Guy Nathan: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Guy Nathan: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans' Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Volume:631;Page:3523] 
NATHAN GUY (National) 
: 
 I am just following on from the very valid contribution from the member for Northland. I am speaking to the title and there is no need for me to read it out is there? 
Lindsay Tisch 
: No but what does it mean? 
NATHAN GUY 
: There is no need to I do not think. I think the amendment should be exactly what the member for Northland has just talked about—the great work the National Party caucus has done in bringing this bill to the House. It has taken 6½ years for this Government to get the bill to where it is today. If it were not for a constituent in Nelson and a very hard-working National MP the Hon Nick Smith doing great work these changes would not have been brought to where we are at today. 
This bill is all about allowing the over 65s to age with dignity. There are about 6000 war veterans in this country many of whom will be eligible for this measure when it comes through the House. There are about 2000 over-65-year-olds who will qualify for this measure when it goes through. It is all about long-term residential care whether it be in a hospital or in a rest home. These people are the forgotten sector of our society—they are the people who have been forgotten. Often they have served our country by going to war and then have been forgotten. I will be interested to see when we get to the next election—either in 2008 or before—whether the Labour Party will consider buying this sector of votes as it did with the Working for Families package and interest-free student loans. 
But these are wise folk. These are people who have worked hard in New Zealand and they deserve to get something better than what they are getting now. We will be interested to see and hear about the golden age card that New Zealand First is proposing and whether it will make an iota of difference. This over-65s group are wise people. They are a bit cynical about any sort of a golden age card—whether it will deliver cheaper power or a reduction in fuel costs. 
David Bennett 
: What power? 
NATHAN GUY 
: That is exactly right—what power? We saw the crisis yesterday in the top half of the North Island. The power supply was diabolical because of a dilapidated infrastructure investment over the last 6½ years. Many of our war pensioners have been shivering in their homes because of a shonky Government not investing in infrastructure. There are some big issues that we will have to address when we get on to the Treasury benches in the next term. 
So just to sum up this bill is about allowing the aged sector to age with dignity with the support of this bill. It is a shame it has taken 6½ years to get here. These people deserve better—the ones who have gone to war for this country and those who have been forgotten and neglected. This bill goes some way to addressing that—it provides about $60 when I look at this chart here. It is interesting is it not that one now has to be married or in a civil union. The chart shows that the net wage for a married or civil unionised couple—that is very modern language—will move from $203 to $263. That is an increase of $60 which is fundamental for a sector that has been forgotten. I am happy to support this bill.