Logie Jan: Oral Questions — Questions to MinistersText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeLogie Jan: Oral Questions — Questions to Ministers[Sitting date: 21 July 2015. Volume:707;Page:5115. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]12.JAN LOGIE (Green)to the Minister for Social Development: Will she be raising benefit levels given official advice that shows that a family of four living on a benefit has $72 less per week than what they need to provide the “core essential items”; if not why not?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development):Yes the Government has committed to increasing benefit levels by $25 a week for families with children from April 2016 the first increase in core benefit levels in 43 years other than for inflation. Plus we are increasing support to our most vulnerable communities like free GP visits and prescriptions for all children under 13. I have just announced in this House the 5-millionth breakfast under the Government’s expanded KickStart Breakfast programme. We have funded KidsCan half a million dollars to provide raincoats and footwear. We have put extra Social Workers in Schools in low-decile schools. We are rolling out Children’s Teams to work with at-risk children and their families and we have insulated every State house that could be insulated.Jan Logie: Given that after that additional $25 if they are lucky enough to get the full amount these families will still be $47 a week short what essentials does the Minister advise these families go without: food power transport or rent?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The member is quoting from one of the three scenarios that were laid out as part of the initial work in developing the child hardship package. That very same family scenario under which a lot of assumptions have been made shows very clearly that if we can support that family into either full-time work for one and part time for the other or part-time work for both of those parents their circumstances and that of their families are significantly changed. That is the focus of this Government and will continue to be the focus of this Government because we know that work is the best way out of poverty for those families.Jan Logie: Is the Minister concerned that even when this family does manage to find some work their pay and ability to look after their children will be significantly reduced as a result of ongoing debt repayments because of insufficient benefits?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: No. In fact the scenario that the member is continuing to quote from shows that by having one adult in the family—this is a scenario that shows a family with two children aged 10 and 8—working 40 hours a week and the other adult working 20 hours a week they will have in excess of those basics of living $207 every week extra.Jan Logie: When the Minister references that scenario which does not include a landline or access to a computer or newspapers or personal allowances or access to holidays or alcohol or assuming there is any debt repayment to Work and Income to cover basic food—Mr SPEAKER: Order! I want the supplementary question please.Jan Logie: —how does the Minister expect the families to pay for things like when their car breaks down or their washing machine breaks down or somebody gets sick and has to go to the hospital which are not even in that scenario?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: The scenario that the member is quoting from does actually include a landline; it does not include a mobile phone. We all know that that is probably the incorrect assumption. However I come back to the fact that this Government made a decision that no other Government in 43 years has made and that is to increase the amount paid to people on a benefit by $25 a week. That is to alleviate some of the hardship that these scenarios show but its main focus is in supporting people to be independent of the Government because that gives them the option and the choice to live full and successful lives and the lives of their children are considerably improved as well.