GEORGINA BEYER (Labour): I am proud to take a call in the third reading of the Social Security (Long-term Residential Care) Amendment Bill. That previous speech was rather amusing to some degree. It said a lot about caring for elderly people. I do recall, some time in the past under Mr Bolger, a bit of a reneging of a promise about a surcharge at some point. That really showed a lot of concern for elderly people at that time! I have to wonder to myself, with that speech from Judith Collins—from those sometime eloquent words coming from her—whether that was some purport of a vision coming from the National Party, because if it were, could we put that down to some form of leadership bid that might be occurring? Vision really is something. Those members ought to look at that lady as one of the contenders, because when she was talking about those poor, elderly people who should be able to make up their own minds, I believe that Don Brash might want to consider what he might like to do about making up his own mind on his leadership state at the moment.

But, no, the important matter before us in this third reading this evening is, of course, elderly people, whom Labour is committed to—not only elderly people but families, young and old.

Labour believes in fair treatment and dignity for our senior citizens, and this bill continues to make progress on both fronts by providing certainty for all.

In the bill, the maximum contribution for the provision of care is agreed on by funders and providers, and it is the same for all needs-assessed residents in a region, regardless of the type of care they need—rest home, dementia, continuing hospital, or specialist hospital. Strangely enough, I have just come from a meeting with Alzheimer’s New Zealand, and those who were present at this particular meeting highlighted to us the many needs to be met in their particular sphere of concern, and said that they were able to interface with the Government. The meeting I have just come from this evening is an indication of progress and of taking notice of our elderly people, which of course this bill is endeavouring to do.

Finally, I would just like to mention that the bill precludes people from receiving both the residential care subsidy and the disability allowance. That allowance will now be able to be used more widely, to go towards the same costs that those living in the community can use it for. With that, I commend this bill to the House and look forward to its conclusion.