Grey Power June 2016

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42 national Greypower mAGAZINE » june 2016 NZ Labour Party leader Andrew Little says… Kiwis expect delivery of a strong public health service One of the most fundamental things Kiwis expect their Government to deliver is a strong public health service. Everyone, no matter who they are, how much money they make or where they were born deserves the best possible care when they get sick. It’s why our public health system has been a world leader for years and why we are so proud of our amazingly committed medical professionals, our doctors and nurses. In the last few years however, our public health system has been put at risk as the government cuts funding to pay for other ‘priorities’ (flag referendum anyone?) According to economics consultancy Infometrics, $1.7 billion has been cut from health in real terms over six years What that means is there’s not enough money to keep up with a growing and age ing population or with the pressures that come with inflation. The result? Kiwis are missing out on the care they need. It’s most evident in the number of people missing out on elective surgery for things like cataracts, and knees and hip replacements. Over the last few years around 160,000 New Zealanders who have been assessed as needing an operation by their GP, only to be refused a specialist appointment. That's 160,000 people who are having to wait in more pain, or with less mobility, because the funding just isn't available. It’s a false economy – costing way more down the track when patients need more complex surgery for their worsening conditions. A recent study of the oral health of older New Zealanders found many, Our public health system is at risk Outgoing National Grey Power president Terry King with Opposition leader Andrew Little. Budget invests in a growing economy From page 33 is down 16 per cent on five years ago – that’s 53,000 fewer crimes. There’s always more work to be done and we want to build on this good progress. Under National, more than 200,000 new jobs have been created over particularly those in residential care, are increasingly going without recommended dental care because of the cost. They then end up in the hospital system, putting more pressure on already struggling DHBs. And they are struggling. They can’t afford to fill vacancies, meaning staff are not taking days off when they are sick, nurses are routinely working double shifts and technicians have been forced to buy their own equipment because the DHB doesn’t have the money. Graham Higgins, a prison officer from Northland, missed out on a potentially life-saving diagnostic test because of a lack of resources. Graham, who had bowel cancer, was told he would have to wait up to six months for the test. By the time he was finally able to get an appointment, he was told his cancer had become terminal and there was nothing that could be done. I've battled cancer myself, I know what it’s like to wait on the results of a test that could change Prime Minister John Key says... the past three years and a further 170,000 new jobs are expected by 2020. By then, the average wage is expected to be $63,000 a year, which is $16,000 more than when National first came into office. To ensure New Zealand children get the best start in life, the Government’s investment in early childhood, primary and secondary education next year your life, one way or another. No one should have to go through what Graham and his family have had to. Yet when we have 17 district health boards facing cuts in real terms in this year’s coming budget, the impact on patient care looks set to continue. This isn’t just about people not being able to afford care, it’s about all of us losing a world-renowned public health care system and it shouldn’t be happening. We need to do better and that means giving our doctors and nurses and other health professionals the resources they need to keep Kiwis well. Andrew Little with Grey Power AGM delegate Bernard O’Shaughnessy. will top $11 billion for the first time. This includes building new schools and classrooms, and funding for children who need extra help. National is getting value for money for taxpayers and investing in the areas that really matter to people’s lives. Budget 2016 will further strengthen our economy and our communities. NatioNal BeNefits Negotiated by Grey Power NZ federation inc. The government has cut $1.7b from our world-class health system. People are missing out on elective surgery for things like cataracts, hip and knee replacements. Labour believes that health care for New Zealanders - not flag referendums - should be a priority. Tell me what matters to you: Andrew.Little@parliament.govt.nz Authorised by Andrew Little, Parliament Buildings, Wellington The following organisations are of benefit to Grey Power Federation and the membership at large. • ail insurance • Duty free stores • inter-island ferry • Grey Power electricity • Reduced to Clear (discounted groceries) • Challenge fuel Further details can be obtained from: federation office phone: 0800 473 979 email: fed-office@xtra.co.nz website: www.greypower.co.nz Little Greypower ad May16 121Wx180H.indd 1 18/05/16 9:39 AM
