INDEPENDENT NEWS

National short changes new parents

Published: Thu 26 Jun 2014 11:54 AM
Sue Moroney
Social Development Spokesperson
26 June 2014
National short changes new parents
Prospective new parents around the country have been delivered a low blow with National’s political games resulting in a bill to extend paid parental leave not being passed before the election, Labour’s Social Development spokesperson Sue Moroney says.
“National turned the needs of New Zealand families into a fiasco last night by filibustering a bill on laser beams that was supported by every party, to delay the debate on my bill that would give new mums and dads 26 weeks paid parental leave.
“Its performance was desperate and disrespectful and continued the games it has played for more than two years over this issue.
“The fiasco could have been stopped by Peter Dunne supporting Labour’s attempts to move the debate on. He chose to let it continue.
“At one stage, I counted 16 of National’s male MPs arriving in the debating chamber to stop the paid parental leave Bill completing its committee stages.
“The whole performance was designed to prevent National having to use its threatened financial veto.
“The Government clearly realised it didn’t have sufficient grounds to stop the Bill for financial reasons, so resorted to playing politics instead.
“It is clear that the only way to progress this extension to paid parental leave is to change the Government on September 20.”
ENDS

Next in New Zealand politics

Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
By: New Zealand Government
GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan
By: New Zealand Government
New Zealand Provides Further Humanitarian Support To Gaza And The West Bank
By: New Zealand Government
High Court Judge Appointed
By: New Zealand Government
Parliamentary Network Breached By The PRC
By: New Zealand Government
Tax Cuts Now Even More Irresponsible
By: New Zealand Labour Party
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media