edithatogo/nz-hansard-corpus huggingface dataset:
Barry Maggie: Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
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Barry Maggie: Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2455. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MAGGIE BARRY (National—North Shore) 
: 
 I must say to my own people on this side of the House that there is a lot we can learn from members opposite about trivia about going up in smoke—or do they inhale it? What manner of nonsense have we heard from these people? What a ridiculous notion.  
I am a fan of recycling; this is taking it too far. We saw the unedifying spectacle of one of the members for Dunedin reading the same speech twice. Fortunately his colleagues came up to him and they gave him notes to help him out. It was pretty much a waste of time though. We are looking at Groundhog Day over here. They are recycling the most trivial of notions and making them work. We saw the unedifying spectacle of the list member of Parliament for North Shore roaming around the streets of Takapuna pestering the locals—and the foliage possibly as well—and annoying people about things that had no relevance at all and then bringing it into a debate about taxation. I guess largesse takes on whole new definitions when it comes to their interpretation of speaking to a bill but truly the trivia and the nonsense— 
Jami-Lee Ross 
: What about the little man with the big voice? 
MAGGIE BARRY 
: The little man with the big voice?  
Stuart Little 
? Yeah the mouse that roared—yeah absolutely. But I mean the braying and the nonsense that we are getting from the other side of the House does not detract from the purpose. It does not detract from the fact that this Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill is an excellent bill and it is a sensational Budget.  
This is a day to be proud to be in the National ranks. We are doing well. We have an excellent taxation measure meticulously worked through as I said earlier by the Minister of Revenue Peter Dunne rather than dwelling on the minutiae of the occasional piece of stuff that members opposite pick up. They have not got the intellectual rigour to actually examine what he has pulled up but what we are doing is examining the detail of it.  
This is a good bill. I commend it to the House and I am sure it will get through this very evening. Thank you.
Peters Winston: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
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Peters Winston: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. On this side of the House we observed the ACT Party leader. He intimated no vote at all. So how—
Vote: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
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Vote: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill be now read a first time. 
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 57 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Bill read a first time.
English Bill: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
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English Bill: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I move  
That the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill be now read a first time 
.
Smith Lockwood: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
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Smith Lockwood: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Those papers are published under the authority of the House.
Robertson H V Ross: Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
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Robertson H V Ross: Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2455. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Order! I just remind members regarding interjections that running commentaries are out of order. Interjections are to be rare and reasonable. I ask members to have a look at Speakers’ ruling 60/5(1) (2) (3) and (4). You might learn something.
English Bill: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
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English Bill: Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I hereby present the 2012 Budget Minister’s Executive Summary the speech the Fiscal Strategy Report (B.2.) the Economic and Fiscal Update (B.3) the Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2013 (B.5) the information supporting the Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2013 (B.5A Volumes 1-10) and the departmental statements of intent.
Smith Lockwood: Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill — Procedure 
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Smith Lockwood: Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill — Procedure 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That paper is published under the authority of the House.
English Bill: Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill — Procedure 
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English Bill: Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill — Procedure 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I hereby present the Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand and supporting information for the year ending 30 June 2012 (B.7).
Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
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Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill — Procedure First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill 
Procedure 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I hereby present the 2012 Budget Minister’s Executive Summary the speech the Fiscal Strategy Report (B.2.) the Economic and Fiscal Update (B.3) the Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2013 (B.5) the information supporting the Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand for the year ending 30 June 2013 (B.5A Volumes 1-10) and the departmental statements of intent. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Those papers are published under the authority of the House. 
First Reading 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I move  
That the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill be now read a first time 
.  
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Appropriation (2012/13 Estimates) Bill be now read a first time. 
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 57 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Bill read a first time. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. On this side of the House we observed the ACT Party leader. He intimated no vote at all. So how— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! The leader of the ACT Party recorded a vote; I heard him do so.
Urgency 
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Urgency 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2424. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Urgency 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Leader of the House) 
: 
 I move  
That urgency be accorded the introduction and passing of the Taxation (Budget Measures) Bill the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill and any bills into which they may be divided and the introduction and first reading of the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill and its referral to a select committee. 
