Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Laban Luamanuvao Winnie: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:619;Page:14524] 
6.  
LUAMANUVAO WINNIE LABAN (Labour—Mana) 
 to the  
Minister of State Services 
: Why did the Government introduce the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme and what reports has he received on its uptake? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Minister of State Services) 
: 
 The Government wants to give New Zealanders certainty and security in retirement. It is important that the Government as a major employer sets a good example in encouraging retirement savings. Forty-four percent of eligible employees in Government departments and 30 percent of eligible employees in the education sector have taken up the opportunity to join the scheme. Of course teachers also have another scheme. I note the scheme has been questioned by the Opposition. I am sure the House will be interested to see whether John Key rolls Don Brash on this superannuation issue as he did with the Superannuation Fund. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That last sentence is not appropriate. It did not in any way use derogatory terms about the people concerned but it was unnecessary to the spirit of the answer. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: Why is it important for State sector employees to plan and save for their own retirement? 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The Opposition made it clear last year that it will cut or abolish superannuation for those under 50. Therefore in the long-term saving may be even more important than it is now. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That is a complete mistruth and the House should not be subjected to that. When questions are being answered I think you need to be on the case and make sure that Ministers answer entirely from the perspective of their own portfolios and do not engage in the sort of political speculation that Mr Mallard is so very good at. 
Hon Dr Michael Cullen 
: My understanding is that Dr Brash has made it perfectly clear that it is likely the age would be moved under a National Government for those under 50. In terms of age qualification there was no guarantee for anybody aged under 50. That is a cut in the pension. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I now want the Minister to come to the question asked and answer that part of it without the references he made before. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: For a variety of reasons there is not absolute security in the medium term for people who were aged under 50 last year. I therefore suggest that all employers be good employers and get involved in helping their employees save against the reducing possibility of people who might make that sort of change being involved in Government. 
John Key 
: Can the Minister confirm that the Hon David Cunliffe was correct when he told the annual superannuation fund summit in April of this year that his Government has a firm funding commitment to the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme for only the next 2 years and after that it was open for negotiation; if so what assurances can the Minister give State sector employees that the scheme will continue after this date taking into consideration its disappointing uptake. 
Hon TREVOR MALLARD 
: The dollars for the first 3 percent subsidy—1.5 percent in the first year and another 1.5 percent taking it to 3 in the second year—are baselined out into the future. This is an annual budgeting decision and I am sure the Tories would cut it like they have cut other pensioners’ superannuation. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is a political comment. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Why are Ministers allowed to make political comments in answers but we cannot even describe a Minister as being “obedient” in a question? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: If a member makes a comment like that of course members are going to be allowed to make political comments—this is Parliament. As far as the answer was concerned it was not out of order.