Wong Pansy: Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Wong Pansy: Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:624;Page:19573] 
PANSY WONG (National) 
: 
 I was wondering whether I should quote the honourable John Tamihere from  
Investigate 
 but the Minister who has just sat down reminded me how accurate was the picture painted by the honourable John Tamihere. He said that after one met with the Hon Steve Maharey for half an hour although he sounded smarmy and intelligent he made absolutely no sense. There was no substance or solution in his contribution. I was totally confused after the Minister’s 10-minute contribution but I do encourage him to take more calls to explain himself. 
Firstly he explained to the public that the legislation he brought in was meant to fix the problem of mothers not naming the fathers of their children then in the same breath he said that it would not. He also believed that the legislation would not achieve that aim. I would like the Minister to take another call to say that you have just explained to the Committee that you never intended this legislation to— 
The CHAIRPERSON (H V Ross Robertson) 
: Please do not bring the Chair into the debate. Please refer to him as the Minister. 
PANSY WONG 
: The Minister has just said to the Committee that in his mind clause 7 does not achieve the aim of getting mothers to name the fathers of their children. Is he trying to dupe the public into believing that bringing in this legislation would indeed solve the problem? I am very confused by the Minister who has just made the statement that clause 7 would not address what the bill sets out to do. 
The Minister claims that the real solution lies outside the scope of this legislation. If the policy or action of the department is so effective why are political parties being asked to debate this legislation? 
It simply does not make sense. For the Minister’s information the National Party or his so-called “Mrs Judith Collins’ National Party” has an effective policy. 
I also suggest to the Committee that the only reason why the Minister even attempted to address the serious issue that fathers should be made responsible for looking after their children is due to the National Party leader Dr Don Brash raising the issue in Orewa this year. He wants to make sure that children have the best care and that both parents are made to be emotionally responsible or at least financially responsible for their children. I assure members of the public that they need have no worries as the incoming National Government we will bring in comprehensive social welfare reform and as part of that we will make sure that fathers will definitely get the message and will be made to be partly responsible for the upbringing of their children in New Zealand. We got the impression from the contribution from the Minister the Hon Steve Maharey that he will never do that. 
However National supports this bill for the very simple reason that at least it is an acknowledgment that fathers should be made responsible. It is a very small step and it needs an incoming National Government to make sure that the rest of the comprehensive social welfare policy is put in place to ensure the substance of what we are trying to address here will be addressed. I welcome the Minister taking more calls to give the public and people like myself a very clear statement that indeed clause 7 will be implemented by his department.