Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Shearer David: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 29 August 2012. Volume:683;Page:4851. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
1. 
DAVID SHEARER (Leader of the Opposition) 
 to the  
Prime Minister 
: Has he seen recent reports on the level of inequality and child poverty in New Zealand? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE (Acting Prime Minister) 
: Yes. I have seen a recent report that says: “A parent obtaining full-time paid employment is the most important event to lift children out of poverty.” That is why the Government’s welfare policies have an unrelenting focus on work and I look forward to the member’s support for them. 
David Shearer 
: Does he stand by his statement that “the Government has spent the last 3 years ensuring that it has done whatever it can to help the most vulnerable New Zealanders through.”; if so why is inequality at its highest level and why has child hardship increased from 15 percent to 21 percent? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: The inequality of income in New Zealand is measured in different ways. If you take the report that is produced by the Ministry of Social Development on page 81 it shows that inequality was greatest during the years 2000-05. We have not got back to those levels. But on the following page it shows a different picture. What I would say is that this Government has recognised as these reports do that the global financial crisis has put stress on those on the lowest incomes and therefore we have had programmes in place to try to make life a little easier for those people. 
David Shearer 
: In light of that answer does he agree with Paula Bennett who said last week that she did not believe that measuring poverty was a priority; if so why? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Yes the Minister for Social Development is correct; because there are so many different ways in which it can be measured. What is absolutely clear is that the best way of removing child poverty is to ensure that there is parental and caregiver employment. 
David Shearer 
: In light of that answer does this mean he has abandoned his view that the Ministerial Committee on Poverty should “have an official way of measuring poverty” something he said earlier this year? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Far from it. I think the fact that there are so many measures out there that give all sorts of pieces of information— 
Hon Member 
: Pick one! 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: The member over there calls out “Pick one!”. That is something those members cannot do when it comes to getting a decent leader but I will have a go on this. If I pick two in the report by the Ministry of Social Development on page 81 a report showing that during the period 2001-05 there was massive— 
David Shearer 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was a pretty straight question. I asked whether he was suggesting that he could have an official way of measuring poverty. That was something that he actually mentioned. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I am not sure that is what the member actually asked. If I remember correctly it was to do with—I think in fairness the Minister did actually answer the question. He has perhaps now gone on for a little long but what he said was “Not at all.” He did not—what is the correct word I am looking for—he did not resile from the previous statement made and he was explaining why. But I think he has gone on for sufficiently long. 
David Shearer 
: In the four meetings that the Ministerial Committee on Poverty has held what decisions have been taken to improve children in hardship? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: I would suggest that the member put that question down to the chairman of the committee. What I can tell you as a member of Cabinet is that there are regularly discussions in Cabinet about this particular issue. 
David Shearer 
: Which statement does he stand by: “we have a very targeted system through Working for Families.” or that Working for Families is “communism by stealth … It didn’t work very well for Eastern Europe and it won’t work very well for New Zealand.”? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: Both are true statements. 
Hon Peter Dunne 
: Do the reports that the Prime Minister has seen include any reports suggesting that the imposition of an inefficient and poorly targeted capital gains tax and the increase in the top tax rate to merely spur further avoidance and evasion opportunities will do anything to reduce the level of poverty in New Zealand? 
Hon GERRY BROWNLEE 
: No.