Ngaro Alfred: Veterans’ Support Bill — Second ReadingText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeNgaro Alfred: Veterans’ Support Bill — Second Reading[Sitting date: 10 April 2014. Volume:697;Page:17169. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]ALFRED NGARO (National):I would like to add my words to that and concur with my parliamentary colleague in regard to the fact that war and conflict are unnecessary evils. But there are times when people lose sight of the humanity and therefore we are faced with the reality that in order to keep peace and harmony in existence there are drastic measures that have to be taken. So we end up in this place. I think it is not the place really or appropriate for us in this place and in this time to argue about who did what and who did not do what. In order to honour the memory and to honour the aspect of the support that we need and want to give to our veterans it is important to be able to progress this through to a place in which they receive the support that they so desperately need.Can I also acknowledge Major Rebecca Thornley who is in the gallery and who led the work with the rest of the Defence Force and Veteran Affairs. It was work that I know must have been very difficult not only to hear the stories but also the role that they had to play knowing the legacy that has gone before them and what they needed to do in order to ensure that the future of other veterans will be served by this. So can I acknowledge you and honour you for the work that you have done. It is not an easy place to be.This bill the Veterans’ Support Bill has come about through the Law Commission. In 2007 that review was initiated. This bill replaces an Act that is nearly 60 years old. As was just said out of the 170 recommendations 132 were implemented. Therefore it is important to note that in the implementation of that review there were some things obviously that were not able to get through. But we can have some confidence—hence the reason why we have support across the House—that we have worked diligently and effectively to ensure that we have heard the submissions and worked with officials to ensure that we have a bill that will definitely meet the core issues of importance for our veterans in particular.The Veterans’ Support Bill is now all-encompassing. That ensures that it actually meets the needs of veterans and provides for treatment and rehabilitation for accepted conditions. One of the challenges is that in the previous Act the War Pensions Act 1954—and I think this is an important part—I know for many of us it was often silent on the provision of rehabilitation and the compensation was often focused on physical disability without acknowledging the emotional or mental effects and the need for rehabilitation in those areas as well. So I believe that this has been important as it has actually answered some of the concerns that were put forward in the submissions as well.Just a couple of other important points. I think there was concern raised about the importance of support for surviving spouses of veterans. As part of this package we have also increased the war disablement pension and the surviving spouse pension by 5 percent last year on top of inflation. We think that is important as well.More than 20000 modern defence force personnel are now veterans and there is a need to have a legislative framework that supports all our veterans. It is never going to be the perfect bill but it is the right bill. It strikes the right balance to make sure that it actually meets the needs of our war veterans. Along with others I do support this bill. It is the centennial next year 2015 to commemorate 100 years of the New Zealand Defence Force. Along with Poto Williams I have also been working with the Cook Islands community to ensure that we remember all of those right throughout our communities who have served and sacrificed themselves for New Zealand. We have put this bill forward with the recommendation that it will truly support and meet their needs as well. I commend this bill to the House.