Parmar ParmjeetDr PARMJEET PARMAR (National): Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker for the opportunity to take this call on the Accident Compensation (Recent Migrants and Returning New Zealanders) Amendment Bill. I would like to join other colleagues in congratulating the member in charge of this bill Melissa Lee and I have to admit this that I used to hear this all the time—that sometimes a bill can sit in the tin for a number of years and not get drawn and this is a real example so I can fully understand the excitement that the member had when the bill was drawn.It's really unfortunate to see that the Government members don't see any value in supporting this bill. Whereas this is to support a small number of people that doesn't mean the impact of this is small. The impact of the current system can be quite huge on this small number of people. This bill is actually to link ACC payment to superannuation payment rather than linking it to the superannuation age which is 65 at the moment. So this bill is correcting that assumption which is there that when someone is receiving ACC payment when that person reaches the age of 65 by the time they have reached 65 they are unable to come back to work that their superannuation payment will kick in at the age of 65.So that assumption is not correct. For some individuals superannuation payment does not kick in at the age of 65 because they have not fulfilled the criterion that is there for residency here in New Zealand. We know that people are required to fulfil this criterion of being lawfully resident in New Zealand for 10 years—this is after the age of 20—and five after the age of 50. So this can be the case for New Zealanders coming back to New Zealand and this can be the case for immigrants coming to New Zealand.I heard a Green member's contribution before—that this is a big issue and should not be considered through a member's bill. I refute that argument. Just because it's a big issue doesn't mean that this cannot be raised through a member's bill. Then I also heard another member the Labour member Mr Paul Eagle who spoke before me. He said that when immigrants come to New Zealand they are expected to bring resources to live through their retirement. That is true in some cases but when they come as skilled force to fulfil the job vacancies here in New Zealand we cannot expect them to bring resources that will be enough for their retirement. So this bill is not about that.This bill is actually ensuring that when an individual is injured and is unable to get back to work by the time that individual is 65 and their superannuation payment has not kicked in the ACC payment continues until the superannuation payment kicks in. I fully understand that yes it is not at 65 that it necessarily gets cut off. The ACC payment can continue for two years after the age of 65 but that may not be enough because it will depend on when that individual will fulfil that residency criteria that is there to become eligible for superannuation payment. So this bill actually brings in an amendment that helps that small number of people but it is a very useful amendment in the Accident Compensation Act.For us it's really important that we look after our elderly because the well-being of our elderly actually reflects the state of our country. People deserve to spend their older age with dignity. Monetary support is important for all age groups and it becomes even more important for that age group that is 65-plus. So ACC payment at this stage is linked to age—that is 65—but this bill is to change that to link it to when the superannuation payment actually kicks in. Yes I fully understand we have a very good welfare system. People can go on benefit but that is not fair for those individuals and we should not assume that people want to retire at the age of 65. There are people who might want to continue working after the age of 65 as well so ACC cover should be available to them.So I think it's a good bill. It's really unfortunate to see that Government members are not supporting this bill. I support this bill and commend this bill to the House. Thank you Mr Assistant Speaker.