Hutchison Paul: New Zealand Superannuation and Veterans’ Pensions (Entitlements of Spouses and Partners of People in  Long-term Residential Care and Remedial Matters) Bill — In Committee 
Hutchison Paul: 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:3108] 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON (National—Port Waikato) 
: 
 Part 1 deals with amendments to the New Zealand Superannuation and Retirement Income Act 2001. Indeed I absolutely agree with my colleague the Hon Dr Nick Smith that this part will test the sincerity of Labour members of the Government. It will test the sincerity of Clayton Cosgrove who waxed so lyrical about what he says is his party’s attitude towards the elderly. There is no doubt that in this bill before us there has been nothing shown but negligence by the Labour Government towards the elderly. 
I certainly want to commend to the Committee the very appropriate amendment of my colleague Dr Nick Smith which will address the anomaly that has been perpetrated on Mr Page from Hope Nelson. It is very unfair that Mr Page aged 91 who applied for the single living alone allowance in 2004 was totally ignored by the Labour Government. He was totally ignored by the Labour Government not just once but I understand two or three times to the extent that it required Dr Smith to take Mr Page’s case to the human rights commissioner. The commissioner said: “No this is an anomaly that the Labour Government has perpetrated.” and the Government was finally shocked out of its lethargy. So the amendment we have before us is very right and proper in that it would backdate the living alone payment to Mr Page and to others like him who applied prior to 24 July 2004. 
 I too want to make the comment that this part deals with those aged 65 and over who are doing Volunteer Service Abroad around the world. Many many New Zealanders who do that fantastic work right around the world often in very dangerous situations have been penalised by that situation. I think we heard about Mrs Myrtle Whitehead who had done some terrific work in Asia but who had to keep on coming back to New Zealand in order to get her rightful entitlement. So indeed it is quite appropriate that this bill extends the period from 52 weeks to 156 weeks. That means that the over-65 category of superannuitants who are working for Volunteer Service Abroad—and I understand that something like 11 percent of Volunteer Service Abroad workers are in that category—will be affected by that provision so it is appropriate. 
The other point I want to make is that in the Age Concern New Zealand submission on the bill the one major problem its people had was that the bill did not address the fundamental issue—which is that many older people currently do not receive adequate financial assistance from this Labour Government. I think that that is the nub of the issue because as we all know superannuation is indexed to the average weekly wage and we have a Labour Government that came into power in 1999 when the economic growth rate was 4.9 percent—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: I raise a point of order Mr Chairperson. I know that Mr Benson-Pope who is a relatively new Minister is in the chair but there is a longstanding rule from Speakers that the Minister who has preferential access to the microphone should not be able to interject in the way he was doing. I suggest that you bring the Minister to order. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: I thank the member for raising that. Dr Smith is absolutely right and I dealt with that matter just before the member raised it. 
Dr PAUL HUTCHISON 
: I am very glad to hear that because I was making the point that this Labour Government came into power in 1999 when the growth rate was 4.9 percent. But what is the growth rate now? It is 0 percent. If we did not have the situation where over 600 New Zealanders are departing these shores every week for Australia perhaps things might be different. But we have a legacy from this Labour Government that the growth rate in New Zealand has not been sufficient to make sure that the elderly of our nation have sufficient financial assistance to ensure in the words of Age Concern that poverty does not predetermine their health and well-being. What an indictment against this Labour Government! If we look into the future for the next few years we can see that the economic growth rate under Labour will fall—it is estimated that it will be between 0 and 1 percent—and that is very serious for the elderly people of this country.