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Yes, let’s talk about the bill, Bill


David
SHEARER
Labour Leader
15 April 2012 MEDIA ADVISORY
Yes, let’s talk about the bill, Bill

Labour is seeking a 'conversation' with the Government over extensions to paid parental leave after the Acting Prime Minister today indicated there could be room for compromise.

“On TVNZ's Q+A programme today, Finance Minister and Acting Prime Minister Bill English said that ‘if the economy picks up and we get back to surplus sooner then of course there's room for discussion about all those things people want us to have more of’,” Labour Leader David Shearer said.

“I have written to the Government seeking that discussion.

"Given Mr English’s stated willingness to discuss the issue, and with most parties in Parliament voicing support for Sue Moroney's bill, we need to look at how we can advance the scheme.

"Labour understands that the Government is struggling to grow the economy and return to surplus, and therefore the chance to have a discussion offers the potential to find a way forward.

“Bill English's statement that National 'welcomes' a conversation about extending paid parental leave and his commitment that, 'no one [is] prevented from discussing this' indicate the Government is prepared to look at issues around timing and the entitlement period.

"One area that certainly needs more discussion is in the costing the Government is using, which appears to be Labour's costing from before the election. This doesn’t include offsets for savings from things such as reduced demand for childcare subsidies.

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“Having officials produce detailed costing before exercising its veto would be an important step forward in the conversation,” David Shearer said.

"It's important to move beyond partisan bickering and look at how we can extend assistance for families in these tough economic times.

"In view of the Finance Minister's claim that he fully supports the principle of paid parental leave, I invite him to remove his threat of a veto to enable all parties to have the meaningful discussion he says he wants.

“I have written to Mr English making that offer," David Shearer said.


Hon Bill English
Acting Prime Minister
Minister of Finance


Dear Bill

As you know a Labour Member's Bill to extend the paid parental leave scheme has been drawn from the ballot, and the Government has informally signalled its intention to exercise the financial veto over the Bill if it passes third reading in its present form.

I noted your statement on TVNZ's Q+A program today that you welcome a "conversation" about the future of paid parental leave, your comment "that if the economy picks up and we get back to surplus sooner then of course there's room for discussion about all those things people want us to have more of", and your expression of support for the principle of paid parental leave.

I was also interested in your response to questions about the cost of the policy. In particular you relied on Labour's pre-election costing although it's not clear you are allowing for offsets such as savings in childcare subsidies nor for higher long term tax receipts from encouraging more women to return to skilled jobs if paid parental leave is available.

I welcome the indication that the Government is open to a discussion, and I would like to invite you to meet with us before the Bill reaches the House.

It's important that we move beyond partisan bickering over this important issue and seek ways to advance assistance for families in these tough economic times. For example, it would be useful to go further into the costings, and to have the conversation you suggest around issues of timing and the extent of an expanded scheme.

A majority of parties in the House are voicing their support for an extension to paid parental leave and therefore most parties would welcome the opportunity to have the discussion.

I hope you will give this invitation your sincere consideration.

Yours sincerely,
David Shearer
Leader of the Opposition

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