Gudgeon Bill: Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Procedure 
Gudgeon Bill: Future Directions (Working for Families) Bill — Second Reading Instruction to Committee In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:617;Page:13490] 
BILL GUDGEON (NZ First) 
: 
 Approximately 18 to 20 months ago I had the honour and privilege of attending the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference in Namibia. As I observed the lifestyle of the people I could not help but notice the bars on all the residential buildings. I noticed the difference in lifestyle between the people who lived there. They have the rich and the very poor. In fact we were warned not to walk around in the streets because of the threat of being knocked about a bit and robbed. We had the privilege of visiting the very poor areas and we saw people selling to make a living the sort of rubbish that we would throw in the rubbish dump. We did not venture into the very poorest areas because of a possible threat to our safety. 
Dr Wayne Mapp 
: That’s right. 
BILL GUDGEON 
: Mr Mapp vouches for that. We visited some of the rehabilitation areas provided for people who have come out of prison. We saw them making an effort to grow vegetables in the dust in an irrigation system that they had created. In this debate I have listened to the figures and percentages and the toing and froing about why we should or should not help people. I say the No. 1 reason we are in Parliament is to assist people. I have heard the question asked in this Chamber this very day as to why the very rich should give to those who have nothing. Some have asked why the well-off should give to those who have nothing. I want to quote from the book  
His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon 
: “Muldoon could not bring himself to vote with the Labour Opposition against National welfare cuts in November 1991 but his expression showed his feelings and he abstained from voting.” 
Former Governments have put some citizens of this country in a situation where we need to have a Budget like this to try to get them back on their feet. New Zealand First supports this bill firstly because it will help to assist these people regardless of their situation. Maybe they are there through no fault of their own or anybody else’s but they are citizens of this nation. Sir Apirana Ngata in the 1930s said the social welfare system would be the downfall of many. Who created that system? The policies put in place created this situation. Now we have a Budget that has seen the light and is trying to sort this out. 
Maybe amendments will be needed but the effort has been made to assist people to get on their feet so they can become independent of the State. This Budget with some fine-tuning will begin to fulfil the aspirations of every individual in this nation. Not only do we need to get people off benefits but also we need to look at the other assets in the way of education health and especially law and order. This society will never be a balanced society if we cut off those people who are struggling. So it is our responsibility as parliamentarians to assist people all we can to become independent of the State. 
Dr the Hon Lockwood Smith 
: This makes thousands more dependent. 
BILL GUDGEON 
: It does not make thousands more dependent. Why did a former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon not support National in trying to cut the welfare system?