6. CHESTER BORROWS (National—Whanganui) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What new legislation introduced by her is coming into force next week?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Two new pieces of legislation come into force next week. Both of these deliver on National’s pre-election manifesto promises. The Social Security (New Work Tests, Incentives, and Obligations) Amendment Act comes into force on Monday, and the Fresh Start Children, Young Persons, and Their Families (Youth Courts Jurisdiction and Orders) Amendment Act comes into force next Friday, 1 October.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The social assistance legislation rebalances expectations and obligations, and supports this Government’s belief that those who can work should be actively looking for work. The Fresh Start legislation is aimed at the country’s 1,000 most persistent serious young offenders. It means that from Friday, 1 October, Youth Court judges will have a greater tool box of options, including new parenting, mentoring, and drug and alcohol rehabilitation orders. This allows young offenders to be held to account, while providing the greater supports that are so necessary to turn their lives round.
Su’a William SioWill the introduction of work-test requirements for recipients of the unemployment benefit and the domestic purposes benefit in Canterbury be delayed due to the effects of the earthquake; if so, how long will they be delayed for?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Yes. Cabinet approved delays to those on Monday. They will be delayed until 1 March next year.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The Social Security (New Work Tests, Incentives, and Obligations) Amendment Act means that all 336,000 beneficiaries will benefit from the legislated CPI changes. About 28,000 people will benefit from increased abatement levels, which will cost $53 million. This means that those on the invalids benefit and the domestic purposes benefit will get more money in their pocket if they are working part-time.
Jacinda ArdernHow much additional funding has been invested in alcohol and drug programmes since she created the new alcohol and drug orders, and does she believe that this will be sufficient to cope with the 80 percent of young people appearing before the Youth Court who committed their crime under the influence of drugs or alcohol?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Between the mentoring, parenting, and drug and alcohol orders, there will 1,232 new places. For the drug and alcohol issue by itself, there are 32 places in residential drug and alcohol programmes to combat the very serious end of it. About $9.4 million is going into those sorts of programmes. Contracts have been negotiated and are going out to community organisations to date.