Urgency

I move, That urgency be accorded the introduction, first reading, and second reading of the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill.

This bill was part of the Government’s 100-day plan—is part of the Government’s 100-day plan—and has been well traversed in this House on several occasions previously. Previously, the bill was passed through all stages, to third reading, before being voted down the first time. The second time, it was passed through all stages before being financially vetoed at the third reading. Therefore, the Government does not believe it is necessary to take the bill through a further select committee process.

Urgency is required in order to introduce the bill and have a first reading today. Without the use of urgency, the Government would be unable to progress any other business today other than the Address in Reply debate, because the Order Paper has only just been reinstated. Therefore, there is an important element to doing that.

We did seek whether there would be leave forthcoming in order to introduce the bill without the need for urgency and do the first reading today, and it was clear that leave would not be granted for that. We also sought whether leave could be granted for the bill to have its first and second readings without the need for urgency, and there was not leave forthcoming for that either. Therefore, in order to progress this matter, in order to give the parents of New Zealand certainty as to when their paid parental leave increase will come into force, the Government believes that urgency is required.