Strange JamieJAMIE STRANGE (Labour): The member took me by surprise there but I'm delighted to stand and take a call on this bill. I just had a birthday about two days ago.Hon Member: Oh! Happy birthday.JAMIE STRANGE: Thank you very much. Obviously turned 21 similar vintage to Simeon Brown and Chlöe Swarbrick in that sort of range. So after having this birthday I'm one year closer to receiving superannuation and it's certainly something that is at least in the back of my mind.A number of discussions have been had in this Parliament over many many years around superannuation. As one of the earlier speakers mentioned before superannuation did used to be means tested. It is now universal. And it's wonderful that we do have that way of valuing our seniors for everything that they have contributed over their life. This is a bill here for discussion around how long somebody should be in the country before they receive that universal superannuation. So the proponent of the bill Mark Patterson talks about raising the minimum residency qualification for New Zealand superannuation from 10 years to 20 years after the age of 20.Now the Labour Party are supporting this bill to the select committee and it will be interesting to see what the submitters say. Now some submitters might agree entirely around 20 years some might think it should even be longer 25 years or 30 years. Others may come and tell us that 10 years is about right. Others might settle on the area of 15 years. If this bill passes the first reading which I expect it does have the numbers to do that then this will be effectively thrashed out in a public setting where people can have their say. I expect that there will be a lot of interest in this because as I said at the start of my speech the aspect of superannuation it affects all New Zealanders you know at some point in our life when we get to the age of 65 of course but obviously affects current family members of mine who are past that age.If I could seek to without wanting to put words in the member's mouth—the sponsor of the bill—to sort of sum up this bill I think the key point here is around fairness. I'm looking over to the member if there's a bit of a nod because it's about fairness what is fair. How long is fair for somebody to have paid taxes into the Government coffers for then the Government to support them in their superannuation? How much tax is a fair amount and that's basically what the argument is.I would also like to touch on the super fund. I know a couple of previous speakers have because—DEPUTY SPEAKER: No no no we won't because it isn't—JAMIE STRANGE: We won't go to the super fund?DEPUTY SPEAKER: No we won't. It's not in the bill.JAMIE STRANGE: Thank you Madam Speaker. I appreciate your advice there.So I would like to touch on the fact that globally 10 years is actually an unusually short time for full entitlement to a universal non – means-tested pension at the age of 65. So maybe we are a little bit out of step with other countries in terms of the OECD and other developed countries. So that's just an example of why it is useful to have a look at this to have a discussion in select committee. Ten years 15 years 20 years 25 years—what is the appropriate time that New Zealanders want to see? And what is the appropriate amount of time that is fair? So it may be that we are out of step with some countries and we do have to have a look at it.Obviously the fiscal aspects need to be taken into account in terms of this if it does change to 20 years and what that will mean. So we haven't got that specific detail in the bill here but certainly I'm sure we can get that forecasting from Treasury which will be very interesting to see. Considering average life expectancy New Zealand superannuation is paid out for 20 years which is up to $480000 per person at current rates. So it certainly is a considerable amount of money. So it's a bill that must be considered very carefully. The Labour Party are certainly supporting it through to the select committee. That discussion will be had at select committee and we'll see where we land. Thank you Madam Speaker.