 These bills give life to the announcements in today’s Budget speech around livestock valuations reforming outdated tax credits ending the voluntary payments bonus for student loans altering the annual adjustment for aged-care asset thresholds and increasing the excise rate on tobacco products in 2013 2014 2015 and 2016. These bills are designed to make the tax student loans and aged-care asset-testing systems fairer and fiscally sustainable and to improve the health of New Zealanders. Urgency is desirable as these changes have already been announced and it is preferable to introduce these changes and provide certainty for taxpayers and citizens as soon as possible. The Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill will progress through its second and third readings and the Committee of the whole House stage under the usual House sitting procedures as the first excise increase is proposed for 1 January 2013. I think those statements set out the necessary particularity to support the motion. 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That urgency be accorded. 
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 57 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 14; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Motion agreed to.
Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill — Procedure 
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Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill — Procedure 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2389. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Thursday 24 May 2012 
Mr Speaker 
 took the Chair at 2 p.m. 
Prayers 
. 
Appropriation (2011/12 Supplementary Estimates) Bill 
Procedure 
Hon BILL ENGLISH (Minister of Finance) 
: 
 I hereby present the Supplementary Estimates of Appropriations for the Government of New Zealand and supporting information for the year ending 30 June 2012 (B.7). 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That paper is published under the authority of the House.
Hutchison Paul: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Hutchison Paul: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2565. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Hunua) 
: 
 Talofa Mr Speaker. It is a great pleasure to speak on this Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill. It is hugely encouraging to think that every member in this Parliament supports it. I think that it is well realised that increasing the excise does indeed diminish smoking. The issue is in the order of 15 premature deaths per day and 5000 premature deaths per year.  
Last night TV3 dragged out a fairly elderly man with a deeply nicotine-stained finger and crinkly skin and he claimed that his doctor 60 years ago had encouraged him to start smoking to ease his anxiety. The interesting thing is that that may well have been so because at that stage of events members of the armed services right throughout the world were literally encouraged to smoke. But it was in the late 1950s that Sir Richard Doll epidemiologist demonstrated unequivocally the harm associated with smoking.  
It has been since then that groups of professionals NGOs and many others have worked in this long journey towards achieving a smoke-free New Zealand. Might I acknowledge all those groups: Action on Smoking and Health and the Labour Party in the 1990s which worked so hard to progress the legislation. But more recently I acknowledge people like Tariana Turia who has worked extremely hard and led so extremely hard and people like my colleague the Hon Tau Henare and the Maori Affairs Committee. I acknowledge people like Hone Harawira and Tukoroirangi Morgan from New Zealand First but even more recently the glorious National Government and the Hon Tony Ryall who have indeed supported this tobacco excise tax and made it possible. It is indeed very very satisfying to be able to support this first reading of this bill in the House. Fa‘afetai tele lava.
Tisch Lindsay: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2566. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is no objection.
Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2554. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
ALFRED NGARO (National) 
: 
 I mentioned these documents because we were accused for quite some time throughout this morning of the fact that information that was there was not there—and yet it was there. Enough with that debate; this is about the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill.  
What this debate has been about has been the care and concern of our elderly people. This is the final word—I have the final word this afternoon—and it comes from Martin Taylor who is the Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand Aged Care Association and who supports the Government’s initiative to slow down the yearly asset threshold increase for eligibility for an aged residential care entitlement. This is what the association says: “Currently the asset threshold is $210000 and increases to $10000 each July. But with the policy change announced today the asset threshold will now be indexed to inflation. ‘This is a small but significant step in addressing one of the most significant issues facing this and future governments which is how to fund care for an ageing population’ the Chief Executive of the NZACA Martin Taylor says.”  
This again confirms why this bill is a bill that we support. This is a bill that cares and this is a bill about the concern that we have for elder people. We will go to our constituents we will go to our elder people and we will tell them the truth. There will be no more scaremongering. I support this bill.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2555. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill be now read a third time. 
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 54 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 11; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Bill read a third time.
