Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:637;Page:7637] 
12.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister of Veterans’ Affairs 
: What progress has been made in implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Government and the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association and the Ex-Vietnam Services Association and announced on 7 December 2006? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Minister of Veterans’ Affairs) 
: 
 A joint implementation group has been established to ensure the effective implementation of the memorandum of understanding. The group is comprised of membership from the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association the Ex-Vietnam Services Association and key Government agencies. Work is already under way to deliver on this Government’s commitment to the provisions of the memorandum of understanding. This is the first time in 30 years that any New Zealand Government has acknowledged the concerns of Viet Nam veterans and their families. 
Judith Collins 
: What reports has the Minister received that no money will be available until the next financial year to pay those Viet Nam veterans suffering from a prescribed condition the promised ex gratia payment of $40000? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I have received no such reports. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Can the Minister tell the House what initiatives if any are currently being worked on? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: In late 2006 both the Prime Minister and I announced at the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association’s annual conference that work would begin on rewriting the War Pensions Act—an Act that has not been touched since 1954 and which is based on the archaic legislation of 1915. We will be working closely with all interested veterans’ organisations to ensure that the final results improve the delivery of services to veterans and their families. As well as this I have initiated a review of Veterans Affairs New Zealand alongside the working party review to ensure that Veterans Affairs New Zealand is set up to be able to deliver its services as effectively as possible in the future. 
Judith Collins 
: Does the Minister accept as reliable the estimate made by Viet Nam veteran Vic Johnson that a further 20 Viet Nam veterans will die before the implementation of understanding; if he does not why does he not? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I am not familiar with the calculation of Mr Johnson and I do not know what basis he has made the calculation on. I can say to the member that if a person was currently in receipt of a war disablement pension for one of the prescribed conditions and was suddenly deceased then I would expect the payout to be made very quickly. 
Judith Collins 
: Is the Minister able to confirm that his own handling of this issue has been cited as a cause for complaint by the director of Veterans Affairs and can he confirm to the House that the director has lodged a substantial personal grievance claim against the Crown? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I can confirm neither of those allegations. 
Judith Collins 
: Can we take it from the Minister’s statement that no personal grievance claim has been lodged by the director of Veterans Affairs? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I repeat for the member for the sake of clarity—belt and braces—I have no knowledge of the matter that the member has spoken about at all.