Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill

I’m pleased to be able to take a call in this committee stage of the Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill. This, of course, is a piece of legislation that this side of the House supports. When Bill English, as Prime Minister, was visiting the Pacific last June, this was a commitment that was made at that time. So we are pleased to see that the new Government is delivering that undertaking.

Of course, these changes seem quite small and straightforward, but, for the people that are impacted by them, it’s not just life changing for them but also for their countries. So it makes a much fairer system for the residents of the Cook Islands, Niue, and Tokelau, and in terms of the submissions that we heard on the Social Services and Community Committee, there were only a small number of submissions and there really wasn’t too much disagreement. So this piece of legislation is welcomed by the National members. We appreciated the opportunity to hear from a small number of submitters in the select committee process, and so we are pleased that the Government is addressing this legislation with haste, which is why we don’t have questions for the Minister in the chair, Carmel Sepuloni.

The committee didn’t propose any changes from the bill as introduced, which I think just recognises that there is a significant impact in this legislation. The ability in terms of the residency requirements after the age of 50 making eligibility much easier, and the ability for those to be able to return to their home countries of the Cooks, Niue, and Tokelau, is a really critical component of those local economies and provides a lot more flexibility and recognises the very special status we have with those countries. So I’m pleased to support this and the Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill in this committee stage.

Can I just say, as the Minister for Social Development, that I’m really glad that we have been able to progress this policy, this piece of legislation, as quickly as we have. And can I say that it was a privilege to be alongside the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cook Islands earlier this year, where were had the opportunity to make the announcement that we would be moving forward with this.

I’m really pleased that this bill has support across the House. The Hon Louise Upston mentioned that her Government had already committed to it in June last year. I would disagree with that. There was no commitment made, and, in fact, there was disappointment from our Realm nation leaders because of the fact that the previous Government were so slow to commit to this particular measure. But, tonight, the fact that they are continuing to support this piece of legislation I think does make up for that. It is a common-sense thing to do, and it’s the right thing to do.

One of the issues that is raised quite regularly with all of us when we travel to the Cook Islands or Niue—probably less likely to travel on a regular basis to Tokelau, but when we do meet with our neighbouring leaders from those countries—is the impact that depopulation has had on those particular countries and the role that New Zealand has played in that depopulation.

So there seems to be a bit of mixed feeling in terms of the opportunities that New Zealand has provided but also the opportunities that maybe New Zealand has had a role in removing because of depopulation as well. So by doing this, it is a huge gesture in saying that, actually, we support those that come to New Zealand to contribute from the Realm nations to be able to go back and to be able to contribute to their island nations as well. So, as has been stated tonight, the biggest part of what we’re discussing here is that we are removing the requirement for those from the Realm nations to spend the five years after 50 in New Zealand to secure access to superannuation. The requirement to still do the 10 years prior to the age of 50 still exists, but that five years can actually be lived and served in the Realm nations.

Many of the leaders—not just political leaders but business leaders and community leaders—in those Realm nations have pointed out the massive contribution that returning Cook Islanders, Niueans, and Tokelauans are able to make in that age range and have made in that age range. I’ve actually met a number of people who, because of their choice to go back and contribute to their home island nation, have actually been deprived access to superannuation despite having served, quite often, more than 10 years prior to 50 in New Zealand. So this fixes that. I’m really proud of the fact that we’ve been able to do that. It really fits alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs’ push for a Pacific reset. This is about ensuring that we have a genuine partnership with the Pacific, that we not only value the contribution that Pacific people make here but that we support Pacific people to be able to make a contribution in their own Pacific countries as well, and that we listen to the requests of our Pacific neighbours with regards to what is important to them.

As has been stated, in some ways this could be perceived as a small step, but I certainly know that when Prime Minister Henry Puna sat here on the night that we had the first reading of this particular bill, in his mind, and in the minds of many of the Cook Islands people that accompanied him on that night, this is not a small win. They see this as a huge gesture of good faith and really indicative of this Government’s commitment to the Pacific in ensuring that we do have a true partnership with our Pacific Island countries. So, yes, I’m very proud of the fact that we’ve been able to bring this bill to the House as quickly as we have, and I’m also very grateful that we have support across the House for this particular bill.

Part 1 and 2, schedules 1 and 2, and clauses 1 and 2 agreed to.

House resumed.

The Chairperson reported the Courts Matters Bill with amendment, the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Bill with amendment, and the Social Assistance (Residency Qualification) Legislation Bill without amendment.

Report adopted.