Fairbrother Russell: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Fairbrother Russell: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:639;Page:9163] 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) 
: 
 I want to bring this Committee debate to Part 2 of the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill. As a refreshing change I think we should start talking about the contents of Part 2. I start that—[ 
Interruption 
] Members should close their mouths; then I can see who is speaking. 
I will start by referring to the microchip card hanging off the clothing of the member on the other side Judith Collins when she— 
Judith Collins 
: Where? I have not. 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: I do not want her to undress in front of me. She spoke about microchip cards. She has gained access to various parts of this building today with a microchip card. I bet members a dollar for a penny that she does not have a scanner in her office and that she has not checked the accuracy of the information on her microchip card. I bet she does not know who is reading about her movements. I bet she does not know who is reading her bank account. I bet she does not know who should be nervous about her having a microchip card in her possession—particularly with some of the places she goes to. 
Judith Collins 
: What? 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: I have seen her at Law Society functions. She is a member who has good cause to be apprehensive about carrying a microchip card on her person. It falls into the area of function creep as introduced previously by the “ACT for Silliness” speaker Heather Roy. The function creep that that member gets up to just beggars the mind. 
I want to get back to the microchip card that has been found to be so offensive by members of the Opposition. That is an insidious patronising attitude; they should be ashamed of themselves. They are saying to members of this House to members of the public and to everybody out in the street that they are far more responsible than our senior citizens. If the speakers for the National Party can stand up in this Chamber to express concerns about microchipping then leave this Chamber and gain access to their offices with a microchipped card—not having checked the microchipped card on a scanner—then they are wilfully winding up alarm among our older citizens. 
Of course our older citizens are entitled to know what Part 2 relates to and I want to get on to that in this speech. But before I do I want members to look at that man stroking his bald head David Bennett. I bet that that is a detail that is imposed on the microchip hanging off his belt. [ 
Interruption 
] No the member’s is not as well polished. There will be a detail about the bald head on the microchip of that member as he makes his way around this building. [ 
Interruption 
] No I do not refer to the member or anyone else. There are some very elegantly bald heads in this Chamber and they should be on our cards. 
The CHAIRPERSON (Hon Clem Simich) 
: I cannot be too strong on you because other members have done exactly what you have done which is refer to everything except the part we are dealing with. Go back to the bill or we will put the motion. 
RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER 
: I want to speak on Part 2. I go back to the bill we are discussing at its Committee stage. 
I want to talk specifically about not the word “principally” but the words “principally on the age and residence of a person” which we find in clause 7 in Part 2. The golden age card is the inspiration of the Associate Minister for Senior Citizens Winston Peters who is bringing to our senior citizens the ease and convenience that the National members take for granted and want to deny our senior citizens. Through the phrase “principally on the age and residence” Winston Peters is bringing to the senior citizens of this country the ability to access their benefits. But what is more the Opposition is trying to deny access to the benefits for spouses and partners of senior citizens because Part 2 extends only to lawful spouses—whether they be spouses or civil union partners. 
Here is the rub: homophobia is emerging once again. I see that member for Hamilton East David Bennett sitting up when I mention civil unions. His lips start to crack his tongue comes out and he licks his lips because he knows what civil unions are all about. I advise that member to leave his microchip card at home when he visits some of his dearest closest and best friends. They will not be on the card because they are principally not of his age and residence. He pricks up his ears at the words “civil unions” and boy not only his ears at this time as I speak about this bill.