Sage Eugenie: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Sage Eugenie: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2553. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
EUGENIE SAGE (Green) 
: 
 There are more than 42000 people in New Zealand who are in residential care in 700 different facilities so the changing of the rules that is happening in this bill the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill obviously affects quite a number of people and there would have been a lot of people and their families who would have been interested in contributing to the bill through making submissions. As a new member of this House I think being at the select committee hearing the submissions and hearing the expertise that members of the public contribute is an incredible contribution to the lawmaking process. But having this bill go through under urgency with no opportunity for people to have their say means we are making bad law.  
I think the Government has been deaf to a lot of the concerns that have been raised on this side of the House. There has been a theme of the need for collaboration. In areas as contested as water we have had a collaborative process through the Land and Water Forum. Here we are dealing with the way people are looked after—our senior citizens who have contributed taxes for all of their lives—in the twilight of their lives. We need to have a cross-party solution here a lasting solution not one that is going to be tossed out with the next Government. That is why Labour and the Greens working with Grey Power had an inquiry into aged care. That is why we want to work on something that works well for everyone and that endures. But this bill sneaked through under urgency with no public process will not do that.  
It has been really puzzling listening to the Government. If you read the regulatory impact statement that makes it clear what the motive for the bill is and I quote: “Increasing the asset threshold … by the CPI (rather than by $10000) would reduce the number of residents eligible for the subsidy and thereby reduce the amount of Residential Care Subsidy paid.” The reason for this bill is to cut the number of people who can access that care. It is miserly in comparison with the overall $870 million that is spent by the district health boards on subsidising residential care so it is tinkering as my colleague Mr Clark noted. It is tinkering about the edges. Why are we doing this? Why is the Government doing this except to penalise a few people and to cause enormous uncertainty insecurity and grief amongst older citizens to make this small saving out of an $870 million Budget? It discriminates against older citizens. It is bad process because it is being done under urgency. It is not good law and it discriminates. Thank you.
Calder Cam: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Calder Cam: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2552. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 I think it is about time we got a little bit of common sense back into this debate. We have had the rhetoric from the Opposition: from the Labour benches from the Green benches and from the land of Nod. We have had rhetoric—rhetoric after rhetoric—debating the need for fiscal restraint and discipline. You would think that nobody had heard of the global financial crisis. You would think that nobody was aware of the need to be disciplined in our spending to be fiscally prudent guardians of the public purse.  
Let us just look at what we are proposing. As the Hon Tony Ryall pointed out we are looking at a slowing of the increase in the asset threshold—a slowing of the increase in the asset threshold. From 1 July we will begin to adjust the asset threshold by the Consumers Price Index for rest home care subsidies. This is what we do with superannuation—this is what we do with superannuation. Up until now under the profligacy of the previous Government it went up $10000 a year. We are looking at that; we thought that this is no longer sustainable. We are about protecting the most vulnerable in our community. We are about having a sustainable programme. I commend this bill the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures Amendment Bill to the House.
Fenton Darien: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Fenton Darien: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2559. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
DARIEN FENTON (Labour) 
: 
 I am happy to take a call on the Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill and I reiterate Labour’s support for this bill and congratulations to the Associate Minister of Health the Hon Tariana Turia on bringing this to the House. I am a long-given-up smoker but I was around in the 1990s and Helen Clark—in 1990 was it not—was not my friend at the time. We all smoked at our workplace and along came Helen Clark and told us that we were not able to smoke. But I have to tell you that that was the best thing that happened to me. From then on there was a smokers’ room and then that got banned so from then we had to go outside and then that got cold. So eventually I gave up smoking. So I think those sorts of measures do encourage people and certainly if I was having to pay 20 bucks for a packet of fags now that would be a very very strong incentive.  
Just one other comment: I am interested that we are sending this to select committee. I am very pleased about that. It is nice to be debating a bill that is actually going to select committee in this urgency period. I think there are still some issues around smoking in the workplace. I certainly know there are some at Skycity with its so-called outdoor high rollers area where people are smoking. Issues have been brought up there with me and I am sure others— 
Kris Faafoi 
: Skycity? 
