Robertson H V Ross: General Debate 
Robertson H V Ross: General Debate 
[Volume:666;Page:13992] 
H V ROSS ROBERTSON (Labour—Manukau East) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Speaker. Before addressing the issue of GST and its impact on senior citizens let me acknowledge those people in Canterbury who are suffering the devastating effects of the terrible earthquake. Let us also acknowledge the impact that it has had on members of this House who have suffered personally in this tragedy—my own colleague on the Labour side Brendon Burns and I understand Amy Adams and the Hon Gerry Brownlee. Let us remember that these people have suffered personally as well. 
I will address the issue of GST and its impact on seniors. I ask where the voice is for senior citizens in this Government. Hello? Hello? There is no one there. There is no one there standing up for senior citizens—no one at all. I challenge the Minister for Senior Citizens to get up off his hind legs take a call in this House and justify why there should be a 2.5 percent increase in the rate of GST adding up to 15 percent which will attack the most vulnerable in our society. I tell the Minister to stand up take a call and answer the challenge. What is the Minister doing about addressing the impact on the most vulnerable in our society? 
Senior citizens are an important constituency who have contributed significantly to this country. They have contributed significantly to building this nation. We have to look just around the wall at the plaques—Monte Cassino Gallipoli Crete just to name but a few. When the Hon Phil Goff leader of the New Zealand Labour Party offered me the role of spokesperson on seniors I was absolutely delighted—absolutely delighted. It had nothing to do with the fact that I have an inherent interest—nothing to do with that—but with my desire to serve others. I wonder how much the appointment of Dr Woods as the Director General of Health will impact on serving others and the elderly. 
The attacks on seniors continue. If we go around the country and talk to Grey Power groups one of the things we find is that they are unhappy with the advocacy for them at the highest levels of Government. They ask where the voice is and who in Government is speaking up for seniors. The Government is ineffective. I have been told about the cuts to the accident compensation scheme especially cuts to eligibility for hearing aids and how that impacts on seniors. That is very important. We heard today about the Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan who gives a 3-yearly report to the Government. As I understand it there is information in her report about the possibility of raising the age of eligibility for superannuation to 67. I want to know what the Minister for Senior Citizens thinks about that. What we have here— 
Hon Members 
: That’s your policy. 
H V ROSS ROBERTSON 
: Oh look at them it is obviously having some impact. They are hurt. They will not speak up in this House for seniors but I tell members I will. I am a strong advocate for senior citizens and I will continue to be a strong advocate because nearly 60 percent—nearly 60 percent—of our superannuitants have nothing more than basic superannuation on which to survive. But we are having an increase of 2.5 percent in the rate of GST. Who will be better off? Cabinet Ministers. Cabinet Ministers those high-income earners will be getting an extra $100 - plus a week but will senior citizens? No way. What will happen? Increases in GST will increase the rate of inflation up to about 6 percent. The so-called increases given to seniors will not even compensate for that. In finishing let me say this: I challenge the Minister for Senior Citizens to speak up and to advocate on behalf of seniors in this House. Tihei mauri ora! Tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.