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Govt still plans to block parental leave bill

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Govt still plans to block parental leave bill

3News NZ

Finance Minister Bill English is standing firm on the Government's decision to veto (Photo: Jared Mason)

Finance Minister Bill English is standing firm on the Government's decision to veto (Photo: Jared Mason)

A Labour-backed bill to extend paid parental leave from 14 weeks to six months looks set to pass its first reading on Wednesday, but the Government is sticking to a pledge to kill it with its financial veto.

Labour's Sue Moroney needs 61 votes to get her bill through - and with the support of all opposition parties, along with United Future and the Maori Party, she'll have exactly enough.

National and ACT are both opposing the bill, and the Government will use its veto at the bill's third reading because of the estimated extra cost of $150 million a year, which ministers say would have to be borrowed.

Labour leader David Shearer says despite its inevitable death, the bill should be discussed by a select committee.

"I think New Zealanders are supportive of it. Obviously we have to be financially responsive to the situation right now, but we still believe that this is something New Zealanders would like to see," he said.

"We think that Treasury and IRD, if they could put up the figures of how we could look at this bill, where we think it could go, how it could be phased in over time possibly, if there's economic issues around it."

Finance Minister Bill English is standing firm on the Government's decision to veto.

"The Government's made its intentions clear. We want to maintain the current scheme - about $150m a year - because it's important to the families, we just don't have the [money] that this bill would cost to put on top of the additional scheme."

NZN

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Comments

16/08/2012 11:36:05 a.m.

Jan wrote:

Labour is doing nothing apart from criticizing everything the Govt is doing, give us a break! We need our so called rich to assist our so called poor. If the so called rich leave NZ I would hate to think what would happen. It is obvious we are still seeing "politics of envy" Wake up David and your bunch and do something positive. We don't have "money trees"
We true New Zealanders aren't afraid of work and don't depend on "socialism" to get through life. When I had my children I managed to scrape through whilst I was unable to work - I was a "solo" mum for most of this time. I consider myself a better person for being independent and not reliant on the State.

25/07/2012 8:09:43 p.m.

well heres an idea plan wrote:

while in a perfect world 6 months maternity leave would be great its not a financilly viable option for NZ at the moment. I think an employer should hold a job or do the best they can for their woman staff but if your planning to have a family then plan to support yourself and work around the options you have. Employers are going to be put off hiring woman if they are forced to pay two wages.

25/07/2012 6:32:08 p.m.

The_Watcher wrote:

The people waffling on about the "global recession" and "tough economic times" make me laugh. National is wasting money on subsidizing polluters, offering free shares to the wealthiest NZers that will be paid for by the people who can't afford shares, boosting private school funding and other such private sector projects that, quite frankly, will benefit nobody but NZ's wealthiest. Money traders and speculators, corporations, etc, those are the real blight on the economy because the middle/low income areas don't control enough of the countries wealth to do any damage whatsoever. Rich get richer and austerity for everyone else. That is the National Party's plan. Don't believe me? Just take a look around the country and see which group is making record profits and which isn't.

25/07/2012 4:21:29 p.m.

Mike B wrote:

I am so over people like David and his cronies attacking everything the National government does. Let me advise once again how this country is actually run. 97% of tax revenue is received from people earning $120k or more. That is only 8% of the working population! So to hear how this government is “stealing” from the poor and giving to the rich really starts getting a bit much. David, ranting about how this government was not elected by the majority and then telling us that the 33% who did not vote would have voted for Labour! You are all pathetic! Someone challenged Labour to stop attacking everything National did and come up with how they intend getting us out of this economic slump. I am yet to see any suggestions from them. The reason we see nothing is because they have nothing!!!! David you are all your leftist buddies can do yourselves a hell of a favour and get off your butts and do something for yourselves for a change. The feeling of achievement is bloody great!!!!!

25/07/2012 3:36:11 p.m.

Chris wrote:

Lefties love to think there is a free money tree in the garden. Lazy lefties love to live out of hard working Kiwis wallets. Welfare socialism has done more damage then anything on this planet. It creates a dependency on the state, it robs motivation, it creates intergenerational unemployment, the breakdown of families and leads to suicide, drug use and crime. Labour has blood on there hands and brain washed morons like DAVID and MADNESS support this corrupt and evil ideology. Thank goodness normal thinking Kiwis booted them out - never again will we go there with Labours failed social experiments. Thankfully with that tosser and pathetic 'leader' Shearer they will have little show of again gaining power.

25/07/2012 1:30:16 p.m.

Petit Paw wrote:

I cannot understand what Labour are thinking in trying to introduce this bill. Have they not heard of the global recession, the CHCH quakes? Thank you National for taking responsibility on this and stopping this bill. There won't be any employers left in NZ by the time Labour has bankrupted them all!

25/07/2012 12:18:44 p.m.

madness wrote:

I so love seeing National digging their hole deeper but it is such a long time till the next election, what a mess we could have by then with these idiots.
David Shearer needs to step up and like has been said show how he can do it different to get votes. David wrote below a comment about how national doesn't support families it is all about the rich, which sadly was known before Key conned people into voting him back in again. So glad I wised up and didn't but hey they still got in. We pay their wages why can't they pull in their purse strings and stop wasting money. An example was the three coloured page survey they sent out questioning what we as voters want and who we voted for. I binned it and didn't bother. Yet another 10s of thousands wasted money. Like people are going to help them decide what to target to try and get back in next time. I just hope all the non rich in this country don't vote them back in, if that happened we could guarantee the end of this downhill spin the country is in. National need to go!!!!!!

25/07/2012 12:01:50 p.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "A Labour-backed bill to extend paid parental leave from 14 weeks to six months looks set to pass its first reading on Wednesday, but the Government is sticking to a pledge to kill it with its financial veto."

Thank you Mr English for vetoeing this reckless and idiotic idea by Labour, who when they were in Government for NINE years - didnt think it was good enough idea then to implement the scheme.

The 14 weeks paid parental leave already cost the hard working tax payer $150m a year.

If people want to have babies, that is their choice and should plan for the additional expenses, not expect a tax payer subsidy for their decision.

Is this the best idea on offer from Labour to try and win more votes at the next election - if this is it, look forward to a further three years in opposition.

25/07/2012 11:41:10 a.m.

Gary wrote:

It would be great to see such a worthy scheme implimented but right now NZ can ill afford it and that shows what a disaster this government is. We are a small nation with more and more leaving for Oz so going backwards. Having to sell strategic and profitable assets to keep afloat says it all really. It is silly to put forward such a bill at this time unless she can show it makes savings some where else due to x,y,z. David Shearer should have stopped this bill being put forward as its just political point scoring and does nothing for NZ situation now. Come on Labour stop playing the same games as National and step up to the challenge of being a party worthy of peoples votes.

25/07/2012 11:40:50 a.m.

Martin wrote:

The country is getting by financially by the grit of its teeth and we can not afford any more expense. The current leave period has survived so far and will have to for some time in the future. Comments blast the government for spending more than it can afford so this is one more that can be put on the back burner that is not an urgent spend. Seems everyone wants it all from the government, wants it now but doesn't want asset sales. One more moronic move from labour to try and score brownie points. Still waiting patiently for someone to post a viable financial package. Still waiting for the Maori camp to put the Waitangi claims on the back burner too. Schooling, Hospital care and police are necessities as is sorting Christchurch. Unless you are an MPs salary, or a higher paid position the boat, flash car, caravan and other toys can wait to ensure your children are safe have proper medical care, are fed nutritionally and schooled well. But then that is logical and the truth sometimes is painful so I would not make a good mp.