6. Question No. 6—Social Development and EmploymentSUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 6—Social Development and Employment6. SUZE REDMAYNE (National—Rangitīkei) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Why has the Government set a target to have 50000 fewer people receiving the jobseeker support benefit by 2030?Hon LOUISE UPSTON (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Because the coalition Government wants to help New Zealanders live better lives and reach their full potential and the best way to do this is through work. There needs to be a greater focus on supporting people off welfare and into work because the previous Government failed to capitalise on long periods where employers were crying out for staff—and when they left office there were 70000 more people on the jobseeker benefit. We now have almost 190000 people in New Zealand receiving the jobseeker benefit and that's approximately the size of Hamilton. We aren't prepared to sit back and let people become dependent on welfare because we know that having a job is the pathway to a better life for them and for their children. While the welfare system will always support people in need our Government will do more to ensure New Zealanders can reap the rewards and opportunities that having a job brings.SPEAKER: That was a very very long answer so I'd ask people preparing questions to keep them a little more concise. They're getting very long.Suze Redmayne: How long are people predicted to spend on benefits if we continue with the previous approach to welfare?Hon Carmel Sepuloni: It's not the previous approach; it's the economic forecast.SPEAKER: Just going to—[Interruption] When we get a moment—just going to ask the member to re-ask that question. It is effectively setting the battlefield for an attack and it's not on so ask it in a different way.Suze Redmayne: Thank you Mr Speaker. Ask in a different way did you say Mr Speaker?SPEAKER: Well this is a think-on-your-feet moment. [Interruption] Yeah just a minute. A question is being asked. Just wait till there's a bit of quiet.Suze Redmayne: How long are people predicted to spend on benefits?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The previous Government's approach saw a substantial increase in the amount of time people would spend—[Interruption]SPEAKER: No no. No sorry. Sit down. Sorry take your seat. You can't start an answer like that. You could perhaps mention a date and a time and a figure but you can't start with an answer like that.Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The Taylor Fry report that was published in December last year showed the forecast of the future years expected that people would spend on welfare. For a jobseeker benefit they are estimated to spend on average 13 future years on welfare. For those who move on to welfare under the age of 25 they are forecast to spend 19 future years on main benefit. No one would want this outcome for their child and we're unwilling to sit back and watch it happen.Suze Redmayne: Supplementary Mr Speaker? [Interruption]SPEAKER: Hold on. OK.Suze Redmayne: What actions has the coalition Government already taken to reduce welfare dependency?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: In February we announced the first two actions to reset the welfare system. Firstly work check-ins will begin for people who've been on the jobseeker benefit for more than six months to ensure that they are taking action to find work and getting the support they need. Secondly we reversed Labour's light-touch approach to benefit sanctions and made our expectation clear: those who can work should work and job seekers have responsibilities to become work-ready and find a job. Our Government is committed to giving beneficiaries the help they need to find work but there will be consequences for those who don't fulfil their responsibilities.Ricardo Menéndez March: Will she commit to ensuring the 50000 people who she wants to get off income support into employment that pays at least a living wage and matches their skills and aspirations?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: Our Government is focused on reducing the number of job seekers by 50000 and we believe that a job is better than no job and a job is a path to a better job.Suze Redmayne: What are the forecasts for jobseeker benefit numbers in the short term?Hon LOUISE UPSTON: The number of people on the jobseeker benefit is unfortunately expected to increase in the coming months due to the challenging economic circumstances: jobseeker benefit recipients are expected to peak at 198500 in January 2025. That means it will be difficult to reduce the number of people on the jobseeker benefit immediately but we owe it to those New Zealanders who find themselves without a job to do all we can to help them to get back into work.