Otorohanga Grey Power Meeting

Thank you for inviting me to address your meeting today. I bring apologies from the Prime Minister who was unable to make it today.

I've been meeting with and speaking to quite a lot of Grey Power organisations all around the country recently.

I spoke at your National Federation's annual conference in Christchurch and have also addressed quite a number of Grey Power branch meetings around the country in the last few weeks „o about eight different meetings that have taken me from Dunedin to the Bay of Plenty.

It has been a great way to stay in touch with the issues that are affecting Grey Power members in different parts of the country, but I can say that many of those issues are identical.

Prior to the election, I was Labour¡¦s spokesperson on Youth Affairs. People did think that it was ironic that the Youth Spokesperson became the Senior Citizens Minister. However, in my experience the issues are not entirely different.

When young people do not have a sense of belonging and participation, they can become alienated and troubled. Older people can become isolated and afraid.

So, building or maintaining the ability to participate, and nurturing that sense of belonging, are vital at either end of life¡¦s spectrum, which is why I am a strong supporter of the positive aging approach in my role as Minister for Senior Citizens.

Another point I also like to make to meetings like these is that I am the Minister of Immigration, but the Minister for Senior Citizens. This means I am your advocate in Cabinet.

It is my role not to advance legislation, but rather to promote issues to the portfolio Ministers with responsibility in the particular area. I am your voice at the Cabinet Table. Fortunately, this is not a difficult task.

This coalition Government values the contribution older New Zealanders have made, and continue to make, to this country.

That is why we made the promise before the election to restore the superannuation floor. It was one of the seven commitments Helen Clark made to the electorate, and we have delivered. And what is more, we delivered, not merely on the actual promise, but also on the spirit of the promise.

When we took office the method for calculating the average wage had been adjusted by Statistics NZ. A strict application of our commitment would have seen a modest increase in superannuation but we decided to use the old calculation, which meant superannuitants received the increase they were expecting to receive.

And the feedback has been positive. I've received letters and phone calls, as have all my colleagues, thanking us for delivering what we promised.

But why should we be congratulated for keeping our promises? It should be expected that we do. In my experience it has been older New Zealanders who have been the most bewildered by the change to MMP, the Party-hopping and the failure to keep promises „o what was essentially a breach of faith between the political parties who made up the last Government and the people who elected them there.

And in that regard, I see it as an important function of this Coalition Government to restore faith in the parliamentary process. That's why I am such a strong advocate for the anti-defection Bill that is currently before the House. That Bill basically says ¡V if you leave the Party that got you elected to Parliament then you have to leave Parliament as well.

I am amazed at those who oppose the Bill ¡V if you want to be an independent MP then stand as one. If you want to join another Party, then stand for it. If you want to form your own Party, then stand under its banner. To allow this situation to continue is, in my view, dishonest, unethical, and it lacks the political mandate required of a House of Representatives.

I have brought a new focus to the role of Minister for Senior Citizens. In my view the previous administration placed too much emphasis on ill health and disability. My role is to develop a Positive Aging Strategy for New Zealanders, focussing on well being and participation.

It will not be my role to deliver on the strategy, per se, but rather to promote an inter-sectoral approach to the range of issues that affect older New Zealander's ability to participate.

That range of issues stretches from Superannuation, through Housing, Health, Disability Support, Adult Education, Transport, Community Involvement, Security, Residential Care, Carer Support, Home Help ¡K the list goes on.

It is a different approach that places the older person at the centre of the picture, and ensures that the range of services and the support mechanisms are appropriate to encourage continued participation in the community and independence.

Society needs to realise that just because people have retired from work, that it does not mean they have retired from life. It is that ability to participate in our communities, that sense of belonging, that makes us part of our communities.

But I do take on board this organisations views that under the Work for the Dole scheme, many grandparents are being forced to look after and support grandchildren as their daughters or sons are required to work for their benefit.

The coalition Government has already stated it will make changes to the Work for the Dole scheme that will take the compulsion out of having to work in exchange for receiving a benefit. So I hope that eases some concerns you have.

Next week, the Prime Minister and I are launching a report into the International Year of Older Persons. I'm looking forward to that because what the report does show is the enormous contribution that older New Zealanders are making to their communities. I think the variety of projects and activities that occurred during the Year show the value of older people in providing wisdom, expertise and practical support. There were a huge amount of local publicity and community linkages generated and it is very good to see.

