7. JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Does he stand by all of his comments made in relation to the welfare changes announced on 26 October 2006?
How does the Minister reconcile the following statement he made, in relation to sickness and invalids beneficiaries: “There are no losers under these changes, and this is entirely voluntary.”, with a statement he made the very next day: “If they’re not prepared to undertake work that’s offered, they can’t reasonably expect to continue to get financial support at that same level.”?
Georgina Beyer
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
A very good example is Mr Quinn of Wellington, who was on an invalids benefit with a permanent and worsening mobility disability when the new service approach was introduced. Pat indicated to his case manager that he was keen to return to work, and with the support of Work and Income and his own determination, he is now in employment. Mr Quinn tells us that working again gives him the ability to feel he is making a worthwhile contribution to the community.
Which is it: are sickness and invalids beneficiaries going to be penalised for not undertaking work requirements, or not?
Chester BorrowsWhy is the single core benefit, which has been promised since 1989, not due until 2011—22 years after it became Labour Party policy?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
The member, sadly, has a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of these benefit changes if he thinks that merely changing the name of benefits can assist clients. The Working New Zealand project is about changes to the services and support provided to people who wish to return eventually to the workforce on a full-time or part-time basis, irrespective of the label that any benefit system might place on them.
If the Minister said, as I think he just said, that sickness and invalids beneficiaries will not be penalised for not undertaking work requirements, why then on 27 October, the next day, did he say that they would be penalised—why did he change his tune overnight?
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE Link to this
I refer the member to the extremely detailed information on the website. If she were to take the trouble to read the background information, she would not be displaying such a ridiculous level of confusion.
Judith Collins: I seek leave of the House to table a transcript of a Radio New Zealand Checkpoint interview with the Minister on 26 October 2006 where he said that there were no losers under his scheme.
I seek leave of the House to table a transcript of a Radio New Zealand Nine to Noon interview with the Minister on 27 October, the next day, where he said that they would be penalised.
Madam SPEAKER