Lole-Taylor Asenati: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Lole-Taylor Asenati: Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 20 March 2013. Volume:688;Page:8779. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Le’aufa’amulia ASENATI LOLE-TAYLOR (NZ First) 
: 
 New Zealand First has always supported legislation that allows all New Zealanders to be afforded the same degree of respect and dignity which are the principles that reinforce our democratic values. “Democracy” is a word that is rarely spoken of or has been considered in this Chamber in recent years. If some pensioners fall short of the criterion then our values are meaningless and exist only for those who benefit from them. 
The Social Assistance (Living Alone Payments) Amendment Bill is committed to empowering senior citizens to enable them to remain independent and not have to deal with bureaucracy. Bureaucracy is a parasite that is hobbling the ability of civil servants to get things done effectively and efficiently. It is encouraging to see the Government taking the necessary action to look after those who deserve to be cared for. This bill allows for better treatment of superannuitant and veterans pensioners with respect and not as a burden on society. Our treatment of our seniors sends a clear signal of our status as a developed nation. The intention of this bill is an improvement in pension schemes. It allows for better-practice measures for the future. 
The bill highlights the importance of providing support for our senior citizens currently living alone and allows for a more straightforward approach to their gaining State assistance. If only this approach were adopted more often by this Government instead of it punishing the most vulnerable unnecessarily. Continuous maltreatment of orphan superannuitant and veterans pensioners is disgraceful. Even the Bible says there is a specific place in hell for those who oppress widows. 
We all know the hassle of paper-shuffling and how this can waste time and resources and cause confusion when there has been a chink in the paper trail. For our senior citizens this can be of particular nuisance. I receive phone calls in my out-of-Parliament office frequently from disgruntled seniors not knowing how to operate the new Auckland train fare machines. I am aware of their frustrations when the simplest things in life become overbearingly difficult. 
This bill is to be commended for eliminating such unnecessary processes. On account of providing a single rate for superannuitant and veterans pensions this makes work a lot easier. It makes work a lot easier not only in regard to the eligible citizen’s ease of access but also for the financial parties who have to deal with the amount of data and paperwork that needs to be processed day in day out. This combined effort will fortify a single rate that is more reliable and accessible and less time-consuming. 
However New Zealand First shares concerns with other parties and with those who submitted on this bill in relation to the definition of a dependent child. The proposed new sections 4A(4)(a) and 4A(4)(b) provide for where a child over the age of 18 is enrolled in tertiary education and is financially dependent on the parent. With the exception of dependent children with disabilities dependants who are 18 and over would provide more sensible decision-making skills given support for their drive towards higher academic achievements. Jacinda Ardern and I share the same concerns in this area. 
It is a common trend nowadays. Most tertiary starters begin with university studies at the age of 18. No undergraduate degree lasts for only a year but for an average of 3 years. This correlates to the years for which they would be considered dependent occupants. Yes the Ministry of Social Development has commented that tertiary students are of an age where they are considered adults and should acquire part-time work or apply for the appropriate Government assistance. However I question whether the person who provided this advice went to university at all or at least understands it from a tertiary student’s perspective. 
If we are to encourage our children into higher education why should we then place barriers for our senior parents to give their children this opportunity? I have children who go to university and I can tell everyone now that if it was not for the scholarships that they earned the pressure of putting them through university and supporting them would have been placed on me. Full-time students who are at university from Monday to Friday and have only weekends to work part-time will be under enormous stress to support themselves. This does not take into account time to catch up on study or assignments. Not all students are entitled to the subsidies of Government assistance. My children certainly were not and I would think that this Government would not want its tertiary students on the unemployment benefit. Or is there one rule for one group and a different rule for others? 
Part-time jobs are not easy to get either with employers looking for experience. Furthermore employers are most reluctant to train up students who can work only a certain number of hours. I am amazed at the lack of intelligence being exercised by the Minister for Social Development and her advisers in this area. Most students can hold down a part-time job only over the summer and then are left to fend for themselves. We cannot give them jobs because we are still waiting for the 170000 jobs promised by the Prime Minister so why should we give them and their senior parents the added pressure? 
New Zealand First is prepared to work with all members on both sides of the Chamber to preserve the social security promise that provides security for all when the need arises especially those who are most at risk such as widows. I would like to remind the Committee that Robert Louis Stevenson said: “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.” New Zealand First supports the bill. Thank you.