2. Question No. 2—Social DevelopmentMARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 2—Social Development2. MARAMA DAVIDSON (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social Development: Has she seen any reports on the likely effect of the end of the winter energy payment period on 1 October on poverty in New Zealand?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Yes. Recently I have seen the Child Poverty Action Group's report Sheltering our children from COVID-19 fallout. The report highlights the impacts of the decrease in incomes for main benefit recipients when the winter energy payment ends on 1 October. I would point out that the policy intent of the winter energy payment is to support people to meet additional energy costs over the winter period and given the additional time spent in their homes over winter this year due to COVID-19 people would have seen energy costs increase. If beneficiaries and superannuitants find they need support once the winter energy payment ends I would encourage them to contact the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to discuss what assistance they may be eligible for. There is a range of ways MSD may be able to help.Marama Davidson: Would extending the winter energy payment as an additional COVID-19 relief measure as recommended by the Child Poverty Action Group help meet this Government's child poverty targets?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There is a range of measures that have been put in place to assist us with meeting our child poverty targets. These include the Families Package our free and healthy school lunch programme expanding free and low-cost doctors visits for children under 14 and introducing a school donation scheme to reduce education costs for parents. The figures that Statistics New Zealand released earlier this year showed that we were already making progress in seven out of nine child poverty indicators. The COVID context will have an impact on this but we will continue to monitor and assess the situation closely and remain committed to addressing child poverty. What I do think is important to keep in mind is that actually the majority of those who receive the winter energy payment do not have children and many are in fact superannuitants.Marama Davidson: Does she stand by her statement that those on lower incomes generally spend any extra money on household items that keep their families well and so doubling the winter energy payment will act as an immediate stimulus in local economies."?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Yes. That was also part of our rationale for increasing benefits by $25 a week for all main benefit recipients. The doubling of the winter energy payment had a twofold effect: one being the economic stimulus impact and it also provided financial support to beneficiary and superannuitant households with increased energy costs—particularly important during this COVID period because of the restrictions and conditions that were in place.Marama Davidson: Does she agree that additional income support is needed to ensure everyone can live in dignity when facing personal setbacks and as part of the broader economic shock caused by COVID-19?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I've never shied away from saying that there is more to do to address income adequacy in the welfare system but it is important to note that we have already made a number of enduring changes including lifting all main benefits by $25 indexing main benefits to wages removing punitive sanctions that impact on children and increasing the amount you can earn whilst on benefit. If I only refer to sole parents on benefit under this Government 85000 sole parents on benefit are actually better off on average by $101 per week and that isn't including the winter energy payment.Marama Davidson: Does she think additional financial support for the unprecedented numbers of people newly out of work and those already receiving a main benefit is exactly the sort of thing that should be funded from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: There is a range of measures that this Government has committed to funding from the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund; additional financial support for the people newly out of work and those receiving a main benefit are two that have been a priority. We saw this with the early shift to increase benefits and double the winter energy payment. Following that we introduced the temporary job loss cover payment and have implemented other relevant measures—for example debt management support. I do want to make the point that as pointed out in the Welfare Expert Advisory Group report employment also remains a key pillar within our welfare system and the vast majority of those on benefit also want support to work. That is why we have also heavily invested in expanding employment support and upskilling and training opportunities."