Brown Peter: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — First Reading 
Brown Peter: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:617;Page:13372] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 I am actually delighted by that member’s contribution. She acknowledged that she had taken New Zealand First’s advice—do it once do it right. I only said that about half an hour ago and she is actually taking it on board. That has made my night! 
Let me say from the onset that New Zealand First will be supporting this bill. I like the way the Hon Ruth Dyson outlined it: we believe that it is better to pay people according to the work they do rather than their place of employment. I like that phrase and I thought it summarised the situation exceedingly well. 
The other day we had a debate in this House—Monday in fact—where we were all very nice to one another and people tuned into their television sets and their radios expecting to hear all fire hell and brimstone. They heard for the first time ever the best part of 120 MPs sitting in the House and all saying nice kind things and the few who spoke gave a history lesson that did not shake any sort of politics at all. But during the course of that debate I reminded the House that New Zealand First are the champions. We are the champions of the vulnerable and people mistook me afterwards for Freddy Mercury. I do not quite know why. It must be the size of my moustache— 
Hon Murray McCully 
: Because you look like you are alive. 
PETER BROWN 
: I thank the member for that. I remind the House of something that President John F Kennedy once said. I will read it again because I think it is appropriate in terms of this bill: “All of us do not have equal talent but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talent.” I am hoping that this bill will do that and more for disabled people. I cannot emphasise enough that New Zealand First is on the side of vulnerable people and disabled people in particular. I think that Kennedy quote sums up our philosophy on this bill. 
We support this bill going to a select committee but I also say that Simon Power raised a very good point. With due respect I do not think that Steve Chadwick addressed it very well. We are worried that it will take too long before this all falls into place. The expiry of the transitional period on 30 June 2007 seems a long long way away. 
I hope that this bill is not referred to the select committee under the same conditions as the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Amendment Bill because that would put the select committee under considerable stress and strain and there is a good chance that it will not get that right. If the same pressure is put on the select committee in relation to this bill—assuming it will go to the same committee—it will have an awful job sorting out both those bills. 
I close by reminding the House what Winston Churchill once said. I used this quotation the other day and again I think it is very apt. Winston Churchill said: “What is the use of living if it be not to strive for noble causes and to make this muddled world a better place for those who will live in it after we are gone.” I suggest that helping disabled people is a worthwhile cause and New Zealand First is only too pleased to be associated with this bill to the degree that we will support its referral to a select committee.