Yes, let's talk about the bill, Bill

Labour is seeking a 'conversation' with the Government over extensions to paid parental leave after the Acting Prime Minister today indicated there could be room for compromise.

“On TVNZ's Q+A programme today, Finance Minister and Acting Prime Minister Bill English said that ‘if the economy picks up and we get back to surplus sooner then of course there's room for discussion about all those things people want us to have more of’,” Labour Leader David Shearer said.

“I have written to the Government seeking that discussion.

"Given Mr English’s stated willingness to discuss the issue, and with most parties in Parliament voicing support for Sue Moroney's bill, we need to look at how we can advance the scheme.

"Labour understands that the Government is struggling to grow the economy and return to surplus, and therefore the chance to have a discussion offers the potential to find a way forward.

“Bill English's statement that National 'welcomes' a conversation about extending paid parental leave and his commitment that, 'no one [is] prevented from discussing this' indicate the Government is prepared to look at issues around timing and the entitlement period.

"One area that certainly needs more discussion is in the costing the Government is using, which appears to be Labour's costing from before the election. This doesn’t include offsets for savings from things such as reduced demand for childcare subsidies.

“Having officials produce detailed costing before exercising its veto would be an important step forward in the conversation,” David Shearer said.

"It's important to move beyond partisan bickering and look at how we can extend assistance for families in these tough economic times.

"In view of the Finance Minister's claim that he fully supports the principle of paid parental leave, I invite him to remove his threat of a veto to enable all parties to have the meaningful discussion he says he wants.

“I have written to Mr English making that offer," David Shearer said.

You can read a copy of David Shearer's letter to Mr English here.