Dunne: Seniors lose in a one-party state
27 August 2008

Senior citizens will be the losers if either Labour or National governs alone after this year’s election, UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne told Auckland Central Greypower members this morning.

“While both major parties pay lip service to older New Zealanders, with little real interest in their concerns, other parties treat them as mere voting fodder to be indulged through trinket policies.
“What is needed is a comprehensive seniors policy to continue the full involvement of people 65+ in society: at work where they wish, with good health and general community involvement and that is what UnitedFuture is promoting.
“We stand for a different type of politics where ideas, not ideology matter; where families and communities come first; where we respect each other’s dignity and freedom, and our common responsibilities; but, where above all, we listen, we discuss, and then we act.

“And we say it is time there was a lot more listening to what people have to say, rather than the yelling straight past them the two old parties and one or two others are so readily indulging in at the moment,” he said.
Mr Dunne outlined the key points of UnitedFuture’s seniors policy, a copy of which is attached.
He drew particular attention to UnitedFuture’s policy regarding the way in which the rate of New Zealand Superannuation is calculated.
“We would change the formulation of New Zealand Superannuation, by calculating it based upon the anticipated forecasted changes to the consumer price index and increases in the average wage for the year ahead, rather than the current process which looks back over the previous year, and means that over 65s never get ahead, and are always cheated of their full entitlement.

“We would ensure that overseas contributory pensions, caught currently by section 70 of the Social Security Act, regardless of whether they are on a compulsory national basis or not, and private pensions are exempted from the provisions of Section 70, and therefore paid in full to the recipient without impacting on the entitlement to New Zealand Superannuation,” he said.

Mr Dunne said UnitedFuture would introduce a free annual “warrant of fitness” health check for over 65s and would guarantee them access to publicly funded elective surgery within 6 months of diagnosis by better utilisation of public and private surgical hospital facilities.

“In the longer term, we are keen to investigate the establishment of Kiwicare, a comprehensive national health insurance scheme, to ensure all New Zealanders can get timely access to health care, without long waiting times.

“We will also make private healthcare insurance premiums for over 65s tax-deductible, because it seems crazy to us that at the very stage of life when people are likely to need their insurance most, premium costs force them to give it up.
“We want better incentives for the nursing, rehabilitation and treatment of the elderly in non-medical institutions, such as rest homes, at home and in retirement villages and we will also be looking at the introduction of a carer's allowance for those who stay at home to look after elderly relatives, from the starting point of providing a limited period of paid leave for those who take time off work to care for their parents in the final stages of their life,” he said.
Mr Dunne said UnitedFuture believed all New Zealand communities should be safe and considerate places where parents can confidently raise their families, free from the threat of violence and property damage.
“We say it is time to re-introduce 'beat' cops for every neighbourhood, to raise the visibility of police and their interaction with the community they serve, as well as boosting intelligence-gathering capabilities.
“We want more support for and co-operation with groups like Neighbourhood Support and Community Patrols, local authorities and Police to boost community safety and help make communities more prepared to deal with the aftermath of civil emergencies,” he said.