Gudgeon Bill: Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Gudgeon Bill: Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:620;Page:15807] 
BILL GUDGEON (NZ First) 
: 
 High on the agenda of New Zealand First is the social policy that people should be independent of the State and of the encumbrances associated with dependency. New Zealand First supports the Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill. We as a party have always supported the concept of family and the responsibility of parents—that is mum and dad as the minders or caretakers—for the upbringing of their children. Unfortunately many people from either gender are left with that sole responsibility. 
The quotation I am about to give from Aristotle touches on an area that is part and parcel of a social dilemma facing our country—one that is a major factor contributing to our demise. He said: “All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.” One can imagine the very positive effects this country would experience if the social traumas were eliminated and parents did all they could to help their children be the best they can be at any given time. The Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill goes part of the way to try to rectify this problem. An increase from 5.6 percent in 1993 to 16 percent in 2004 indicates an increase in the number of liable parents who are failing to meet their responsibilities. One result is that it makes it financially harder for the custodial parent to move off the benefit as that parent would not receive child support. The crux of the matter in sole parenting is how the children receive physical and spiritual support. Is the benefit sufficient? Will the sole parent become independent of the State? Many in today’s society would consider these questions to be quaint and old-fashioned yet I say that we should look at where we have been where we are and where we are heading. 
The bill increases the rate of reduction in the benefit and does so as an incentive for sole parents to carry out certain actions so that the other parent contributes financially to the upbringing of the child. Currently under section 70A of the Social Security Act the rate of benefit paid to the sole parent is reduced by $22 per week for each dependent child where that parent fails or refuses to identify the other parent in law to make an application for child support or to attend a hearing and give evidence at proceedings brought under the Child Support Act. By July 2005 additional increases in the rate of reduction will be imposed but this decision will be reconsidered should the beneficiary meet the section 70A requirements. 
Let us look at the responsibilities that we have as parliamentarians because within the four walls of this Chamber we have the power to pass laws. But what about the citizens of this country? New Zealand First is not judgmental of people who find themselves in this situation but it is the responsibility of Parliament to help them to become independent of the State. It is our responsibility to ensure financial support is given to the sole parent from the other partner who in many cases is the father. On too many occasions we sit here and debate with each other and among parties about who did this and who did that but our prime responsibility as parliamentarians is to govern so that freedom prevails and assistance is given to people in need. 
This legislation will be very difficult to implement but New Zealand First supports it. Some people will not be happy about it both within this Chamber and outside. However something has to be done about the problem so that these citizens of our nation can become independent. It will take a while. Speaking as an individual I would not put a time limit on it but we need to make this move. That is one of the reasons that New Zealand First supports this bill. We are seeing more people from all walks of life becoming dependent on the State. We have to rectify that situation if New Zealand is not to become a Third World nation. This applies across the board for all legal citizens who reside in this country. Our first commitment is to our citizens. New Zealand First is satisfied that a move has been made; that legislation will be put in place to help rectify the situation faced by some of our citizens. Those citizens also need to be more committed and they need to be more accountable for their actions. 
We need this legislation to ensure that children born from the union of a man and a woman are taken care of. When we look at other countries we see that that is happening. This ministry is one of the most important in terms of ensuring that the people of this nation develop their potential and prosper. Let us as parliamentarians put in place the means by which this can be achieved. New Zealand First understands that there is potential in this country for this area to be developed and for people to be accountable. We believe that every citizen should be taken care of. We support the bill and hope that in time to come the citizens in this situation will see and appreciate what this Parliament is trying to do for them to ensure they become independent of the State.