Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:639;Page:9684] 
12.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Does he agree with the claims of his predecessor the Hon Steve Maharey when he described the single core benefit as a world first and the most significant reform of New Zealand’s welfare system since 1938; if so why? 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I note that the Minister has a longish answer. 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The member has slightly misquoted my predecessor as she is wont to do. My colleague Mr Maharey said that the changes which included both enhanced employment services and a move to the single core benefit were a world first and would be the most significant reforms of the New Zealand welfare system since 1938. And yes I do agree. The changes we are working through are quite fundamental and are progressing very well. Phase one which concentrates on enhanced employment services began with a new service approach which has just been rolled out to all service centres whereby employment support services have been extended to all clients on a voluntary basis related to what they can do not to what they cannot and on client needs not on the name of any benefits they may be entitled to. The Social Security Amendment Bill which is currently before Parliament and which the National Party opposes completes phase one by ensuring that clients who need employment support get the support they need. The bill will also align some rules and criteria for access to benefits in preparation for the next phase. As the member has been informed on a number of occasions decisions about phase two which comes after phase one will be the simplification of actual benefit structures and will be made in 2008. 
Hon Bill English 
: I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. I suggest that perhaps you should scrutinise the answers that might be given. Our member asked a very precise question about the single core benefit. You gave permission to the Minister to give a longer answer. Most of the answer was not about the single core benefit and I feel that he has exploited your goodwill. It would be good if you indicated to the House that any answer that is long has to answer the question not some question that he wished was asked. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: I thank the member. I listened very carefully and the Minister was giving a very full explanation of the various phases of the single core benefit as I heard it. 
Judith Collins 
: Why is the Minister this week describing the single core benefit as “just renaming benefit categories” when his predecessor Steve Maharey said in February 2005 that the Government was now ready for the next step and that it was replacing the raft of benefits rules and entitlements with a single core benefit for all working-age clients? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Once again sadly the member completely misrepresents the statements I have made. I said in fact if she would like to consult  
Hansard 
 and the documents I have released that these changes are not simply about renaming benefits. 
Judith Collins 
: If as the Minister told Parliament on Tuesday Cabinet still needs to decide on the single core benefit why did Steve Maharey unveil it as policy on 24 February 2005 and why did the Labour Party campaign to “introduce a core benefit for working-age beneficiaries”? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Any objective assessment of what Mr Maharey said on 22 February and the subsequent mystification coming from that member will leave people in no doubt about what the actual situation is. I would say though that I am mystified after repeated answers in this House at the inability—or incapacity—of that member to understand these explanations. I know she and the select committee have been extensively briefed about these matters by the Ministry of Social Development. It may be that she missed out on that briefing because I know she has a poor attendance record at the select committee— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: That’s not relevant. 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
:—but I am happy to offer that member a further briefing on this matter. 
Judith Collins 
: Apart from all the personal insults and fibs I ask— 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Will the member just ask the question. 
Judith Collins 
: Is the Minister now telling the House that when in January 2005—[ 
Interruption 
] I say to Dr Cullen that we would have to prise him away from it first—Helen Clark described a single universal benefit in this way: “It’s very close to coming to a head.” did she really mean it; and why does he not just admit that Labour has given up and abandoned the single core benefit that we told Labour would not work? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: What I am telling the House is that that Opposition can be assured that this Government will keep driving the changes that have led to a reduction of unemployment from 161000 when those idiots were in power to around 25000 now. 
Judith Collins 
: Who is telling the truth—is it Helen Clark who announced at her post-Cabinet press conference on 14 February 2005 that Cabinet had approved plans for a new single core benefit or is it the Minister who told Parliament this week that Cabinet still needs to make that decision? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I repeat for at least the fifth time in the House this week that the first phase of implementation of these changes is already in place and when Mrs Collins has the unfortunate circumstances of needing to go to Work and Income for support she will find those services available to her. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek the leave of the House to table the  
Dominion  
article from 17 July 2000 headed “Universal benefits on cards for 2002”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the  
Dominion  
article headed “Government plans universal benefit by 2002” dated 18 July 2000. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article headed “Single benefit by 2002” dated 31 July 2000. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article from 3 August 2000 headed “Benefits of cast iron guarantees”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article from 31 January 2005 headed “PM set to unveil universal benefit”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article headed “Single benefit plans backed” from 15 October 2005. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article headed “Single benefit gets nod” from 15 February 2005. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is objection. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article from 6 October 2005 headed “PM fleshes out single benefit plan”. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table the article headed “Single benefit announced” from 22 February 2005. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? Yes there is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table page 178 of the Labour Party’s 2005 election manifesto. 
Document by leave laid on the Table of the House.