national Greypower mAGAZINE » june 2016 43 New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says… Scaremongering over NZ Super I am sure many of you here receive New Zealand Superannuation. The cry of Treasury and other scaremongers is that it is becoming less affordable for the country and they want to push the qualifying age for National Super beyond the age of the present 65. The fact is at 4.3 percent of GDP, the cost of New Zealand superannuation is relatively low by international standards. This compares very well with an OECD average of around 7 percent. Because NZ Superannuation is taxable, its cost net of tax is around 3.7 percent of GDP. So do not be taken in by the propaganda which flows from the Beehive and from wet behind the ears bean counters, that New Zealand Superannuation is unaffordable. You must be aware, however, that Mr Key and his government do not like New Zealand Superannuation. They think it is a weight on New Zealand’s financial back. You need only consider recent history to gain an understanding of the National government’s attitude to superannuation. They are the ones who increased the surtax, increased the age of eligibility, who lowered the level of entitlement and capped the travel concession. They argue about the increasing superannuation numbers, as if such an argument would hold up for increased primary school or tertiary education numbers. If it’s poppycock to apply such an argument to primary school entrants and university entrants why would it have validity on NZ Super. That tells you the real story: they do not like New Zealand Superannuation in spite of the fact it is affordable and will be affordable well into the future. The critical issue on the affordability of any social welfare policy is the relationship between popu- Winston Peters, Terry King and Deidre Morris at the Grey Power Federation AGM. lation growth and GDP growth. And the truth is that while our population is growing the failure of present government economic policies means that GDP growth is not keeping up with it. And the main component of population growth that we can control is unfocused immigration. Bu you won’t hear any of this from our sugar-coating government. They want immigrants flooding into this country. They are hell bent on consumption instead of production, manufacturing and exports, and they cover off their failure with self-serving egregious arguments. If we want to solve our social problems whilst providing adequate police numbers for example, then we must provide enhanced economic performance policies, something which the facts prove after seven years National, despite all the spin and sugar-coating, prove unable to do. Moreover, they have suspended contributions to the future cost smoothing Cullen Fund, preferring instead tax cuts for the rich. You won’t hear the government telling you that by stopping contributions to the Cullen Fund has cost the taxpayer billions of dollars. The government said they would cease making further payments until the Budget returned to surplus. Treasury estimated that would not be until 2020 which would mean by 2050 the fund would be worth $49 billion less than if contributions had continued. But the government ignores that as they did the fact that the Cullen Fund was set up with the whole purpose of cushioning pension payments at the start of peak demand in about 15 years. New Zealand First believes superannuation can be made more affordable if New Zealand was not, as it is now, a fully funded rest home for other countries. We say only New Zealanders and those who have qualified by length of stay and other requirements should get the full pension. In this country a migrant can come to New Zealand at the age of 55, live here 10 years and contribute nothing to our economy and qualify for a full pension - 82,000 people have done so in the last 15 years. National won’t confront this matter because they are politically correct and lack the fortitude to face up to these facts. New Zealand First faces up to these facts. These people from overseas get the same money as you, even though you have contributed all your working lives and they haven’t. No other country in the world gives full pensions for all migrants after 10 years residency. We say changes must be made in entitlement criteria so that payments are adjusted directly proportionate to the years of residence. We will be resubmitting our bill – the NZ Superannuation and Retirement Income (Pro Rata) Amendment Bill based on residency in New Zealand between the ages of 20 and 65. We say all those who come in with overseas pensions can keep all that they have earned overseas. Expat Kiwis who have lived and worked much of their lives overseas can come home to retire and also be entitled to pro rata New Zealand Superannuation and keep their overseas pensions. New Zealand First stands for fair entitlement of NZ Superannuation and supports keeping the age of entitlement at 65 with NO means testing. It’s all about fairness. It was very disappointing that our Affordable Healthcare Bill failed to get past its first reading in the House last year. This bill was supported by New Zealand First, La- Continued on page 47 Authorised by Winston Peters, Authorised by Winston Peters, Parliament Buildings, Wellington Parliament Buildings, Wellington NEW ZEALAND FIRST LEADER WINSTON PETERS MP FOR NORTHLAND Why is there a campagin to corrode the SuperGold Card? New Zealand First says hands off the SuperGold Card. We’re investing an extra $41 million into the SuperGold card scheme in Budget 2016. RT HON JOHN KEY MP FOR HELENSVILLE | PRIME MINISTER Contact Parliament Office Parliament Buildings PO Box 18 888 Wellington 6061 Ph: 04 817 8370 winston.peters@parliament.govt.nz www.nzfirst.org.nz CONTACT Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160 PHONE: 04 817 9999 Funded by the Parliamentary Service and authorised by John Key MP, Executive Wing, Parliament, Molesworth St, Wellington www.national.org.nz
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Grey Power June 2016

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