DARIEN FENTON 
: Skycity—yes that is right. So I hope that the select committee process will give us the opportunity to have a really good debate about Skycity but also we can talk about the very very important issue that those workers I know feel very strongly about and actually campaigned to support Stevie Chadwick’s bill in 2005. Thank you and we support this bill.
Macindoe Tim: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Macindoe Tim: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2550. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I am very sure the Speaker is glad he did not choose Annette. As the Hon Tony Ryall noted a few minutes ago this bill the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill merely slows the increase in the asset-testing threshold. Opposition members have worked themselves up into their customary collective frenzy and declared for the umpteenth time the end of the world. But they do not cry foul about the increase in rest home subsidies or in funding for vitally important dementia care—a problem that we know is increasing dramatically. They do not cry foul about the increase in home-care services provisions. These are the things that are at the heart of this measure we are debating this afternoon. Instead the members opposite conveniently ignore all these worthy outcomes because they do not want their constituents to know about them. 
So let us put it on the record that that is what we are doing. I am proud to tell my constituents that we are making provision for those important things because they know that it is a huge challenge. I applaud yet another step that meets the needs of our ageing population and the many fine folk who work in the aged-care sector while acknowledging as all but the occupants of “Planet Labour” surely do the very tight fiscal environment in which we are operating. 
On “Planet Labour” sound policy means squandering all the funds in the good times and leaving nothing for the bad. On “Planet Labour” it means making big commitments to sound kind and caring but failing to make any budgetary provision for those commitments. That was the record of Labour’s 9 years in office. It means failing to establish priorities to ensure that our country can avoid heading down the path that so many of the European economies are currently embarked upon and it means coming into this House to feign mock outrage and pretend that improving our public services and making provision for these important measures will not matter. 
That is why Labour members are still hopelessly out of touch with public opinion. That is why they are still hopelessly divided even within their own caucus. And that is why they remain totally without hope of returning to this side of the House for many many years to come.
Roy Eric: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Roy Eric: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2550. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I call Tim Macindoe. 
Hon Ruth Dyson 
: Oh! You could have chosen Annette.
Turia Tariana: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
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Turia Tariana: Customs and Excise (Tobacco Products—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2566. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon TARIANA TURIA (Associate Minister of Health) 
: 
 I move  
That the Finance and Expenditure Committee report to the House on or before 26 September 2012 
. 
Motion agreed to.
Bennett Paula: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Bennett Paula: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2541. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 I move  
That the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill be now read a third time 
. I would like to start by acknowledging the Parliamentary Counsel Office Treasury the Ministry of Social Development the Ministry of Health and other contributing agencies for their role in this work. The Government welcomes the enactment of this bill. It sets in place a responsible and sustainable framework for assessing a person’s assets to determine whether they are eligible for assistance through the residential care subsidy.  
This bill amends the Social Security Act 1964 to change the amount of annual increase in the applicable assets thresholds used in determining the amount that residents in aged residential care are required to contribute to the cost of their care. Throughout this debate and throughout the Committee stage we have heard all sorts of rhetoric about what might be happening but actually current increases of $10000 each year in the thresholds are going to be replaced with CPI indexation of the thresholds. We have heard that all sorts of other things are going on so let us get the facts here. The bill sets the thresholds for 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 to $213297 for Threshold A and $116806 for Threshold B respectively. Threshold B is the lower threshold excluding a person’s home and car and it also requires those amounts to be CPI adjusted by Order in Council for each later year beginning on 1 July 2013.  
This bill means that the residential care subsidy will continue to be available into the future as the demand for residential care for older people rises. It is a fair deal and one that this Government is pleased to support. It is a priority for this Government to enact this bill at this time. Passing this legislation through this Parliament will provide certainty for those people who may require residential care and for the Crown and will establish a sustainable pathway. I commend this bill to the House.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2541. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That clause 3 be agreed to.  
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 54 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 11; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Clause 3 agreed to. 
Bill reported without amendment. 
Report adopted.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2541. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That clause 2 be agreed to.  
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 54 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 11; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Clause 2 agreed to.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2540. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That clause 1 be agreed to.  
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 54 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 11; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Clause 1 agreed to.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2540. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That Part 2 be agreed to.  
