around the world where sex selection is a reason for an abortion. And while I would never have contemplated that for a moment I think it is horrific to even contemplate the circumstance where such an abomination could be contemplated. We have to be mindful of the fact that if we have such liberal amendments to our law as seem to be being proposed under this particular measure that could be the outcome. So I strongly endorse Ms Lee's SOP. We must ensure that sex selection should never be contemplated as a reason or be made permissible as a reason for an abortion.The second one of course that she is dealing with is the matter of disabilities. One of the great privileges of being a member of Parliament is the opportunity we have to meet with members of the disabled community—and there are so many different types of disability—in our electorates and around the country. Without exception I have found them the most admirable impressive lovely people. I am motivated to speak tonight because so many of them have contacted us as members of Parliament urging us pleading with us to support Melissa's amendment and to resist any possibility that we would liberalise our abortion laws in this country so as to make it more likely that those who are going to be born disabled should be aborted.I recognise that there are some tragic circumstances where an abortion is often the right outcome and I say that because we don't want to imperil the life of the mother. I also recognise that for some people facing the challenge of raising a disabled child is incredibly difficult and I don't in any way undermine that. I have nothing but admiration for those who are raising disabled children but they are beautiful people. They are equal people. As a Christian I believe that they are as my children are a gift from God. I want to do everything I can to speak up for them to protect them to resist any move in this bill that might threaten them because we've seen what happens particularly in Nazi Germany when that can happen. We must never allow that to happen here.