Collins Judith: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Collins Judith: Social Security (Entitlement Cards) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:639;Page:9029] 
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
: 
 I was the deputy chairperson of the Social Services Committee when we looked at this bill. Concern was expressed about microchips and I have to say that I am a little bit perturbed at the somewhat mean-spirited contribution from the Minister and the personal attacks on our parliamentary colleague from the ACT party. I thought that was quite nasty and frankly nothing much to do with the bill. 
I think it is incredibly important that people do in fact consider and state whether they have any concerns about this provision—the microchipping provision—because after all I would have thought the ACT party was more like the Libertarianz Party who are real liberals as opposed to people like myself who are more conservative by nature. I think that a valid point has been raised. Whether it is something that we need to take further than the concerns that were expressed in the commentary back to the House is another matter. 
It is unfortunate that we have this bill when it really does not do an awful lot for superannuitants or veterans. It simply says that somebody is old enough to have a superannuation payment or has a veterans pension. When looking at the explanatory note of the bill it really just talks about the fact that this is just a discount card so that people can claim a discount if a commercial facility wishes to offer it to them. So that is not really much. In fact most of us now when we shop at some of the supermarkets get discount vouchers for our fuel bill. Certainly I partake of that. I get vouchers from Countdown New World or any of the other supermarkets that partake when I am doing the grocery shopping because basically that is what people do. This is not an awful lot more than that. 
What this card does have however is provision for a photograph and for a microchip. I was not in the House when my colleague Maurice Williamson was the Minister of Transport who brought in drivers’ licences with photographs but I certainly remember all those years ago that there was a huge carry-on that somehow people would have photographs—these modern things called photographs—on drivers’ licences. Today most of us think well of course one would have a photograph on one’s driver’s licence. They have in fact become a sort of de facto identity card for those of us who have them and I guess in many ways this is exactly what this is going to be. But I note the concern about microchipping. I note that other information may be put on there. 
I also note some of the concerns about the next part of the bill as to the information the Ministry of Social Development can obtain in relation to births deaths and marriages. What about people who are living in relationships that are not formally recognised other than through legislation brought into this House? That information will be difficult to access. It is not going to be a perfect entitlement card. I am not sure whether it will do an awful lot more for veterans other than to say they get a veterans pension whereas most veterans would have expected a bit more. Most veterans wanted a veterans’ gold card as proposed by the National Party which would have given them some entitlements not simply something they can wave around and say: “Would you mind giving me a discount because I’m a pensioner.” Frankly I think many pensioners and many veterans pensioners and many national superannuitants would find this somewhat insulting. 
Progress reported. 
Report adopted.