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 54 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 11; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Part 2 agreed to.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2535. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That Part 1 be agreed to. 
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 53 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 10; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Part 1 agreed to.
Robertson H V Ross: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Robertson H V Ross: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2534. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: I call the honourable member Asenati Taylor. Talofa lava.
Cunliffe David: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Cunliffe David: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2525. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The House is in Committee on the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill. Kia ora tatou no reira e te Whare e nga iwi e nga reo e nga hau e wha. Tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.  
Hon David Cunliffe 
: Fa‘afetai lava. Fa‘afetai lava. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: The Hon David Cunliffe has reminded me that it is Samoan Language Week so talofa lava.  
Hon Members 
: Talofa lava. 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Let us get back to business. The question is that Part 1 stand part.
Sabin Mike: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Sabin Mike: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2524. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MIKE SABIN (National—Northland) 
: 
 I just want to reflect back on the rather bizarre and stunning contribution from across the floor in New Zealand First. The member Brendan Horan suggested that perhaps I should take what he considered to be a bovine-manure sandwich—referring to the Budget—to my colleagues in the north and ask them to eat that. Well I would suggest to this House that that member must have been eating a few too many of those sandwiches himself because that is exactly what has been coming out of his mouth this morning.  
What is this bill the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill about? This is about $34 million worth of savings over the next 4 years. This is about sustainable management of long-term residential care. That is what New Zealanders care about. This Budget has been about investing in education in 21st century schools. This Budget has been about science and innovation. This Budget has been about investing in infrastructure. This Budget has been about the future focus of our welfare reforms and our health sector. This Budget has been about investing in growth about investing in New Zealanders while not spending taxpayers’ money to do it. That is what our colleagues across the floor did for 9 years: spend up large and do not worry about it—someone will have to clean that up tomorrow. Well that is not good enough. This Government’s responsible Budget is for the times and it is what Kiwis want deserve and need.  
What else is changing? What else is changing? We are increasing funding for aged residential care beds by $82 million over 4 years. There is an additional $10 million over 4 years for community dementia services; that might be very handy for that member Mr O’Rourke in the very near future I would suggest. That is an additional $46 million on home care; that will rise next year to $57 million. This bill is about getting the balance right. It is about keeping the course and getting New Zealanders back into surplus by 2014-15. New Zealanders know it is not easy out there. They know it is not. They have changed with the times as have we. Unfortunately the only people who have not changed with the times are the people sitting on that side of the House and long may that continue.
Calder Cam: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Calder Cam: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2522. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Dr CAM CALDER (National) 
: 
 It is timely in view of the rhetoric we have heard from the other side of the House to remind the House that this legislation the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill maintains the real value of assets a resident is able to retain as the indexing of the threshold index allows. It is a sustainable protection of some of the vulnerable in our society.  
Dealing with the debt that this country faces is the key to our recovery. We understand that on this side of the House. We understand that. The people of New Zealand understand that. Is it understood on “Planet Parliament”? Is it understood in “Gulag Green”? Is it understood in the land of Nod?  
Hon Member 
: Absolutely no. 
Dr CAM CALDER 
: Absolutely not. No glimmer of understanding from New Zealand First either. However we on this side of the House do know that this Government has to get back into surplus by 2014-15 and this is what we are about to do. This is a principled pragmatic Government. I commend this bill to the House.
Ardern Shane: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Ardern Shane: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2519. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
SHANE ARDERN (National—Taranaki - King Country) 
: 
 Having to respond to the contribution of that member Brendan Horan about bovine infection or whatever it was is a wonderful place to start for the member for Taranaki - King Country. I would suggest that he needs a dose of either milk fever medicine or some bloat oil. I am going to try something novel in this debate: I am going to refer to the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill that is before us and speak in support of it. 
