3. RUSSELL FAIRBROTHER (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What reports has he received on the reduction in unemployment-related expenditure?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Acting Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
I have recently received a report noting that unemployment benefit - related expenditure reduced by over $64 million between September 2006 and June 2007. I am advised that if this performance continues, the Government’s expenditure reduction targets for 2007-08 will be achieved in 2 or 3 months. What this means in practice is that under a Labour-led Government more New Zealanders are getting real jobs, while the National Party is stuck in the 1990s dredging up Work for the Dole schemes.
Russell Fairbrother Link to this
Has the Minister seen any alternative statistics on unemployment benefit - related expenditure?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Yes, I have. I have seen a media release from Judith Collins, the National spokesperson on social welfare, inaccurately claiming that there are 279,156 working-age people on a benefit, and some 40,323 on an unemployment-related benefit. This is simply not true. In fact, as at June 2006 the numbers were 261,009 working-age people on a benefit, and—[ Interruption]
Madam SPEAKERPlease be seated. Some members may not be interested in the answer, but others are. We will have this answer in silence.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
—to stress the last fact—there are 23,159 on an unemployment-related benefit. All I can conclude from this is that Mrs Collins’ inability to add up reinforces Bill English’s view that she was promoted beyond her capacity and has an unfortunately high estimation of her own competence.
Gerry BrownleeI raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. I think we are robust enough to take that sort of cheap shot, and thank goodness it was there, because it gave a bit of substance to the Minister’s answer. But, by and large, if we are to have silence around the questions and answers, then I think it only fair that we expect a robust response to that sort of answer.
No, I accept what the member said and that is why I did not act on the fact when he moved from addressing the question to making a political comment. But I say in particular to members in a corner of the House that is noted for its unruliness that if this continues—[ Interruption] And, yes, you may look around, but you know who you are. So I would now ask members please to desist. We will recommence. Are there any more supplementary questions?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
Yes, I have. I have seen a plan from Mrs Judith Collins of the National Party proposing the reintroduction of the failed Work for the Dole scheme. I say to Mrs Collins that she will have to be quick as there are not many unemployed people left. Perhaps if Mrs Collins spent more time doing her homework and less time, as Mr English says, cultivating the media and believing the resulting publicity, she might have time to come up with a better policy.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. There was noted today, also, a tendency by Ministers—senior Ministers; people whom one would expect might know better—to bring you into their answers. We do not want to interrupt the flow and we certainly do not want to confuse the Ministers, but they may need some advice as to how they construct their answers from this point on, this afternoon.
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
In response, can I say that all of those quotes came from Bill English about Judith Collins, and not yourself. That is right.
Judy TurnerDoes he accept that people unemployed right now are likely to be the long-term unemployed and face many obstacles to gaining work; if so, will he trial any schemes that assist the long-term unemployed into work, by reintroducing them to the soft skills required by employers, like punctuality and team work, through work-based projects?
Hon STEVE MAHAREY Link to this
The member will be pleased to know that the number of people who are long-term unemployed is plummeting, along with the number of all others who are on a work-related benefit. The member will also be pleased to know that many of the schemes run by Work and Income, on behalf of unemployed people, do teach things like turning up for work on time.
Judith CollinsI seek leave of the House to table the statistics given to me by that Minister’s predecessor, which show the figures that he so kindly quoted.
I seek leave to table a document showing that expenditure on sickness and invalids benefits has increased by $800 million.