Labour isn't wasting any time: they've just announced that they'll be introducing legislation on Wednesday to extend paid parental leave:
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced paid parental leave will be increased to 26 weeks by 2020.
Ardern said Cabinet had today approved the policy to increase paid parental leave to 22 weeks by July 1, 2018, and 26 weeks by July 1, 2020.
"The evidence is clear, it is well supported it is a policy we are incredibly proud to be introducing at this early stage of the Government."
Ardern said legislation will be introduced into the House on Wednesday.
Good. National's abuse of the financial veto to ignore and effectively overturn a parliamentary majority for paid parental leave extension was one of the great abuses of their last term, and I'm glad to see it being fixed with some rapidity. As for the policy itself, its a sensible but also quite modest internationally. Still, it lays the groundwork for further extensions in the future.
