10. TODD McCLAY (National—Rotorua) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
Why does this Government believe it better for people to be in work instead of on welfare?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
We know that for many medical conditions, being in work is the best way to get well. The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has found that working is good for health, and being out of work is detrimental to health. The longer someone is off work, the less likely they are to return. Good work can contribute to recovery from accident or illness. Of course, a small group will never be able to work and should be supported, but we believe that it is time to stop assuming people are incapable of work, and look at what they can do, instead.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
The research is clear. We know that outcomes for children are greatly improved. When we compare two families on low incomes, the family that gets its income from a benefit has lower living standards and is more likely to be in poverty than a family that gets a similar level of income but from employment. Paid employment is the best way out of poverty. It increases self-esteem, provides financial independence, and positively impacts on children.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Yes. I have seen reports from the Labor Prime Minister in Australia, Julia Gillard, who in a speech last night called “The Dignity of Work” said: “every Australian should pull his or her own weight.”, and that “It’s not fair for taxpayers to pay for someone who can support themselves.” It is a shame that her colleagues on this side of the Tasman, and that side of the House, are still trapped in an ideological wasteland and believe that they should just throw people—
Mr SPEAKERThe Minister’s plea for the reason why she did not sit down when I got to my feet was that she could not hear me with all the noise going on. I thought I was sufficiently in front of the Minister’s face to be seen pretty easily. When Ministers are asked questions like that by their own members, I take a dim view of their using them to attack the other side of the House the way the Minister did. To me, that is not on.