Jones Shane: KiwiSaver Bill — First Reading 
Jones Shane: KiwiSaver Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:629;Page:1694] 
SHANE JONES (Labour) 
: 
 There is a brilliant contrast in the way in which the different parties are approaching this bill. However before I elaborate on that I point out that the bill will be coming to the Finance and Expenditure Committee and there will be no shortage of opportunity for representatives from the industry to come forward and give us their views of life. There will be no shortage of opportunity for representatives from the various community groups who share our concern about the savings deficit that has blighted our country. This legislation has enjoyed great support up and down the country. Indeed it was a key part of what the recent election was about. Therefore the Finance and Expenditure Committee will be more than interested to hear the different perspectives but most important to test how practical and realistic those parched and desiccated alternatives that the Opposition refers to actually are and what resonance they offer. 
But I must first return to my whanaunga the honourable Hone Harawira. In his speech he referred to this bill offering considerable opportunity to improve the savings culture amongst our Maori people. Yes there are some concerns about the income levels of a number of our Maori families etc. but that issue is being dealt with elsewhere. 
One of the key elements of this bill in relation to its underlying thinking is independence. This bill drives a number of initiatives that we have long been concerned about which focus on how to enhance a sense of independence in people’s retirement years. Despite the ideology and the rhetoric from the other side of the House there is no clear coherent set of ideas other than the mantra of slashing the State and crudely handing out tax cuts without any clear conception of what will be the fiscal impact of those cuts. 
The other thing this bill does is celebrate the institution of work. Work is a fantastic civic institution and this bill builds on our commitment to ensuring that those people who are in work are ably assisted but more important that the employers share with the employees a joint responsibility to build deepen and broaden the capital base of our country. We cannot live incessantly or indefinitely on the grace and favour of international lenders or international investors. This is an example of where we are using the powers of this House and also the remedial forces of the State to ensure that in the future we have a stronger capital base for our economy. Another great feature of the bill is the importance of choice. 
Despite the rhetoric from the other side of the House and some rather lazy commentators in the media there are a tremendous number of positive features: pursuit of independence; enhancement of choice; and as I said earlier contribution to a savings culture. Why do we not have an adequate savings culture in this country? We need to ensure that the steps we take represent a long-term platform for both teaching our young people and ensuring that it becomes a key tenet of the employee-employer relationship that savings should grow. I am reminded of my youth and of the old Dalmatian gumdiggers and others who if they had had the opportunity we are providing would have seen in the long term as they bequeathed their efforts of savings of thrift and of prudence to their future generations. 
This bill will be carefully considered by our select committee. I have no doubt that the overwhelming number of submissions will be to enhance it and ensure that it finds a permanent place in our economic infrastructure.