Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — Third Reading 
[Sitting date: 19 July 2012. Volume:681;Page:3781. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
ALFRED NGARO (National) 
: 
 I am proud to take the final call on the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill. There has been a lot of talk about evidence. It is not hard to realise that you do not need a lot of evidence to know that the longer people are on a benefit the more harmful it is not only for them but also for their family their community and the country as a whole. There is enough evidence that says that if you go on younger you stay on longer.  
The key aspect of this bill is the word “focus”. There has been a lot of talk about where the jobs are. This bill is not about jobs because that would be about numbers and outputs. This bill is about outcomes. Yes the numbers are important because they indicate change but the most important thing this bill is focused on is improving outcomes. This is the difference because it changes the words and reframes them in a way that gives it a sense of vision. Previously in the welfare system everything was worded with the word “benefit”. What this bill is doing is changing that and using words such as “future focus” “youth support” and “work focus”. What that tells us and tells people who enter into support that is absolutely needed at a time of need is that while they are there there is an opportunity for reprieve but that at the same time they should not lose sight of the hope they have to achieve their dreams and their vision—hence the reason for the term “Future Focus”. That is the difference we are making.  
We have been accused of many things. In fact people have used the words “benefit bashing”. I think the only people who have been bashed around are the members on either side of the House. Also there has been a little bit of drama. I think there have been drama classes in some of the caucuses across the way. We have heard words such as “genocide”. We have heard words such as “putting the boot into beneficiaries” and that could not be further from the truth. We have had accusations and finger-pointing at the Minister for Social Development herself and even at other members who have been here. It was highly offensive when Mr Prasad assumed that young mothers and mothers would not have the sense of wanting to be a working mother—to have their children and work at the same time. It was offensive to members on this side of the House and I imagine it was offensive to many many women in our communities.  
This bill is the first stage in welfare reform. I just want to tell the other members that there is much more to come. So the Ginsu knives are coming. The Opposition will have you believe that people will be forced into work. This is not true. The expectation is that people will be available to work. Let me just say that word again—available. You see it is a future focus. It is about being available for work. There will be no sanction and that is fair and reasonable. The bulk of people affected by this bill are young people and the focus is on training and education. This is a stepping stone. I will repeat it again so that the Opposition members understand: this bill is a stepping stone. Why? Because evidence shows that when you go on a benefit younger you stay on it for longer. The providers that will be there to provide support are called—and here is another key word—navigators. They are not enforcers of the law or of a system; they are navigators to help our young people find the opportunities that are there.  
This is an active system not an inactive system. Here is the interesting thing because a previous speaker Ms Woods asked “Where are the jobs?”. Let me just tell you this. If that was right if there were a plethora of jobs available under the current system which were there under the Labour Government there were no obligations. People did not have to look for a job and 79 percent of those on a benefit prior to Future Focus being implemented had no obligations to seek work. This is an active system. This system provides greater flexibility. It introduces greater flexibility into the hours of work for part-time work and full-time work. Tests for beneficiaries are subject to work-test obligations. This is not a mean-spirited bill. All it does is extend the opportunities that are there.  
This bill also authorises information sharing. It authorises information to be shared between the Minister of Education and the Minister for Social Development in order to allow the provision of services to young people between the provider and the organisations. Why are we focusing on young people? Again because we know that when you enter into the system younger you stay in it for longer.  
This bill is also about educational benchmarks. What concerned us was that on the other side of the House there was the dumbing down of expectations. It was said that NCEA level 2 was a bridge too far. [ 
Interruption 
] It was a bridge too far. We are not about that. We are about setting educational benchmarks because you see Ms Woods Mr Prasad surely you would know that you would not set those expectations for your children. What right do you have to set expectations lower than those you would have for your own children? Under this bill this Government sets out the same expectations that we have for our children. It increases work expectations. Again prior to the National Government’s Future Focus changes 79 percent of beneficiaries had no work-test obligations. This figure is now 64 percent and with the implementation of this bill we believe it will decrease to 60 percent.  
My final words are these. Many members over there have asked us how we will sleep and I end with this: all of us who come into this House and have the opportunity to make a change do so with a conscience. We have to because one day we will all be held accountable for that which we have supported. I support this bill; we support this bill. It is a bill that gives a sense of vision. It creates a sense of focus. It creates flexibility. It sets a benchmark of expectation that we all have for all our children. This is a bill of opportunity and we will see the results and the outcomes that will truly make a difference to the young people of our country. Thank you.