Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
Rich Katherine: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Question Time Questions to Members 
[Volume:607;Page:4496] 
9.  
KATHERINE RICH (NZ National) 
 to the  
Minister of Social Services and Employment 
: Does he believe that welfare dependency is a major problem in New Zealand; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister of Social Services and Employment) 
: 
 It is significantly less of a problem than it was under National. 
Katherine Rich 
: Is he aware of a Government department’s welfare benefit advertising campaign directed at parents which says: “You always knew that having children would be rewarding” and that “if you have two children you could earn even more”; and what does this aggressive encouragement to go on welfare say about the Government’s approach to welfare dependency? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The member may not be aware but we have just changed the abatement regime which allows people to retain more of their earnings as they transfer from a benefit into full-time work. 
Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 
: What is the Government’s record in assisting people to move from a benefit into a job? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Unemployment now stands at 4.9 percent the lowest rate since March 1988. Work and Income have been achieving record results placing people into work with the result that the number of people receiving the unemployment benefit is now at 115495 which is also the lowest March total since 1988. 
Dr Muriel Newman 
: Does he think there is a major problem in the escalation of the number of women on the domestic purposes benefit who are refusing to name the father of their children—up from 13996 when he became the Minister to a record 16498 now—with an estimated loss of over $11 million a year in child support payments for over 32000 children; if so can he describe to the House exactly what steps he has taken since he has been the Minister to sort this problem out? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The House needs to know that of course there are people who would not want to have the father named for such reasons as incest or extreme violence towards the partner. But the member is absolutely right in raising the issue which is of concern to the whole House that we are beginning to see men who are in positions where they should be emotionally and financially supporting their own children supporting those children. The member will know that one of the measures that I have been eager to take—but was unable to take while we had an Alliance partner because it would not advance the policy—is to increase the penalty and I intend to do so. 
Sue Bradford 
: After many years of various Governments tinkering with the social welfare system does the Minister think it is time for his Government to initiate a meaningful dialogue with and among the New Zealand public about what basic principles should underpin and guide the framework of the welfare system in New Zealand in the 21st century? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes I do and that is why I produced a document called  
Pathways to Opportunities 
 in 2001. 
Judy Turner 
: Are there any age groups that are more susceptible to welfare dependency and what particular benefits are involved? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Young people are today over-represented on unemployment statistics because they are young and they are finding it harder to break into the workforce; and mature workers people who are over 45 who often come out of physical occupations and find themselves on a benefit because of a sickness or disability due to work and find it difficult to move back into the workforce. 
Katherine Rich 
: With regard to his comments about unemployment rates does the Minister not understand that we are making comments about the size of the benefit register and does he accept that there is growing support for work-for-the-dole schemes and time limits for certain welfare benefits or is he out of touch with the opinions of many New Zealanders? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: If the member has been following my comments she will know that I always studiously use the working-age beneficiary. That population has dropped significantly since we became the Government. Therefore I think we are seeing major changes that are making a difference. Therefore I do not want to waste this Government’s time on having my staff work for a work-for-the-dole scheme when there are employers all over the country who have skill shortages and labour shortages. 
Katherine Rich 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister did not answer my question. My question was about whether he— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister did address the question quite specifically in the last part of his answer.