Turner Judy: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Repeal Bill Minimum Wage Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
Turner Judy: Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Repeal Bill Minimum Wage Amendment Bill — Third Readings 
[Volume:638;Page:8217] 
JUDY TURNER (Deputy Leader—United Future) 
: 
 I rise to support the third readings of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Repeal Bill and the Minimum Wage Amendment Bill acknowledging that United Future has not supported every stage of these bills. Our support now is not as someone recently suggested to me because the Government is short of numbers—we are very aware that there is already substantial support for the bills. Our support is because we are now convinced that our earlier concerns have been addressed and that support is morally the right thing to do. 
Our concerns were informed by two groups. Firstly there was lobbying by parents who feared the closure of sheltered workshops and secondly there was concern that there would be a reduction in the number of employers prepared to offer work and opportunities to disabled people. 
I thank the staff and clients at what was the sheltered workshop in my home town of Whakatane. They helped to shape my views so that I could make a clear representation to the United Future caucus on their behalf. I also thank officials from the Minister for Disability Issues Ruth Dyson’s office who have taken time on a number of occasions to answer our questions and concerns. 
We did give serious consideration to an approach by the National Party to support an amendment seeking to delay the commencement of this legislation—I noted that if the starting date was all that could be found at fault with this legislation it was probably all right. We decided not to support the amendment having received assurances from both the Minister’s office and from some providers we talked to that they were already geared up for the changes. 
Clients at the Whakatane centre are enthusiastic about the new directions their lives are already taking. The centre has nearly doubled its client base since the move towards supported employment and participation. New clients stated very passionately to me that the sheltered workshop ethos had stripped them of dignity and gave them no credit for the difference they were well able to make. Now they are supported into mainstream work and community activities and the centre still provides support for those currently requiring more intensive support. 
In Whakatane we had a well-known character called Kura. Kura had an intellectual disability but he would not be part of the sheltered workshop culture. He believed he was capable of more than was on offer so he became our town’s professional busker. He was a colourful character who knew everyone by name and he was no respecter of person or position. Whether a small child or the local mayor Kura was everybody’s friend. He was a talented musician who did very nicely thank you from the proceeds of his busking. When he died several years ago we all mourned his passing. 
Kura was a forerunner for the kind of thinking that this bill enshrines. He did not wait for a change in the law—which was just as well as he did not live long enough to benefit from it. But let me say a word to those who still fear this change. I acknowledge that the thought of having current comfortable arrangements for family members changed is understandably daunting and it is not helpful for those fears to be trivialised by others. The great hope that this bill offers is that future New Zealanders who have additional challenges to overcome can enjoy meaningful employment and participation. I challenge the Minister to ensure that those needing to embrace change are given all the support they need in that transition process.