May 29, 2014
Vote mix up nixes parental leave bill
A Maori Party mishap has allowed the Government to shoot down Labour’s paid parental leave bill.
The party intended to support the bill by Labour’s Sue Moroney to extend paid parental leave to 26 weeks, but it ticked the wrong box in the proxy form it left with the whips.
National seized on the confusion and rushed the bill into the house yesterday after weeks of delay, rejecting it by 63 votes to 58.
The Maori Party must now seek leave of Parliament to have its three votes recounted.
National has already made it clear it would veto the bill because it involved a budget allocation.
It included its own change in the budget to extend paid parental leave from 14 to 16 weeks next year and 18 weeks in 2016.
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