Dyson Ruth: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Dyson Ruth: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:639;Page:9028] 
Hon RUTH DYSON (Minister for Senior Citizens) 
: 
 It gives me a great deal of pleasure to speak on Part 1. Part 1 covers clauses 3 4 and 5. Clause 5 is split into two subclauses (1) and (2)—very appropriately named for a two-section division. Clause 3 outlines the amendments to the principle Act which is the Social Security Act 1964. 
Clause 4 sets out the purpose of Part 1 which is to amend the regulation-making power currently conferred by section 132A of the principle Act so that regulations can be made to allow the issue and use of entitlement cards with cardholder photographs and embedded microchips. This clause has been the subject of some misunderstanding and misinterpretation and that was very broadly demonstrated tonight by the contribution from an ACT member. 
It was clearly a historic moment to have an ACT member considering referring this card—because of this clause in the bill—to the Privacy Commissioner. It is a major breakthrough for the ACT party to even acknowledge the role of the Privacy Commissioner let alone to propose in this House that the card be sent. It may be pure politicking—which would not come as much of a surprise given that it is the ACT party—but I think it is very inappropriate for a member of Parliament to misrepresent the purpose of an entitlement card and the proposal to have embedded microchips. I am sure that will be debated further throughout this section. 
Madam Chair I wonder whether you could stop the whip from the Opposition from interjecting constantly. It is very disruptive. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Ann Hartley) 
: It was a constant barrage. I ask the Minister to please continue. 
Hon RUTH DYSON 
: Thank you Madam Chair. 
I also make reference to Supplementary Order Paper 111—the only one that is tabled in the Committee so far I think—which amends clause 4 to reflect an amendment to clause 5(2) which relates to the inclusion of barcodes on entitlement cards. Perhaps members who are concerned about the embedded microchips issue and about the barcodes privacy considerations and the potential use or misuse of those barcodes might read the Supplementary Order Paper. They would then understand that the purpose of this proposal in the legislation is to ensure that as technology advances our senior citizens have access to the best available technology in order for them to have access to information they have agreed to have shared—bar-coded information which is currently available through shops as we all know—and that they would be able to use directly from their entitlement card. So I recommend that members read that Supplementary Order Paper. 
Clause 5 deals with regulations providing for the issue and use of entitlement cards. Clause 5(1) amends section 132A(1) of the Social Security Act 1964 by inserting paragraph (ab). Members will recall that clause 4 amends an earlier provision in that same section to create a new regulation-making power in relation to cardholders’ photographs on entitlement cards. Specifically paragraph (ab) allows regulations to be made: “providing for cardholders’ photographs to be affixed to or imaged into a category of entitlement cards and prescribing procedures requirements and other matters relating to those photographs:”. It is very important as we seek to enhance the card through the use of the photograph that those specific regulations are detailed in this legislation. 
Section 132A of the Social Security Act allows regulations to be made for the use and issue of entitlement cards and it has actually been used in the past to make regulations relating to the community services card. We all know that that card preceded the health entitlement card regulations in the 1990s. This section also allows for the making of regulations providing for the issue and use of entitlement cards and will therefore allow regulations providing for issue of a standard non-photo SuperGold card—because obviously that is a discretion that is allowed rather than a mandatory provision. But currently it does not confer the power to make regulations providing for the inclusion of cardholder photographs on entitlement cards. 
Clause 5(2) amends section 132A(2) of the Social Security Act 1964 to create a new regulation-making power in relation to embedded microchips on entitlement cards. The clause would allow entitlement cards to contain the information set out in that subsection on a magnetic strip. Members should realise that that is currently allowed—exactly the same information that is being proposed to be allowed on a microchip is allowed currently on a magnetic strip. So if people oppose it and raise concerns they do not understand that it is exactly the same information that is allowed currently on a magnetic strip rather than on an embedded microchip. That is the conclusion of Part 1 in this debate; we have clauses 3 4 and 5 with clause 5 being divided into two parts. 
 I look forward to a robust debate on this very important legislation. This legislation is being watched and monitored by thousands of people over 65 years of age around the country because they heard the commitment that was made prior to the election by the leader of New Zealand First the Rt Hon Winston Peters to have this card introduced. They saw the commitment that was made by Labour and the Progressives after the election in their negotiations and agreement with New Zealand First to deliver on that. This Committee stage of the bill is the next step forward on delivering on that promise and that agreement.