Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 14 June 2012. Volume:680;Page:2982. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: Does she stand by her statement regarding her newly appointed welfare board that “I’m backing the board to guide the investment approach I’m backing Work and Income to implement it”? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development) 
: 
 Yes. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Given the board is part of what she has called the biggest reforms in a decade has she made simple decisions like whether the head of Work and Income will report to the welfare board or vice versa given that just a few weeks ago when asked this question in writing she replied: “While the new Work and Income Board is being established decisions on how exactly it will operate are still being finalised.”? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Yes I have. The role of the board is to advise and support the chief executive amongst other things. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Can the Minister assure the House that the resignation of the deputy chief executive and head of Work and Income is in no way related to the appointment of the welfare board the imposition of Paula Rebstock as chair—again—and the lack of clarity around who is now responsible for what? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Yes I absolutely can assure the House of that. I think it is absolutely clear that I as Minister and the chief executive are in those top roles seeking advice and support from the board. I was saddened to hear of Janet Grossman’s resignation but I wish her well in her future endeavours.  
Tim Macindoe 
: Can the Minister explain why she backs Work and Income to implement the investment approach and welfare reform? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I back Work and Income to deliver because it has proven that it can. It has delivered on youth unemployment numbers most recently by getting them down to around only 13000 now on the youth unemployment benefit. It has delivered on Future Focus and has made savings already in that area. Last year it delivered to 82000 people who went off benefit and into work. If it can deliver all of that in a very difficult climate of course I back it to deliver further. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: What was the explanation the Minister was given as to why the head of Work and Income resigned and did it justify her handing in her notice on Wednesday last week and leaving just 2 days later rather than seeing out a notice period? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: I know the member would like to see a conspiracy theory; there simply is not one. She handed in her notice because as far as I was informed her husband has had job opportunities in the UK and she wishes to return back there. That is the reason for it. It is a shame the member did not have the fortitude to actually ask these questions in the estimates hearing yesterday because she may have got a more fulsome answer as one can give at that time. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Supplementary—[ 
Interruption 
]  
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I want to hear this supplementary question. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: Is she satisfied that relocation fees paid for her now departing head of Work and Income which were expected to be as high as $50000 and the recruitment costs for this significant overseas appointment represented value for money given her short stay and quick departure? 
Hon PAULA BENNETT 
: Any decisions around that are operational and are made by the chief executive. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Question No. 2 Metiria Turei. [ 
Interruption 
] Order I want to hear Metiria Turei’s question.