8. Question No. 8—Child Poverty ReductionHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Child Poverty ReductionQuestion No. 8—Child Poverty Reduction8. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: Does she agree with Child Poverty Action Group that the latest child poverty statistics are a sad indictment on the country with no real improvement in policy that could turn things around" and why was the reduction in the number of children living in material hardship over the last five years less than half the reduction from 2013 to 2017?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister for Child Poverty Reduction): In answer to the first part of the question no. In answer to the second part of the question the period selected by the member encompasses the period following the GFC—a global financial crisis where child poverty rates rose sharply. Comparing that period to the last five years where we have seen some of the most challenging economic conditions in a generation is not a fair comparison. Measures taken by the Government during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic shock have avoided more children falling into poverty and eight of the nine measures of child poverty are statistically significantly lower than 2018. There is still much more to do and the Government won't let up on our goals of reducing child poverty.Hon Louise Upston: Why has the number of children living in benefit-dependent homes increased by 35000 under this Government?Hon JAN TINETTI: What really matters here is that we are lifting children in all households out of poverty. There are more people in need of support due to COVID which is why one of the first actions we took in 2020 was to lift benefits and we have further lifted benefits in line with recommendations from the Welfare Expert Advisory Group. Unlike the previous Government we are investing in supporting people into work and we are starting to see the results.Hon Louise Upston: Point of order. That didn't address the question; it was kind of interesting but it didn't actually address the question I asked.Hon Grant Robertson: Speaking to the point of order. I'm not actually surprised that the member couldn't hear because of the noise that was taking place from her side of the House. But actually the Minister did directly address the question when she stated that because of COVID-19 more people were in need of Government support which was the question that the member asked. It was directly addressed.SPEAKER: And from what I heard the Minister did address it. If members—and I've ruled on this before: if the House is telling me that it doesn't want to hear the answer then it's already addressed.Hon Louise Upston: Does she accept that with the rate of child poverty reduction more than halving over the last five years this Government's strategy of relying solely on benefit increases instead of reducing the number of people on benefit and benefit dependency has backfired?Hon JAN TINETTI: No.Hon Louise Upston: What actions if any has this Government taken to actually reduce the number of children living in benefit-dependent homes given benefit dependency is a driver of child poverty?Hon JAN TINETTI: We have had a number of initiatives that are helping reduce those numbers including the $5.5 billion Families Package successive main benefit increases minimum wage increases Working for Families increases healthy school lunch programmes and our extensive COVID-19 supports—have all had a profound and positive effect.Hon Louise Upston: Is there any greater symbol of her Government's complete and utter failure over the last five years than the rate of child poverty reduction more than halving despite promising to make it a priority?Hon JAN TINETTI: When we came into Government we had to follow nine years of a Government that had seen child poverty numbers increase over the global financial crisis. This Government is working incredibly hard. I've already listed some of the package that we have put in place. I am proud to stand on that record."