Brown Peter: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Brown Peter: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion (Repeal and Related Matters) Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 27 February 2007. Volume:637;Page:7733. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 Let me make it quite clear from the onset that when this bill had it first reading in May 2004 New Zealand First supported it to select committee. I have here the actual  
Hansard 
 of that debate and I represented New Zealand First at that time. Let me read a little bit of it because I want to explain our position as fully as I may. “Let me say from the onset that New Zealand First will be supporting this bill. I like the way the Hon Ruth Dyson outlined it: we believe that it is better to pay people according to the work they do rather than their place of employment.”—I think those members over there are in agreement with that thus far from listening to them.—“I like that phrase and I thought it summarised the situation exceedingly well.” 
Now we are debating Part 1 of this bill and let me just remind the Committee and anyone who might be listening tonight about the purpose clause which states: “The purpose of this Act is to—(a) repeal the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act 1960; and (b) provide for matters arising from the repeal of the Act until the expiry of the transitional period on 30 June 2007; and (c) make related amendments to the Minimum Wage Act 1983.” We had a member on the Social Services Committee last term who is no longer a member of Parliament. Unfortunately we cannot get hold of him to get some clarification but we notice from the select committee report back the following: “Concerns were raised that the financial implications of the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act will force sheltered workshops to close or move to providing other vocational services.” 
All the correspondence we had—certainly all I had—on this bill told New Zealand First not to support it. However we have a conscience and we are trying our best to work through this as honestly as we can. We read in the explanatory note of the bill the following: “Most people in sheltered workshops receive an average of $17 pay per week.” That is not good enough by anybody’s standard. The question we are asking ourselves in New Zealand First— 
Sandra Goudie 
: They are on benefits. 
PETER BROWN 
: I understand that but that is what they are being paid. The question we are asking ourselves is: can we improve the lot for those people and keep the workshops open and give them a more satisfying life? Right now I have to say that I do not think this bill does it. But having said that I can tell members that we had a mini-caucus tonight to discuss this because a lot of things have come up. We are going to vote against this bill at this point of time see what comes out of this Committee stage and we reserve the right to support the bill if we like the framework afterwards. 
Sandra Goudie 
: Ha ha! 
PETER BROWN 
: We are entitled to do this. We have a heavy heart here. We are not prepared to knock these people for six it is just against our beliefs but at the same time we are not convinced at this point in time that this bill will do it. So tonight we are going to vote against it because that was our instincts as we came into this Chamber tonight. But I know that something has pricked at least my conscience and that of my colleagues here. I will be consulting with my caucus and we will be asking the Minister for further information. Whether we stick to that position is yet to be clarified. 
 I have to say that we do not think the bill as it is written and as it has come back from the Social Services Committee is doing the job. However we are determined to address this issue positively for the people it affects. A few moments ago we listened with a lot of interest to the Minister and to Steve Chadwick. We also listened to the National Party. I know that Dr Paul Hutchison is very sincere in his beliefs on the way to address this issue. Indeed Supplementary Order Paper 71 in his name sits comfortably with us at this point in time. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: He should be the Minister of Health. 
PETER BROWN 
: Well he knows a little bit about it we have to agree on that. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: The spokesperson. 
PETER BROWN 
: Yes he should be the spokesperson on health; he is not quite on this side of the Chamber yet I remind my colleague. This might sound as though New Zealand First is in a state of flux. In all truth we probably are and we will address that issue as best we can. Thank you.