Fairbrother Russell: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Fairbrother Russell: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:639;Page:9149] 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) 
: 
 It is important to remember when we debate this Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill in Committee what will be achieved. First of all convenience will be achieved. The proposed SuperGold card is nothing but an item of convenience for our older citizens. The Opposition members of course would oppose that. 
Hon Members 
: No we’re not opposing it. 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: They do not oppose a card of convenience? Well if they accept a card of convenience then they must accept all that follows from this bill because this bill changes absolutely nothing once we accept the convenience aspect. 
The bill brings in the power to include on a microchip that which is already included on a barcode under section 132A of the Social Security Act 1964. As outlined in a speech earlier on by the Minister for Senior Citizens Ruth Dyson the information on the microchip will include the cardholder’s name. That is not a breach of privacy because the cardholder’s name is on the card anyway. So members cannot toss the word “privacy” around in the hope of creating fear suspicion and concern in those considering attaining a card of convenience. 
The microchip must contain an identifying number which will be assigned to the cardholder by the Ministry of Social Development. Again that is not a breach of privacy because each identifying number is between the ministry and the particular cardholder. 
The microchip will have a number or code indicating the cardholder’s class of eligibility for the card. The number or code is there so that the class of benefit the cardholder can access is identifiable immediately. That is not a breach of privacy; again it is a matter of convenience. 
The microchip can include an identifying number that is assigned to the card. What privacy breach arises from this? One has a card and it has a number. One has a number and it has a card. There is no privacy breach there whatsoever. It is a matter of convenience. 
The commencement and expiry dates of the card are also on the microchip. A card starts and it may end; it may because it has started. It is a convenience not a breach of privacy. 
There is also a code number on the microchip for mailing purposes. Well we all have mailing addresses and no one suggests that they are a breach of privacy. 
I take up what the Associate Minister for Senior Citizens said about the “mendacious sibilations” coming from the other side of the Chamber in respect of this matter. I am pleased to note that the term has obviously been accepted by the opponents to this bill. The Associate Minister quite fairly put it on the table for them to debate and they have accepted without dispute their mendacity in this matter. They have accepted without dispute that their actions in opposing this bill are “sibilantic”. They have accepted without dispute that the voodoo politics which the Opposition— 
Judith Collins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. We did not actually accept it. We just— 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: The member did not understand the statement. 
Judith Collins 
: No no some of us actually did our law degrees when they were taught in English rather than in Latin because we are a bit younger. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich) 
: No that is not a point of order. 
Hon Member 
: She still doesn’t know! 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: Perhaps if the member had studied some Latin she would have learnt some of the important terms used in this House and she would have appreciated the absolute precision with which the Associate Minister used the term “mendacious sibilance” because it is a very accurate description of the voodoo politics we are hearing from the Opposition members this afternoon. 
The Opposition members see that we have a group of senior citizens aged 65-plus who are not familiar with some of the modern technology so they throw in phrases such as “breach of privacy” and “undermining your security” and make the people for whom this card is designed as a matter of convenience nervous about it and concerned about whether they should have it. That is one of the definitions of “mendacious sibilant” behaviour as advanced by the Associate Minister. What the Opposition members are saying is not true. It is spoken out of the side of their mouths and it is said with a degree of contempt for those to whom it is addressed. In accepting the currency of that term in this debate the Opposition members have themselves defined their approach to the debate. The Associate Minister was able to sum up in two succinct words—quite accurately on this occasion—exactly what the opposition to this bill is all about. 
Heather Roy’s amendment will be put to the Committee and if she is true to her neo-liberal policies she will seek to amend this bill to make the card a platinum card. She will not want to have all senior citizens accessing with convenience the discounts that are to be offered by her neo-liberal friends in the Business Roundtable. The elitism of the neo-liberals as typified by the ACT Party is that not everybody should have equal access to all matters. No the true—