Coleman Jonathan: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Coleman Jonathan: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:631;Page:3520] 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN (National—Northcote) 
: 
 We come now to the title discussion in this Committee stage of the New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans’ Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill. I think the key point about this bill is that it restores dignity for the elderly. 
We had a situation with regard to Mr Page of Nelson where in order to get his single person entitlement under the legislation he would actually have had to divorce his wife who was in residential care. It really was a disgraceful situation that in order to meet economic needs someone would have had to go to the length of rejecting— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The member is to debate the title. 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: Well I thought this was an opportunity for free— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: It is a free-flowing debate but the member is bringing another issue out. 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: I thought it was related to the bill Mr Chairperson. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: As long as the member relates that matter to the bill specifically that is so. But the member must mention the bill and how it relates to it. 
Dr JONATHAN COLEMAN 
: The point I was making was that that gentleman Mr Page was the driving force behind this bill being brought to Parliament. That is why we are here. The bill could be called the “Mr Page of Nelson Bill” because as we know he was the one who contacted his local member of Parliament and that led to this bill being brought before the House. 
I think the other point to note is that this legislation is way overdue. It was quite some years ago that Mr Page got in touch with Dr Smith. He went to the Human Rights Commission and within a week this bill entered Parliament. 
I go back to the point about restoring dignity and I tell members that this bill affects one of the most vulnerable groups of people in New Zealand society: our elderly people. It also affects those who are probably the most honoured group in New Zealand society: veterans. I think we really owe an absolute debt of honour and gratitude to those people who quite selflessly served this nation in conflicts overseas. The very least they are due is to be able to receive their veterans pension now without having to crawl on their hands and knees and beg the Government to make an exception for them. 
This is a very positive day for older people in New Zealand and it is certainly a positive day for war veterans. I know that a lot of people throughout the country will be celebrating this bill and that a lot of those are actually people who have fallen maybe into a difficult period of their lives—a period when their lifelong partner their spouse may have been admitted to a residential care facility. But now this legislation gives them some hope and that is something we should celebrate. 
There was quite a lot of public outrage at the legislation as it is stood before in relation to the sharing of expenses rule. One of the problems with that was that it was way too strict and it was quite arbitrary. It was strict in the sense that any external contribution to a person’s income whether it was a donation from a local group from family or from friends actually compromised that person’s eligibility to receive his or her superannuation entitlement. But this bill now extends the eligibility for the higher single rate of New Zealand superannuation the living alone payment and the veterans pension to those whose spouse or partner is in long-term residential care in hospital or in a rest home. 
The bill also increases the period of time that people who are overseas can receive their pension or war veterans benefit from 1 year to 3 years if they choose to serve in Volunteer Service Abroad. I think as I have already stated earlier in the debate that that is absolutely an important contribution. It means that superannuitants are able to put something back by serving their fellow human beings overseas as aid workers. So that is important and it will really make a difference. 
The point I would make again which has been said several times is that Dr Nick Smith has been responsible for driving this legislation. The Government has picked it up very enthusiastically and I believe that we are seeing that trend across Parliament in a number of cases regarding legislation. Presently however in relation to the veterans pension legislation people with spouses or partners—