Macindoe Tim: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Macindoe Tim: Financial Review Debate — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 01 May 2012. Volume:679;Page:1804. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
TIM MACINDOE (National—Hamilton West) 
: 
 I am delighted to pick up on exactly the point that Ms Logie has just finished on because I can assure her that this Government is not blaming the victim at all. But we are absolutely passionately determined to sort out the problem—the very real problem that this country has had for far too long—of long-term welfare dependency. That is not a question of beneficiary bashing or attacking that person; it is about saying that we are going to put some support structures around them and we are going to intervene in ways that are going to be effective.  
That is what Future Focus is all about and that is what the reform bill that is before the House at the moment—the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill—is all about. It was very interesting during the adjournment that we have just had to be on the Social Services Committee which heard some of the submissions from people on that bill. I have to say that some made some points that naturally we have taken note of but quite a number showed that they do not really understand this point or they are so ideologically blinded by their party affiliation that they refuse to look at the fact that welfare dependency is an absolute scourge on this society. Long-term welfare dependency causes huge suffering in communities particularly the communities that are most deprived in our country. I would have thought that they would cheer and welcome strongly the Government’s initiatives to do something about that. The wraparound services that we are putting around our young people are long overdue. I am very proud to be a part of a Government that is addressing that problem.  
While Ms Ardern was speaking before Ms Logie she made the extraordinary comment that we should fix the economy. Well as Mr Hayes replied at the time that is exactly what this Government has spent the best part of 3½ years doing. Why? Because the Labour Government made such a hash of things. The Labour Government has to take responsibility for the position we find ourselves in. Let us not for a moment allow the spin doctors on the other side of the House to fool anybody into thinking that it is somehow a creation of this Government. At a time when the Dutch Government has collapsed the Irish are in trouble the Portuguese are in trouble and Greece is in deep trouble what we see around the world is a huge problem with global recession and this is a Government that is really focused with a terrific plan to do something about it—and the results are clear.  
That is why we have taken tough decisions. That is why we are so determined to balance the books. That is why we will get the country back into surplus. And when we get this country back into surplus following on from the 9 years of ineptitude by Mr Goff and his colleagues then we will have choices to be able to do the things that the whole country wants. But in the meantime while we are getting there we can intervene for those who are troubled by this long-term welfare dependency.  
The Ministry of Social Development is ably led by the Hon Paula Bennett and gee she deserves a pat on the back for the fantastic job that she is doing. This particular focus of our Government is one of the most important things that the whole country is firmly behind. I made the point when I was speaking on the reform bill that I believe that it is one of the most important challenges facing not only this particular Parliament but also this particular generation of politicians. There are not many issues more important than this that we will face during whatever time we are given to serve in this House.  
I am absolutely 100 percent behind the welfare reform bill to ensure that we can help young people particularly from going down the path of long-term welfare dependency because all the evidence tells us that if they drop out of school without qualifications and they go on to a benefit at the age of 18 or even younger within several years they will still be on it. That cannot be acceptable. I am amazed that there is a single member of this House who is happy that that is the case. 
 I am absolutely proud of the fact that we on this side of the House are determined to change that. And change it we will because by giving incentives for going on a budgeting course doing a parenting course learning all of those life skills that are so vital for a young person—[ 
Interruption 
] Mr Twyford scoffs at that. You do not want young people to know how to budget? It is unbelievable that Mr Twyford would take that position and he shakes his head. Mr Twyford does not want young people to learn how to budget. Does he not want young people to know how to parent? What could be more important than being able to look after a child to raise a baby to become a healthy young person? I believe that that is an absolutely vital skill and we cannot just expect it to be something that is understood instinctively. In many cases it has to be taught and so we will and we are putting in place incentives. That is not knocking; that is not discriminating. 
Report noted.