If you pick up the bill and just read the general policy statement it states: “This Bill amends the Social Securities Act 1964 to change the amount of the annual increase in the applicable asset thresholds used in determining the amount residents in aged residential care have to contribute to the cost of their care. Current increases of $10000 each year in the thresholds are replaced with Consumers Price Index (CPI) indexation of the thresholds.” From listening to our opponents the presumption is that there must be going to be an increase. When you have a listen to the general comments from our opponents they are about the National Government reducing the tax on the rich and they are about the National Government not taking into account those who are vulnerable in society. What I would suggest is that the levers that the National Government is going to use have a far greater opportunity to reduce the Consumers Price Index increases every year than any other particular measure you have seen from a Government in recent times has done. By doing that there is a high probability that the increase for those in long-term aged residential care could be less than $10000 per year. Injecting a bit of fact into the debate occasionally is I know new and novel particularly if you are on the other side of the House but I thought that might be worthy of mention right now. 
This is a sensible measure proceeding from the Budget and I look forward to it progressing through the House.
Horan Brendan: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Horan Brendan: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2519. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
BRENDAN HORAN (NZ First) 
: 
 Further to my colleague Asenati Lole-Taylor’s learned comments I would like to add that our question is: where is democracy? Where is the true democratic process where we go to a select committee and New Zealanders get their opportunity to view democracy in progress? But we have come to learn that with this Government democracy is in short supply. When we look at this Budget—what I call a “bovine-manure sandwich Budget”—which this Government has thrust down the throats of good New Zealand families we see that it has taken a million here and a million there from other areas and has just thrown it in as a lubricant. But here is the kicker: it spent $120 million on marketing to isolate New Zealand families and make them think that somehow they are the only ones who do not like the taste. I would say to members like Mike Sabin and Mark Mitchell: take this “bovine-manure sandwich Budget” up north to your constituents and ask them whether they like the taste. Mark Mitchell take this “bovine-manure sandwich Budget” to the elderly in your electorate and ask them whether they like the taste. I wonder whether the elderly when they were overseas fighting for New Zealand ever thought they would be coming back to this: selling New Zealand off and attacking the vulnerable and the young and the elderly.
Roy Eric: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Roy Eric: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2518. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Before I call the next member I have been informed that this is to be a split call between members of New Zealand First. The members participating can determine how much of the 10 minutes they want each. I will ring a warning bell at 2 minutes from the end of the 10-minute call.
Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Vote: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2525. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
A party vote was called for on the question  
That the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill be now read a second time. 
Ayes 64 
New Zealand National 59; Maori Party 3; ACT New Zealand 1; United Future 1. 
Noes 54 
New Zealand Labour 34; Green Party 11; New Zealand First 8; Mana 1. 
Bill read a second time.
Lee Melissa: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Lee Melissa: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2518. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
MELISSA LEE (National) 
: 
 It is a great pleasure to rise to make a short contribution on the second reading of the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill. But before I go forward with this speech I would like to just respond to something Ruth Dyson said. I would like to say that unlike the Labour caucus this caucus on this side of the House does not leak like a sieve. We do not actually comment about things. We have discussions but we do not actually leak like Labour. 
Demand for long-term residential care for older people is increasing and this important bill will make sure that the aged residential care subsidy is sustainable into the future. That is the important bit—that it is sustainable into the future. We need to make sure we can pay for it in the future. The number of New Zealanders aged 65 and over will exceed 1 million by the late 2020s compared with half a million people back in 2009. In fact the number of people over 75 years of age is forecast to double by 2033. From 1 July the Government will begin adjusting the asset threshold for rest home care subsidies at the rate of inflation. To me that is actually a good thing because unlike the rhetoric that the Green Party and the Labour Party—the members opposite—have been saying what this change really means is that 30 percent of people receiving rest home care who pay the full price of their care will do so for a little longer—on average it will be for about 8 to 10 weeks—before the lower rest home subsidy actually kicks in. The asset threshold for the aged residential care subsidy will increase from $210000 to $213000 for single people and for married couples where both are in residential care. 
This is a responsible bill. This is a pragmatic bill. I commend it to the House.
Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
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Tisch Lindsay: Social Security (Long-term Residential Care—Budget Measures) Amendment Bill — First Reading Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 24 May 2012. Volume:680;Page:2552. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
The ASSISTANT SPEAKER (Lindsay Tisch) 
: I understand the next call is a split call with the Greens.