Logie Jan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Logie Jan: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 12 June 2012. Volume:680;Page:2809. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
11. 
JAN LOGIE (Green) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Does he stand by his statement that “It is also true that anyone on a benefit actually has a lifestyle choice. If one budgets properly one can pay one’s bills.”? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I stand by my full statement at the time which included that the global recession has seen more people on benefit. That obviously had an impact on the demand for food parcels but the bulk of New Zealanders on a benefit do actually pay for their food their rent and other things of that nature. Some but not all make poor choices and do not have money left. I also stand by my statement at the time that although some people make poor choices there are other factors for why people would go to food banks or need welfare support. 
Jan Logie 
: Given that the recently published  
2011 Food Costs for Families 
 report prepared by Regional Public Health showed an unemployed couple on the benefit with two children will have just $75 left each week after rent and basic healthy food how would the Prime Minister suggest they cover health care power clothing transport school and other costs for four people with just $75? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: I have not seen the report but what I can say is in the worst global financial recession since the Great Depression this Government has supported benefit payments. We have continued to support the accommodation supplement. We have continued to support Working for Families. We have got on top of inflation—so in fact food inflation was very low last year—and we are continuing to provide support for New Zealanders to be able to move into work. I am proud to say actually that there are now 20000 fewer people on the unemployment benefit than there were a couple of years ago—positive government in action. 
Jan Logie 
: So—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! I want to hear the supplementary question. 
Jan Logie 
: With his extensive budgeting experience what would the Prime Minister advise a family on this budget to choose: shoes or food? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: If they were in desperate need of support I would urge them to go into Work and Income. It would be able to provide them with more support. 
Jan Logie 
: What kind of lifestyle does the Prime Minister think children of beneficiaries on this kind of income are actually living? 
Rt Hon JOHN KEY 
: Well I think in all fairness they are living a poorer lifestyle than any of us would want and that is why the Government is committed to moving people off benefits and into work. The single most important factor we can make for the overall household budget of New Zealanders is to move those on benefit into work. That party seems to rejoice in the fact that there are tens of thousands of New Zealanders trapped on a benefit and it does not want to do anything about it. This Government is actually progressively helping people with extra childcare helping people with extra training and investing hundreds of millions of dollars into helping move people into work and that party does not want to do anything about those tough issues. 
Jan Logie 
: I seek leave to table the Regional Public Health report that shows that working families are not much better off. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.