Macindoe Tim: Social Assistance (Payment of New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension Overseas) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Macindoe Tim: Social Assistance (Payment of New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans Pension Overseas) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:653;Page:2255] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 Mr Assistant Speaker Roy may you find this contribution even more electrifying! 
It is wonderful to hear the member for Mangere and his colleagues all declaring their great support for this Social Assistance (Payment of New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Overseas) Amendment Bill. But yet again they seem to find all sorts of ways of talking around it. In particular I was astonished to hear that member Su’a William Sio remind the House yet again about the shambles in accident compensation that his party bequeathed to the new Government. Instead of his shedding crocodile tears over the future of Mr Ross Wilson I say to Mr Sio that I think Mr Wilson will probably applaud this bill more than most members of the public because the likelihood is that he will have plenty of chances to enjoy some travelling in the next few years. 
I commend our excellent new Minister for Social Development and Employment for bringing this important bill before the House. As she noted in her introductory remarks it is yet another example of a measure that the previous Government claimed it was promoting but that languished on the Order Paper throughout its 9 long years of inactivity. 
Amy Adams 
: It’s a long time. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: As my wonderful colleague Amy Adams points out in her long and distinguished career in this House almost every measure that we have had to work on falls into this category. So it is great that we have at long last a Government that is getting on with the job. I suggest to members opposite that they reflect on why the previous Labour Government was so strong on the talk and so weak on the walk. It is no wonder that New Zealanders are overwhelmingly describing this Government as a breath of fresh air and as a Government that keeps its word and tackles the issues that matter. 
It was a pity that the deputy leader of the Labour Opposition like her colleague the member for Mangere could not remain focused on the bill. 
Amy Adams 
: Who is it? 
TIM MACINDOE 
: Mrs King I think her name is—at least this week. Instead she opted for more Labour Party scaremongering just as Mr Sio has just done over future superannuation arrangements generally. Well let us put that issue to bed straight away because I want to remind the House and I am proud to remind the House that the Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed his personal commitment and that of our Government to maintaining existing superannuation arrangements. 
Hon Steve Chadwick 
: Just borrow more. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: It is not only dishonest I say to Mrs Chadwick for the Labour Party to suggest otherwise but also actually cruel for her party to do that because many retired people may be listening—in fact I am sure that during this contribution the number of retired people listening has gone up fourfold—to the contributions of Mr Sio Mrs King and others and wondering why a measure that is broadly supported in this House and very much in the interests of our retired people should be hijacked in such a misleading and dishonest manner. It is an irrelevant contribution; it is also a very very unfair one. 
As the chair of the Social Services Committee has noted many will benefit from the provisions of the Social Assistance (Payment of New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Overseas) Amendment Bill and no doubt they will be chirping merrily over their cornflakes tomorrow morning as that memorable title trips off their tongues so effortlessly. 
As Jo Goodhew noted the status quo is no longer an option. I doubt whether many members of this House have not been contacted by constituents who are concerned about the inflexibility of the present arrangements. I know that Mr Woodhouse has had them beating a path to his door almost every day on this matter and what a fine member he is in the way that he handles the whole issue. 
Sad as we are to see older New Zealanders depart these shores it is understandable that some take that option after watching their children and grandchildren settle overseas. Of course as we all know that was happening at an alarming rate during the term of the last Government and it is to be hoped and expected that the exodus will slow considerably now that sensible government has been restored to New Zealand. It is certainly understandable that some of our older people opt for extended periods of travel after a lifetime in the workforce—and do they not deserve it? We are grateful to them; let us make it possible for them to go off and have that overseas trip that many of them have worked for literally for decades. 
It was initially good to hear Dr Prasad make a more constructive contribution than the deputy leader of the Labour Opposition did. But even Dr Prasad resorted to dancing on the head of a pin as he tried to portray the Minister in charge of this bill—this wonderful Minister—as being somehow dubious about the bill that she is actively promoting through the House. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: You heard what the Minister said. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: Maybe the Labour members are dancing on the head of the pin I say to Dr Prasad because they have had to drag themselves away from watching  
Dancing with the Stars 
 tonight. I suggest that being on that programme would be a very good way for the member to occupy his time. 
Dr Rajen Prasad 
: Very cynical. 
TIM MACINDOE 
: She is a very very good Minister. As I said the Minister is actively steering this bill through the House. She is fully committed to it. She has the strong support of all her colleagues on this side of the House including those on the front bench despite the nonsense that we had to listen to a few minutes ago. 
We can only come to the conclusion that it is obviously a very strange and disconcerting experience for the members opposite to find themselves in Opposition and to realise that they face being in Opposition for a very very long time. They are struggling to function as an Opposition when in their hearts they know that they are facing a National Government that is firing on all cylinders keeping its promises and delivering so positively for the country. 
Despite those members’ curious contributions I welcome the indications from members opposite and from the minor parties that there will be broad support for this bill’s passage through the House. As a member of the Social Services Committee I look forward to our work during the select committee process and to bringing this bill back to the House for enactment at the earliest opportunity. 
 As Sue Bradford noted the previous Government promised throughout its tenure to adopt this measure. We in the National-led Government are to get on with the job and do just that. Why our predecessors could not do it after 9 years at the helm is utterly baffling. 
The Social Assistance (Payment of New Zealand Superannuation and Veteran’s Pension Overseas) Amendment Bill gives our senior citizens the options they deserve. The current rules prevent many older New Zealanders from travelling overseas as they would wish which is unfair and distressing for them. It is within the power of this House in the next week or two to alleviate their stress and to reduce that obstacle to the fulfilment of their aspirations. That is because this National-led Government is committed to ensuring that our older people are able to live in dignity and to participate fully in their communities wherever they may be whether in New Zealand or abroad. Forcing older people to remain in one country or preventing their ability to travel to a variety of countries serves no particular purpose. It is not in tune with the desires and aspirations of today’s retirees and it is far far short of what we should be able to offer in a civilised and prosperous nation. 
The bill that we are debating will also free up the rules that restrict the ability of superannuitants and veterans pensioners to move around once they get overseas and that is a very important part of this particular measure. It will allow people who wish to reside in countries with which New Zealand has no current social security agreements to access their entitlements and to travel freely between such countries. They will have none of the current stress that if they begin in a country with which New Zealand has no such arrangement they will find that their entitlement dries up right at the outset. 
The bill will also allow the payment of superannuation and the veterans pension to those qualifying superannuitants and veterans pensioners who wish to travel to or between the countries—[ 
Interruption 
] Mr Assistant Speaker— 
Hon Clayton Cosgrove 
: Pull the pin! 
TIM MACINDOE 
: I have 2 minutes to go—wonderful! I can see that members opposite are hoping for an extension of my time. 
The amendments contained in the bill address the three main concerns that arise from the general portability provisions which are a very important aspect of this measure. As I have mentioned the amendments will ensure fairer and more equitable treatment for superannuitants and veteran pensioners who wish to travel or reside overseas. I am sure that most members of this House will be acquainted with people who will really appreciate this legislative change. I am particularly pleased that it is an acknowledgment of the wonderful contribution that our veterans have given to our country and our Commonwealth over many many years. Our Government is committed to ensuring that our older citizens are able to live in dignity enjoy their retirement remain in touch with family and friends here and overseas and contribute fully to their communities wherever they choose to make them. Let us help them to do just that. 
I commend this bill to the House and I thank members for the broad support it clearly enjoys even though from time to time we seem to have to listen to discussion of everything other than the bill.