8. Question No. 8—Social Development and EmploymentHon CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 8—Social Development and Employment8. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by all her statements made at the Estimates hearing of the Social Services and Community Committee on 19 June?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Yes. In particular my statement that when this Government took office we inherited a welfare system that was supporting about 70000 more people on jobseeker benefit than six years earlier despite having gone through periods where workers were in high demand.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Does the Minister stand by her statement that she received no advice regarding the 9000 beneficiaries who will be worse off as a consequence of the tax changes?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Yes.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Is the Minister aware that this information was in the regulatory impact statement finalised on 24 April and did the Minister not read the advice provided to her or read it but not understand it?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: In terms of any of the policies around the tax changes they are the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. That answer cannot be allowed to stand. This is a question about a statement that the Minister herself has made and the advice that she has received. She can't simply say that's another Minister's responsibility. She's responsible for her own statements.SPEAKER: OK we'll have the question again.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: Is the Minister aware that this information was in the regulatory impact statement finalised on 24 April and did the Minister not read the advice provided to her or read it but not understand it?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: I did not receive or seek advice directly about a tax change because it is the responsibility of the Minister of Finance.Rt Hon Chris Hipkins: Point of order Mr Speaker. Regulatory impact statements go to all Cabinet Ministers so the Minister's answer simply cannot be correct.SPEAKER: Well it's probably a pedantic point with all due respect. The Ministers in that case will be receiving multiples of impact statements. Now I'm sure that Ministers in the member's Government probably read all of them but I have to take the member's word in this case and the House will make its own conclusions about that answer.Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan: Why did the Minister state that disabled people would lose their jobs if the minimum-wage exemption was scrapped given over $11 million a year was budgeted by the previous Government to subsidise the employers to pay decent wages to those workers?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The minimum-wage exemption that exists supports a number of often severely intellectually disabled people that receive the supported living payment and in addition to that have the opportunity to work through disability enterprises. They have provided feedback to me directly that what was proposed by the previous Government would not be successful and they would risk not being able to continue to employ disabled people.Helen White: What if any strategy does the Government have in place to respond to an increasing demand for food being experienced by groups like the Auckland City Mission the Salvation Army and other providers?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Mr Speaker that's not within the scope of the primary question but I could answer it if you wish me to.SPEAKER: Well I think the member should have a go at answering it.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: So there is obviously some very challenging times at the moment which is why the Government's priority is rebuilding the economy is reducing the cost of living crisis and is providing tax relief so that New Zealanders are able to afford food. And in terms of demand for the provision through food banks which is concerning we are providing assistance to them and will continue to work with them to see if that demand goes further.Hon Carmel Sepuloni: How can beneficiaries the working poor and disabled people have any confidence in a Minister who doesn't remember or ignores advice she received chooses to cut $11 million a year that was to be used to pay disabled people a minimum wage and doesn't prioritise funding of social services who are feeding our most vulnerable during a challenging time?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: We are clear on this side of the House that we want to reduce the cost of living so more New Zealanders who are working get tax relief and don't require the support of places like food banks. We want to ensure that those who are severely disabled who receive the supported living payment continue to have the opportunity to be in employment and we want to see a lot fewer job seekers than that former MP oversaw joining the beneficiary ranks.