Editorial: Answers are still needed

Being a new mother must be a time of mixed emotions these days.

Obviously there is the happiness of having a new bundle of joy, but that can be tempered by the stress of being forced to go back to work sooner rather than later just to make ends meet.

Working mothers have enough guilt these days, but having a new baby in these tough economic times must be very stressful.

Bill English and John Key are obviously past the baby phase judging by their stance on Labour MP Sue Moroney's Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill.

This bill, which was drawn out of the Pre-Easter ballot of bills, would see paid parental leave increase from 14 weeks to 26 weeks.

Expectant parents around the country had cause for cheer when it was drawn because it would have made having a new baby just that tiny bit easier.

This joy was shortlived when it became clear that Labour just did not have the numbers to get the bill passed into law and also when the National Government said it would veto the motion if it got to the third reading.

Bill English and the government make a valid argument that the country cannot afford legislation that they say is going to cost us $150 million.

National is working hard to reduce our debt and has indicated that May's budget will be a zero budget with no new spending introduced. This is commendable in these tight economic times, but surely it is wrong to shut down debate on a subject that could help out a lot of young families.

Maybe there is an affordable way of extending the leave that no one has thought of yet. We need the debate.

On TVNZ's Q&A; programme yesterday, Mr English denied that this was the end of the debate.

"The fact is there will be a conversation. No one's prevented from discussing this and we welcome that conversation."

That does not seem right. How can there be a discussion with the hope of a compromise when the Government has already drawn a line in the sand?

I am all for a government being prudent about spending, but then again when is a good time to introduce such things?

National does not want it because it is not a priority. However, I have no doubt that if a future Labour Government was to increase paid parental leave, the next National Government would not repeal the legislation.

It seems to be a premature decision to make when the bill hasn't even had its first reading. Even Winston Peters is advocating the government settles down and discusses the issue with Labour.

Labour itself has indicated it is open to compromise. Surely now is the time to debate the issue and find some creative way of making the extra parental leave affordable.