Kanongata'a-Suisuiki AnahilaANAHILA KANONGATA'A-SUISUIKI (Labour): Madam Deputy Speaker it's an absolute privilege to stand here to speak on this Oranga Tamariki (Parent's and Guardian's Responsibility) Amendment Bill. I want to acknowledge the member Barbara Kuriger. I'm counting my six months in this place and I see her as someone who is hard working but I'm sad for her that this is something that—yeah I'm just going to start this. I chose to become political because I come from a place where I can actually say that I bring the voice of experience. In 2000 I became a youth justice social worker in Grey Lynn Auckland central. In 2007 I became a youth justice manager in South Auckland Māngere-Ōtāhuhu. So I think it's fair to say that I bring the voice of experience. We've heard it from all over the place—the passion that's come out of here—but I think what I can contribute to this is that we are legislating what I think is punishing vulnerable parents. In my experience I've heard members of this House talk about vulnerable children vulnerable communities but for me vulnerable children come from vulnerable parenting or vulnerable homes. That's why I am saddened for the hard-working member from across the floor that this bill is in her name. This is about punishing vulnerable parents.The member across the floor the Hon Alfred Ngaro stated that there are over 5700 children in State care. I might say in those statistics there are 1109 young people who are over the age of 14 years and I want to say that because at any one time the State can become that parent who has been talked about today. So I want to refer to the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 where it defines what a young person is. Part 2 of this Act talks about a young person over the age of 14 years but under the age of 18 years. That is care and protection and that's what the rest of everyone has been talking about which is separate to what we are talking about tonight which is Parts 4 and 5 which define a young person as being over 14 years and under the age of 17 years. So that is youth justice.If we take that definition and we look at the number of young people who are in care we're looking at 1119 young people who are currently in the care of the State who is the parent and the guardian. If in an unfortunate experience this young person ends up in the Youth Court and under section 240 conditions of bail subsection (1) Where a child or young person is released on bail pursuant to 238(1)(b) [that] court may impose … a condition [on] that child or young person's release [to] the child or young person shall not"—it goes on to talk about the child's or young person's parent. So who in the State is going to be that person who is going to be under new section 240A of the bill if you're talking about that?I want to also talk about social investment. Because I bring personal insight into the workings of Oranga Tamariki in my 30 years' experience in this organisation I want to refrain from talking about what I actually know and go to the stats. I know it's late at night but can you please bear with me. The total Youth Court outcomes for the last financial year were 2013. In the total Youth Court outcomes there were 1278 young Māori people there were 453 European people 189 Pacific people and 93 others. Of those 2013 the court discharged 618 of those charges. But what I want to get to in terms of social investment and investing in vulnerable parents is that 93 of those charges ended up being convicted and sentenced in the adult court. What are we doing? What are we doing? We are subjecting vulnerable parents who have got vulnerable young people—according to the last financial year 93 ended up in the District Court. We are feeding our prisons.I say to you the member from across the House I don't support this. We really need to invest in supporting vulnerable parents if that's what you call social investment. Thank you."