A member's bill that would have given the parents of premature and disabled babies, and those of multiple births 26 weeks leave was voted down in Parliament last night, Radio New Zealand reports.
The Parental Leave and Employment Amendment Bill in the name of Labour MP Sue Moroney, did not pass its third and final reading, with both the National and ACT Parties opposing the bill.
Allegations of political betrayal and deception were levelled in Parliament and New Zealand First's Tracy Martin said the Government was determined not to let Moroney have her name on the bill and slammed that as cynical politics.
“Why would any member of this house go and take the word of any Minister or any member of the Government after what just happened there?”
Moroney's colleague, Labour's Jacinda Ardern said the MP had compromised to try to get the bill passed and make gains for at least some families.
However it appears Moroney's efforts may not have been in vain. Workplace Relations Minister Michael Woodhouse indicated the Government would take a look at giving extra paid leave for parents in exceptional circumstances later this year, when it extends paid parental leave to 18 weeks.
And Finance Minister, Bill English, said he would consider a proposal to increase support to parents in special circumstances.
“There's always flexibility for well thought out proposals but we've only got a certain amount of money and it's under a lot of pressure this year - they'll need to be pretty good proposals.”