Bennett Paula: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans’ Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in  Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Bennett Paula: 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:3101] 
PAULA BENNETT (National) 
: 
 It seems that there are so many other things we could be doing with our time this evening because there are so many wrongs that need to be righted. But instead we need to fix yet another mistake that has been shoddily put through. Really this is about fairness. I am not saying that every penny does not count; every penny does count for these people. They are generally in a situation where they are living day to day and every penny means something to them. The fact is that they have to fight for a mere $20 extra a week which could be the difference of getting the paper each day for example. It is ridiculous that we have to come back and address something that should have been done a long time ago. I understand from my colleague the Hon Nick Smith that this matter was raised in 2004. It seems ludicrous that it has taken 2 years for something like this to come around and to be addressed. 
The measure is about those spouses or partners who are in long-term residential care in a hospital or rest home. Frankly the single rates are higher. It relates to a situation where they need to apply for an increase and it is a matter of whether their partner recognises them. If someone’s spouse or partner recognises that person it means that he or she is not eligible for the living alone allowance. We all know the costs of living alone at different times. To clarify things it is absolutely incredible that people would have to look at divorcing their spouse or partner whom they may have been married to for up to 70 years as in the case raised by Dr Smith. If a couple have been married for 70 years and they happen to recognise each other they can be faced with telling untruths. 
What really upset me when I was looking at this legislation was how much dignity people have lost so far. To date people have had the indignity of sitting before their spouse of many many years and having someone else determine whether they recognise each other. It is utterly an issue of fairness and what is unjust in our society that people needed to go through that sort of indignity. I quote from the Minister himself who said in the first reading that the current legislation requires officials to ask intrusive questions and make complex decisions regarding sensitive issues. 
Thank goodness we are standing in the Chamber tonight to try to right this wrong. How ridiculous that we need to do so but thank goodness the National Party raised this matter as the very important issue that it is. Thank goodness for someone taking on the good fight and battling his way through to see it standing before this Parliament tonight. I commend Nick Smith and I feel saddened for those elderly people who have had to endure the indignity of standing up and asking for a voice—a voice they were not getting from the current Government. It is ludicrous unfair and unjust and as such we proudly stand up and advocate for these people.