June 17, 2016
National smacks down parental leave bill
The Maori Party says National’s veto of the paid parental leave bill is a slap in the face to MMP.
Finance Minister Deputy Prime Minister involved the financial veto because he said the Government can’t afford the expense of extending paid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks.
The Maori Party’s support for Labour MP Sue Moroney’s bill, along with the vote of United Future’s Peter Dunne, would have been enough to get it over the line.
Maori Party co-leader Marama Fox says National could have negotiated other options rather than blocking the Bill at its third reading.
She says the first six months of a baby’s life are critical to their overall development, and the extension of paid parental leave was a great investment in the nation’s future.
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