Pettis Jill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Pettis Jill: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:610;Page:7134] 
2.  
JILL PETTIS (NZ Labour—Whanganui) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What recent reports has he received about improvements in social outcomes in New Zealand? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 On Sunday the  
Social Report 2003 
 was released by the Ministry of Social Development. The report demonstrates that New Zealanders are living longer healthier lives; that they are better educated safer and earning more than in the past; that more children are receiving early childhood education and more people are involved in tertiary education; that unemployment is at a 15-year low and that economic growth is up which confirms the Government’s ongoing commitment to sustainable social economic and environmental development. 
Jill Pettis 
: What work is the Government doing to ensure that those positive social outcome trends continue? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The Labour-led Government has instituted a range of policies to improve social outcomes. For example it has instituted income-related rents restored superannuation and established the Superannuation Fund. It has established public health organisations and provided affordable medical care. It has also made investments in education from early childhood to tertiary education which is in stark contrast to the cuts to superannuation education and public health spending proposed by Don Brash at the National Party conference. 
Katherine Rich 
: If the picture is so rosy why have child abuse reports Department of Child Youth and Family Services notifications the numbers on the sickness and invalids’ benefit and the number of New Zealanders supported by the State increased significantly while he has been Minister? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Working backwards through those questions there has been a 33 percent drop in the number of people registered as unemployed since this Government came into power. The reasons for people going on to the sickness and invalids’ benefit have been canvassed in this House before so I will not go over those again. I also say to the member that changes in reporting techniques and much higher numbers of social workers than when her Government was in power have meant more reportage of abuse. 
Sue Bradford 
: Does the Minister agree with the report’s conclusion which states that one of the best ways to prepare for an ageing population might be to invest in the young and will he ask his colleague the Minister of Finance to take the advice of the Green Party and the report writers and reallocate funds from the New Zealand Superannuation Fund into children today with measures such as an immediate increase to family support and family assistance? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Of course we always listen to the Green Party and I always pass its advice on to the Minister of Finance. On this occasion I think he will reject my request to spend money from the Superannuation Fund on those issues but I am sure he will listen closely to requests to find other money and we may be able to do it from other funds.