Upston LouiseHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō): I rise to speak on Part 2 of the Families Package (Income Tax and Benefits) Bill. I have a number of amendments that I have presented. I want to just talk specifically about two of these so far. I want to echo the comments that the Hon Tim Macindoe made and that is about how the Opposition is using the opportunity of the committee stage to support the Government in their objectives and to improve the law and to make sure that the legislation is drafted—given that it doesn't have the scrutiny of a select committee process. I would urge the Minister in the chair the Hon Stuart Nash and other Ministers responsible who perhaps—for example the Minister for Social Development who may have a particularly stronger interest in some of these clauses.I want to talk to one of them and that is the one related to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD). My proposition is that the Ministry of Social Development must take reasonable and appropriate steps to explain to every person about the rules of absence from New Zealand. The Minister in the chair talked about those who are receiving superannuation payments after the age of 65 and how there's this kind of complicated Customs Service checks you in and out type of process but then the person has to sign something when they return.My proposed amendment is actually putting a responsibility on MSD for explaining it to those who receive benefits. I'm not just talking about superannuitants; in this case I'm actually also very very clearly and specifically looking at those on main benefits who are also going to receive the winter energy payment. I have a strong interest in those who are receiving main benefits. I want to make sure those people who have real needs get the support that they are entitled to. In this instance while they could have had a lift in benefit payments across the board like we did when were in office this is an increase but in a slightly different way. So I would want to ensure that MSD have taken practical and reasonable steps to ensure those that would be entitled to receive this benefit understand the rules around their absence from New Zealand. If as the Minister in the chair says it's important for those on benefits as well as superannuitants to receive this winter payment for the betterment of their own health and the health of their children I think this is an important practical change that would enable MSD to better support the clients they are working with. Another one that is similarly related and relates to the ability of those who in reality over time will become very reliant on this benefit—just as it was a great move when we increased benefits for the first time in 43 years this will be incredibly important for those on main benefits. So my second proposed amendment is to provide a number of limited—and I say limited—exemptions. The Minister I'm hoping will take this into consideration. It is that a person may apply to the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development for an exemption on the absence on the following conditions: if for example they have to care for children who for a period might be located overseas—that particularly would relate to those who are over the age of 65—or health conditions that may require time in warmer conditions. It would be a little unusual if on the one hand the objective of the Government is to improve the health of New Zealanders to then insist that they stay in New Zealand if they have a health condition that would be affected. In some cases there would be people who would be required to travel overseas if they had a family member for example that had a serious illness. These are compassionate grounds and so I would seek the opportunity to allow those who are receiving the winter energy payment two things: one to be able to apply to the ministry's chief executive for exemptions; and the other to be clear that the ministry had provided their information.