Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is subject to correction 
Williams Andrew: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 31 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2767. Text is subject to correction.] 
9. 
ANDREW WILLIAMS (NZ First) 
 to the  
Minister of Veterans’ Affairs 
: What progress has been made by the Government to implement the recommendations in the Law Commission report  
A New Support Scheme for Veterans: A Report on the Review of the War Pensions Act 1954  
published on 1 June 2010? 
Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister of Veterans’ Affairs) 
: 
 The Government is indeed making good progress. The Law Commission took 3 years to produce the report with 170 recommendations. Many of them were complex and included replacing the Act with new legislation and making significant other changes. The Law Commission did not cost its recommendations and advised that the Government obtain rigorous costings before making decisions. This work has now been completed and I intend taking the proposals to Cabinet shortly. 
Andrew Williams 
: When can concerned veterans many of whom are well into their 80s expect the Government to make comprehensive far-reaching changes to the War Pensions Act 1954 given the Minister’s response in February 2012 to a written question was that a response to the Law Commission’s report would be released in due course? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: If the member was listening to the answer to the primary question I said that we have completed the progress so far in terms of— 
Andrew Williams 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question included the words “to make comprehensive far-reaching”. Those were the two specific words asking when the Minister would make “comprehensive far-reaching” changes. The Minister has not outlined any comprehensive far-reaching changes. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! Members asking questions cannot get too pedantic. I mean the Minister had barely started his answer and I think he should be given the chance to proceed with it.  
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: As I was outlining to the House in my primary answer this is a very detailed report with 170 recommendations and it has taken some time to work through the dozen or so Government departments. It is now at a stage where I am going to be taking some of these proposals through to Cabinet in the next few months. 
Andrew Williams 
: What does he say to the thousands of elderly war veterans with ailments from their time of service who are anxiously waiting for the Government to give them a fair go 2 years to the day after the report was released on 1 June 2010? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: What I say is that this Government cares about veterans. Today I have just made an announcement that under the war pensions coverage 10 additional military deployments will indeed be covered that were not previously covered by the War Pensions Act. An additional $4.8 million of funding means that 1100 additional veterans will now be eligible for this. This Government does care about veterans. 
Andrew Williams 
: Mr Speaker—[ 
Interruption 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I want to hear Andrew Williams. 
Andrew Williams 
: Does the Minister believe even allowing for the extraordinary laws of coincidence of the Minister’s announcement today that this process is being needlessly drawn out due to the fact that implementing all of the Law Commission’s 170 recommendations may jeopardise this Government’s wishful plans to return to surplus by 2014? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: I reject that assertion. If that member had done his homework he would see that the 10 additional military deployments that are now going to be covered were in Budget 2012. 
John Hayes 
: What else is the Government doing to support veterans? 
Hon NATHAN GUY 
: As I just alluded to before there are 10 additional military deployments that are going to be covered under the War Pensions Act. This is indeed a significant announcement involving $4.8 million that means that 1100 additional veterans will now be eligible for a war disablement pension for any disability that occurred as a result of their service in these deployments. I am extremely proud of this National-led Government for this significant contribution to veterans.