7. KATRINA SHANKS (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What is the Government doing to support Cantabrians through the earthquake recovery?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
We are focused on getting Cantabrians through the recovery and back on their feet. For my department alone this cost has totalled over $160 million, or $5.7 million a day, since the February quake.
How is Work and Income supporting those who have been left without jobs as a result of the earthquake?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Work and Income staff are doing a remarkable job, but we have also started up an employment hub. It has been set up and will be fully operational from this week to support businesses and employment needs. The hub will be staffed by the Ministry of Social Development, the Inland Revenue Department, the Department of Labour, Te Puni Kōkiri, and the Canterbury Development Corporation.
Hon Annette KingHow many workers from national and multinational companies have been eligible for, and received, individual assistance from Work and Income, and what guarantee can she give that any error in processing of claims by Work and Income will not disadvantage already stressed and struggling workers?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
I do not have the number of individuals to hand, but I can assure the member that we found, particularly in the early days, that we had individuals applying for job loss cover as well as their employers. Obviously, communication was hard between them in the early days, so we had double-ups. We have been looking at what we need to do in relation to that. But to date it seems to be working out, and the policy in relation to that is to always err on the side of helping the individual.