5. JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Does he stand by his statement that his ministry has a zero tolerance policy for fraud?
Is his ministry conducting an investigation into student loan fraud at any prisons in New Zealand; if so, where?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The cases around the prison that the member is referring to, of course, are matters that have not yet gone to trial and are under investigation. Therefore it would be premature to comment at this time.
Georgina BeyerHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
In the past financial year the number of cases of substantiated benefit fraud fell by 11 percent. The total overpayments as a result of fraud fell from $41 million, roughly, to around $38 million. Thanks to the ministry’s early intervention of prevention strategies, 95 percent of benefit fraud prosecutions undertaken were successful. Audit New Zealand has recently upgraded the ministry’s status following its annual review of the ministry’s internal controls. The ministry has numerous data-matching identity checking systems in place, although it would not be wise to divulge all those at this time. The ministry recently established an intelligence unit similar to those in overseas benefit systems where identity fraud is more prevalent, and that is already proving to be effective.
Barbara StewartDoes he consider that ease of public access to documentation such as birth certificates should be reviewed in order to reduce the risk of fraud to the welfare system, as occurred recently?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
That is an excellent suggestion, and one so excellent that my understanding is that the ministry is already looking into that matter.
Paula BennettWhen will the Minister share with Parliament the outcome of the investigation into student loan and student allowance fraud in New Zealand prisons?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
As I mentioned before, the cases, if they are the same ones that are being referred to as I have here in my notes, are not coming to trial yet at this point, therefore it would be prejudicial for me to comment on them.
Anne TolleyWhen did the Minister first become aware of the investigation into student loan fraud at any prisons in New Zealand?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Since I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Social Development and Employment, I ask the member to put that down as a written question. I am sure the Minister will answer it for the member.
Was information about fraud by prisoners using student allowances and student loans omitted from the Minister’s ministry’s weekly risk analysis at any time this year?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
It is always the case, when acting on behalf of another Minister, that one does not have those particular details. So once again I would urge the member to put that down as a written question.
Gerry BrownleeHon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
But just to reassure members on the other side, including Mr Brownlee, at no time does the ministry accept any case of fraud, and it always gets its money back.
What proposals has the Minister received to reliably determine the extent of welfare benefit fraud, and is it true that a proposal by the ministry’s general manager, benefit integrity services, for a study to reliably determine the extent of benefit fraud has been declined this year?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
My understanding is that the previous Minister for Social Development and Employment, if I can answer from that point of view, moved on a zero tolerance policy for a number of years, and reviewing why benefit fraud arises has been something that has been undertaken through a large number of studies. As to the specificity of the last question, once again that lodges in the Minister’s head, and the member would need to ask that in a written question.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I seek a point of clarification. Is the Minister saying that he does not know?
Madam SPEAKER