6. Unemployment Rate—StatisticsHon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of EmploymentUnemployment Rate—Statistics6. Hon PAULA BENNETT (Deputy Leader—National) to the Minister of Employment: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister of Employment): Yes in the context of course in which they were made.Hon Paula Bennett: Was the unemployment rate as it stood when he was sworn in on 26 October 2017 4.6 percent?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: As I said on Tuesday when I was sworn in as Minister of Employment the official annual rate of unemployment was 5 percent. That changed in June of this year to 4.5 percent. For the assistance of the member who's asking the question 26 October is correct—when I was sworn in. On 1 November a new household labour force survey was released at which point the quarterly figure became 4.6 percent. Now if the member is trying to assert that when I was sworn in the rate of unemployment was 4.6 percent based on quarterly figures she's also incorrect: it was 4.8 percent on 26 October.Hon Paula Bennett: Thank you sir. I seek leave to table a document prepared by the Parliamentary Library outlining the unemployment rates for October 2017.SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that document being tabled? There is.Hon Paula Bennett: Was the unemployment rate in October last year 4.9 percent as he said on Newshub Nation; 5 percent as he said yesterday; 4.6 percent according to Statistics New Zealand; or 4.8 percent as he just told the House?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: As I said on Tuesday the annual unemployment rate was 5 percent. However the quarterly rate at that particular time when the member was asking was 4.8 percent. So the member is wrong on both counts.Hon Paula Bennett: So from here on will he be using annualised employment figures as he did on Newshub Nation or quarterly employment figures as he does in his press releases; or doesn't it matter because as the members says there's statistics and then there's statistics."Hon WILLIE JACKSON: I think the member is accusing me of cherry-picking in terms of statistics. We can talk about statistics until we're blue in the face. Make no mistake though: my focus is on the people. I've been clear on this since accepting the employment portfolio which is why I've been out across the country rolling out programmes concentrating on the people and communities at the very core. We can go on about "4.6 percent" "4.5 percent" and the 0.1 percent difference but the 0.1 percent difference equates to 4000 more people who are now in paid employment. Hon Paula Bennett: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Actually with my question it was whether he is going to use annualised or quarterly because it will determine other questions I can ask sir and I'd really like him to address it. It's quite a serious question: is he going to be using annualised or is he going to be using quarterly?SPEAKER: The member's been here for quite a long time and she knows that she can't get effectively a yes/no or a binary answer to a question. That's a longstanding Speakers' ruling. Jo Luxton: What other statement does the Minister of Employment also stand by?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: What an excellent question. I stated on Newshub Nation on Saturday 1 September that my desire as the Minister of Employment was to continue to have high aspirations for Māori and Pasifika communities and our disabled community. Our goal should absolutely be to reduce the constant deficit between the unemployment rate of the general population to that experienced particularly by Māori and Pasifika. I listed programmes like He Poutama Rangatahi – Youth Employment Pathways that are successfully targeting the regions where the need exists and already positive change is happening—2300 people being transitioned into employment or training. I clearly have higher aspirations for our people than some of the members opposite who have the audacity—SPEAKER: Right thank you. The member probably finished answering the question about a minute ago.Hon Paula Bennett: What is the employment rate for students that leave charter schools?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Put that question to my office and I'll come back to you."