GEORGINA BEYER (Labour-Wairarapa): The disappointing aspect of the speech from the member who has just resumed her seat was the lack of policy from the National Party. That member stood there and whinged for 10 minutes about the Social Security (Social Assistance) Amendment Bill in its first reading. The only positive thing she had to say was that National would vote the bill through its first reading, and we are grateful for that. I hope it will come to pass that the whole House will support the bill through its first reading, because it is likely, although it has not yet been confirmed, that it will go to the Social Services Committee, which I am fortunate enough to chair. That is where the Minister has requested it go, I believe. Fortunately, Mrs Rich happens to be a member of that committee, so we hope we will see some more philosophy of the National Party regarding these particular matters drawn out from its members and thrown on the table for us all to consider. The wonderful thing about the select committee process is that those kinds of things can be nailed. That is what this Government has done with this proposed legislation.

I remind members of the House of the key points mentioned by the Minister in his speech. They are that this legislation ensures fairness and security and that it makes three significant amendments to the social security system by, firstly, extending eligibility for accommodation supplement to residents of retirement villages who have “licence to occupy” tenure; secondly, ensuring that benefit applicants who work for part of the year are not financially disadvantaged—for example, seasonal workers; and, thirdly, changing the regime to encourage sole parents to establish paternity for their children and apply for child support.

The internal tensions that are obvious between Katherine Rich and Dr Brash have stopped the National Party from making any progress in developing its welfare policy. When this bill gets despatched to the select committee we hope we can draw out some of that policy from National Party members.