Parata Hekia: Social Security (Benefit Review and Appeal Reform) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Parata Hekia: Social Security (Benefit Review and Appeal Reform) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:656;Page:5737] 
HEKIA PARATA (National) 
: 
 Tena koe Mr Assistant Speaker. Huri noa i te Whare; tena tatou katoa. I too congratulate Sue Bradford on the bill she has brought before the House tonight. I am a relatively new member not only to the House but also to the Social Services Committee and it has been a great opportunity for me to hear from the member as recently as today and also to benefit from the advice of the member’s vast institutional memory—I mean that as a compliment but it is so often used as a criticism—her humility and her preparedness to share her knowledge with people such as myself. I very much appreciate that. 
I endorse the comments that other speakers have made tonight about the member’s tireless efforts on behalf of those who have entitlements to benefits. I really despair of the term “beneficiary” because it has become such a pejorative term in our society. This bill helps us to open the debate wider and to think about the respect that is owed to people who find themselves in need of the support of the State. 
It is incumbent upon the State to constantly review its own processes systems and structures to ensure that the grand intent that is always at the beginning of these processes is still being honoured as time passes. This member’s bill gives us that particular opportunity in respect of the benefit review and appeal process. When a problem is identified and when that problem is particularly relevant to the vulnerable in our society it is particularly important that we make every effort to redress the difficulties and flaws of the system and to look to continuous improvement to ensure that people who are reliant upon the State are able to access what they are entitled to—and to do so with respect. 
The bill proposes changes that are focused on the review and appeal rights of benefit recipients as set out in the Social Security Act 1964. The bill intends to provide a benefit review system that is independent of the Ministry of Social Development and that converts the current review process into an independently contracted quasi-judicial review. Consequently the bill seeks to change the way in which reviews are conducted. The bill also seeks to award costs to both successful and unsuccessful applicants. 
I think it might be helpful if we spend a very short time on summarising what the current benefit review process is notwithstanding the significant criticisms that have already been identified about it in previous parts of this debate. I am not sure whether members are aware of quite the scope and quantity of considerations that the current process is responsible for but approximately 5 million letters are sent out each year about decisions that have appeal rights attached. These result in about 4000 formal review requests each year. The first step in the process is a review of the decision—an internal administrative review within the ministry. Sixty-five percent of issues are resolved at this stage. If the review does not resolve the issue then the matter is formally considered by a benefits review committee. Such a committee as we have heard is made up of two members of the Ministry of Social Development and a community member appointed by the Minister. No additional costs are associated with the process other than the fees expenses and travelling allowances of the one community member. Costs to the appellant are not awarded. 
One of the particular concerns I have about the proposal set out in the bill is that it would seem to incur significantly more costs than the current process and I wonder whether we might more profitably turn our attention to how we improve the process we have rather than remove it altogether and start again. Clearly the system does require greater improvement. As my colleague Hone Harawira has said we must not be afraid to put the State under scrutiny. Thank you.