Peters Winston: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Peters Winston: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Volume:639;Page:9193] 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS (Associate Minister for Senior Citizens) 
: 
 I move  
That the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill be now read a third time 
. The third reading of this bill marks one of the final stages in paving the way for the SuperGold card to be launched in August this year. New Zealand First campaigned on a dedicated seniors card at the last election. We made such a card a cornerstone of our supply and confidence agreement and we have worked since that time to bring it to fruition. The SuperGold card recognises the immeasurable contribution our seniors and veterans have made and continue to make to New Zealand society. From August this year the SuperGold card will be available to approximately 540000 New Zealand residents who are aged 65 or over or who are aged under 65 and receive New Zealand superannuation or a veteran’s pension. 
The benefits of the card are many and moreover they can be expected to grow over time. Some members may know that seniors cards have been available in Australia for some 15 years now. We know from the experience there that the seniors card system over there has improved dramatically over time. As well as enabling senior citizens to access commercial discounts from SuperGold card business partners the card will help them to access the wide range of central and local government entitlement services and concessions already available to them. 
The card and the information services that support it will be a focal point for ensuring that seniors know all about the assistance currently available and to be available to them and ensuring that they can go about getting it. There are a host of benefits so legion that I cannot possibly list them all now. [ 
Interruption 
] For the benefit of the member for Coromandel who goes around disabusing people of the truth on this matter and says all sorts of things that are fictional when she knows from this House and from the law—if she only understood a part of it—that what she is foreboding as being likely to happen is not a fact is not the law and is not going to happen I ask her to forget about the mangroves and try to focus on something serious for a while in her political life as brief as that will be. 
In this way the card will be a platform—a vehicle providing our seniors with the help and information they need to live healthy and independent lives now and in the years ahead. It will replace the community services card for eligible cardholders aged 65 and over and the superannuation card. Cardholders will be offered the option of a photo—I ask members to notice the words “option of a photo”—on their card. That will be useful for those who do not have a driver’s licence or other form of photo ID. Veterans with war and emergency service may opt to receive a specially branded veterans’ version of the card. There will also be a dedicated SuperGold card website 0800 phone number and printed directory promoting the range of entitlements concessions and discounts available to cardholders across the country from central government local authorities and businesses. 
Let us consider the provisions of the bill and clear up some of the confusion wanton and egregious as it has been that was apparent during the second reading debate. As members will be aware the bill makes two amendments to section 132A of the Social Security Act 1964 which is an existing provision that enables regulations to be made for the issue and use of entitlement cards. I repeat: it is an existing provision. The first amendment in Part 1 will allow regulations to be made allowing for cardholder photographs to be placed on entitlement cards. 
Sandra Goudie 
: It doesn’t say optional. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: It is optional. Section 132A provides a generic regulation-making power for the issue and use of entitlement cards. Although the amendment has been promoted by the probable desire to provide for an optional photograph on the SuperGold card the Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill appropriately amends this generic regulation-making power. Now there you have it. 
Sandra Goudie 
: No word “option” in there. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: It is not too difficult and I hope that member has finally got it instead of being some doomsaying Cassandra as Ron Mark says. But she does not know what the word “Cassandra” means or where it comes from and never will know. 
The New Zealand Law Society’s submission to the Social Services Committee asked that the committee satisfies itself that it is appropriate for a power of this scope to be conferred by the proposed clause. The select committee did consider that issue but did not believe it appropriate so therefore recommended no changes to the bill. The regulations relating to the issue and use of the SuperGold card to be made under the amended section 132A(1) will reflect the decision that the photograph will be optional. There are issues to do with accountability oversight processes and the Regulation Review Committee’s ability in the future to look at this issue. 
The second amendment provides for barcodes on entitlement cards in time as technology changes as it will and for microchip technology to be used in relation to entitlement cards. Now let us deal once and for all with the misleading and vexatious claims made by some in this House who have sought to sully this great development for our seniors. 
Ron Mark 
: They hate old people. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: I do not know whether they hate old people or what it is. 
Microchip technology will not be part of the card when it is launched in August but we must face reality. In the not too distant future banks and retailers will be moving to chip technology as it is more secure as a medium for storing information. Here in Parliament these members—all of them—are using microchip technology for their security. They have it on their person all of the time. I wish that some of them had it on their person between their lips actually and horizontally. So we would be very negligent if we did not future-proof this card against these developments. We are getting ready for the future. This is the 21st century. It is now 2007 for goodness’ sake. The Luddite National Party should wake up. There is a huge change coming in the world and we should ensure that one of the biggest consumer forces in this country—the elderly—can be part of this great change. 
The amendment allows for the potential use of a card containing a microchip only if all the safeguards are met. The safeguards are already in place to ensure that the Privacy Commissioner and the State Services Commission will be consulted before any future use of microchip technology. I have given all the assurances. 
It is coming up to the end of my time and I want to close by saying that the SuperGold card is an important initiative that will provide real tangible benefits that will make a difference to the lives of senior citizens. The benefits that are capable of being negotiated—business by business service by service—are huge. All the new passports today carry microchipping. Maurice Williamson wanted to microchip all of our cars; I recall that National’s spokesman on transport wanted to microchip every car. 
I say to National Party members that they should cut out this drivel and nonsense. They are trying to scare some good wonderful old country folk who after all know who can be relied upon here. Between the National Party and New Zealand First there is only one option. The National Party’s record is disastrous. It promised to get rid of the surtax and when it came into office in 1990 instead of getting rid of it it put it up! 
Judith Collins 
: You were part of it. 
Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS 
: Yes I was in Cabinet and I was sacked on 1 October 1991 for spelling out the tragedy of the National Party’s betrayal to its constituency. What happened in 1993? Within 18 months National had gone from having the biggest ever win in an election to a hung Parliament—within 3 years. 
This card will honour the wonderful contribution that the elderly have made are currently making and will go on making to New Zealand society. The SuperGold card will be a physical reminder that the cardholder is a valued member of our society with the right to be treated with dignity and respect. I am glad that my colleagues in New Zealand First and other members of Parliament in the present Government including Labour United Future and others had the prescience of mind to support this great initiative the benefits of which are infinite and will be legion over time. I commend this bill to the House.