Attached to the Report is some important research, which will inform the policy development for the Positive Ageing Strategy, of which I am a staunch advocate.

Last month, Ruth Dyson, who's the Minister Responsible for Disability Issues, and I launched a National Health Committee Report called Health Care for Older People.

The committee had spent the last five years assessing the health sector to see how well it delivered health services to older people.

Not only did the report reinforce many of the things that I have been saying in terms of the need to develop a context for policy development for older New Zealanders, it also confirms the damage that has been caused by the fragmentation of health services that has occurred over the last decade. It also identified a "policy vacuum" in terms of this whole area of Older Persons Health, and I intend to play a role in ensuring that the team of Health Ministers address this important aspect of health policy.

In my view, the previous Government's decision to include older persons' health within the Disability Support Services framework was a fundamental flaw, and I am sure that we will be able to address that over time.

Last week, the Minister of Health, Annette King, released the New Zealand Health Strategy as a discussion document that spells out this Government's aims when it comes to improving the health of New Zealanders and reduce those disparities, those gaps, in health status between Maori and Pacific peoples and other New Zealanders. Closing the Gaps.

What the strategy does identify is that there are about six service delivery areas that the coalition Government wants the health sector to concentrate on. These are:
„h Public health,
„h Primary health care,
„h Reducing waiting times for elective surgery,
„h Improving out mental health services,
„h Advance Maori health, and
„h Improve the health of our Pacific peoples.

But there are also specific objectives listed for older people's health, as well as supporting policies and programmes that promote positive ageing.

Focussing on patients, not profit and cutting waiting times for surgery was one of Helen Clark's seven commitments. Health Minister Annette King last month announced an extra $21 million would be put into elective surgery. This will help reduce waiting times for surgery.

I have always thought it's not the number of people on the list that matters, but how long you actually have to wait. And as advocate for older New Zealanders, I ask what is the cost of waiting?

Hip replacements are a perfect example of this. I remember a woman who came to address a health select committee a few years ago. She needed a hip replacement. Before she got one, she couldn't do a large number of things. Shopping, cleaning, she found it difficult to drive. She couldn't garden. And she needed ongoing pain relief.

When she finally did get her hip replacement, she got her life back and all of her need for extra support stopped. So in financial terms and in human terms waiting times must be reduced.

RESIDENTIAL CARE SUBSIDY

This Government has signalled its intention to introduce legislation to remove the asset test on the Residential Care Subsidy. But what I cannot tell you is when.

I'm being honest with you. We cannot set the timeframe until we can afford it.

Only 5% of older New Zealanders end up in residential care. It ends up costing around 50% of the Disability Support Services budget. Removing the asset test increases the cost even further. I will continue to advocate its removal, and this Government is committed to doing it. But I do agree it has to be delivered at a time that it can be afforded.

DRIVERS LICENCES

I was very interested to note that your Grey Power group had been having some issues with regard to the drivers licencing scheme. Many other groups have also raised their concerns, not only with me as Minister for Senior Citizens but also with the Prime Minister.

The PM has reiterated your concerns over fees for renewal and sitting the practical driving test. I am completely aware of your concerns. Other groups have said they were being tested in areas that they wouldn't normally drive and felt it was unfair, because they wouldn't know the lay of the land as well.

As I told them, I would be extremely concerned if there are unfair practices and discrimination towards older people occurring over drivers' licences. I would like to say that I will act on any information I receive in this regard.

Your concerns seem to be with the attitude of some testers and on that I can say you should take it up with the LTSA, and if you things continue to be a problem, write to me and I will address it.

What I know you will want to hear is that my colleague, Mark Gosche, the Minister of Transport, has announced an independent review of the driver licence system and that this is to be completed by August 2000. While the terms of reference are not finalised, I understand that the cost of licences and the testing provisions are to be included.

CONCLUSION

I think I've taken up enough of your time this morning. Thank you for the invitation to meet. I hope that Grey Power continues to see this government as approachable and ready to listen. I welcome meeting representatives from your organisation and look forward to many more occasions such as this.

I know there are other issues that you may have and that I would be happy to take any questions now.

Thank you.