10. Families Package—Effect on Senior CitizensPRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentFamilies Package—Effect on Senior Citizens10. PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN (Labour) to the Minister for Social Development: Will the Families Package benefit seniors; if so how?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): The winter energy payment is a significant part of the Families Package and will help 710000 superannuitants to afford the heating they need to keep themselves warm and healthy. It is one of the most ambitious policy moves to address rising costs of living with a particular emphasis on some of our most vulnerable. When fully implemented the annual payment for every person over 65 will be $450 for single people and $700 for couples.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: So why is the winter energy payment such an important part of the Families Package and supporting seniors?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Too many of our seniors are hospitalised every year due to respiratory documents. I've been told of seniors staying in bed all day in an effort to keep warm because they simply can't afford the heating costs. That's not right and we can do better by our elderly. The winter energy payment is a simple but important way of supporting our seniors to keep warm and stay healthy.Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Are there any other measures in the Families Package that will benefit seniors?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Absolutely. The changes to the accommodation supplement outlined in the Families Package will also benefit eligible seniors. Around 14000 seniors will see an average gain in income of $30 a week. These changes also support the Government's broader housing agenda helping our most vulnerable to meet rising housing costs.Hon Louise Upston: Of the seniors that will receive the winter energy payment how many are earning over $50000 a year?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: All those who receive superannuation and the winter energy payment have the option of opting out of the winter energy payment. If that member is concerned about targeting can I remind her that her Government was going to put $400 million worth of tax cuts into the pockets of the 10 percent highest-income earners in this country.Hon Louise Upston: How does providing an extra $700 a year to someone who already earns superannuation plus getting $50000 a year deliver more money to families with children and reduce child poverty which is the Government's initiative?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We're doing all we can to help New Zealanders especially low to middle income New Zealanders. We don't think there is anything wrong with putting a little bit of extra money into the pockets of superannuitants over the cold winter months when they are most at risk of being admitted into hospital for respiratory ailments.Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Can the Minister confirm that the winter energy payment for over-65s is going to the exact same people who already receive universal superannuation something presumably the National Party now no longer supports?Hon Gerry Brownlee: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Admittedly it was a weak question but to try and strengthen it up by making an accusation like that is completely unparliamentary and totally unacceptable. It is not the National Party policy to in any way attack national super but it has been the current Government's policy not to increase it by virtue of their overturning the tax package.SPEAKER: The problem I have is that I did listen to the Hon Louise Upston's question which certainly implied a questioning around the universality of such payments—Hon Louise Upston: The winter energy payment.SPEAKER: —of such payments—and I therefore think it was not unreasonable for the Prime Minister to make the same interpretation.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Yes we do support the winter energy payment and we do support superannuation as a universal entitlement.