Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Collins Judith: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:623;Page:18377] 
8.  
JUDITH COLLINS (National—Clevedon) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Is he satisfied with the performance of the Cyber Communities programme; if not why not? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 I am reasonably satisfied with the progress so far of Cyber Communities which is one of 13 initiatives being run under the Jobs Jolt programme. It seeks to provide people—especially those long term on various benefits who are difficult to get into employment—with information and communications technology skills and make them familiar with their application in the workplace. It is being run as a pilot in three sites—Otara Tokoroa and Southland. It began operation in April 2004. To December 2004 there have been 157 participants of the 420 expected over 3 years. One hundred and sixteen of the 157 continue to participate 41 have left including 10 to full-time employment four to part-time employment one to a voluntary organisation and six to further study. That is just over half of the 41. 
Judith Collins 
: Does the Minister stand by his press release of 2 April 2004 titled: “Cyber Communities Jobs Jolt Programme a Win-win”; if so how can a programme that cost $445000 of taxpayers’ hard-earned money to put four people into work be seen as a winner for anybody? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: It may help the member if I just repeat my earlier answer because she clearly was not listening and that was the answer. This pilot is being run in three sites—Otara Tokoroa and Southland. The report that the member is relying on was a report 3 months after the programme started. By December 2004 157 participants had been in the programme of the 420 anticipated over 3 years. One hundred and sixteen are still in the programme; of 41 who have left 10 are in full-time employment four are in part-time employment one is in a voluntary organisation and six are in further study. So far the investment seems to be OK. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: How satisfied is the Minister with the overall performance of the Jobs Jolt package? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister may answer briefly because the original question was more specific. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Overall I am satisfied. Over 7000 Jobs Jolt participants have moved off benefit in its first year which means it is well on track for its target of 22000 over 3 years. If I take two examples of the programme the mobile employment service has seen a 44 percent increase in the people who should be going into employment going into employment. Employment coaching has seen a 43 percent success rate. Those two initiatives alone have seen 893 participants move off benefit at the end of September which was the measurement period. The programme is going extremely well. 
Bill Gudgeon 
: What was the objective behind the Cyber Communities scheme and could the Minister give the House an itemised breakdown on the funding that was spent? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: In answer to the second question evaluations will be made available as they always are on programmes like this and the member will be able to access those evaluations. In answer to the first question I answered that when I first answered the substantive question. However I will repeat it for the member. It seeks to provide people especially long-term people on various benefits who are difficult to get into employment with information and communications technology skills and make them familiar with their application in the workplace. 
H V Ross Robertson 
: Can the Minister inform the House what change there has been in the employment situation since the Jobs Jolt programme was launched? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I am delighted to do so. Job Jolt was announced in August 2003 as a series of initiatives to run over 3 to 5 years to move more people into work. At that time the unemployment rate was around 5 percent and forecast not to decline below that. The most recent unemployment level we know about of course is 3.8 percent. The number of people on the unemployment benefit has also reduced dramatically with the number being 36 percent lower today than when we started this programme. This means that in Southland for example we no longer have any long-term unemployed people. As a result all of our programmes will be evaluated against the dramatic change in the unemployment situation as we go on trying to get all New Zealanders into paid employment. 
Judith Collins 
: Is he satisfied that nearly $109000 was spent on one national project management position and is this happy beneficiary of the Minister’s win-win Cyber Communities scheme one of the four people who was helped into permanent employment by the end of June 2004? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: This is sort of like shooting ducks in a barrel. But anyway the question unfortunately is absolutely—[ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Government members can have as long as they like during question time. It is their business. But a brief answer to the question would help. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: The question of course is not accurate. There is no national project manager for Cyber Communities. The position became vacant in September 2004 and was not filled because Community Employment Group was disestablished. The previous national project manager was an employee of the Department of Labour not of Cyber Communities. The salary level of the national project manager was far less than $108000. 
Judith Collins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I seek leave to table a report from the  
Dominion Post  
dated 3 February 2005 entitled “$445000 to get four off the dole”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought for that purpose. Is there any objection? There is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table an evaluation of the Cyber Communities released under the Official Information Act. 
Document not tabled. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: That was not released it was leaked. 
Hon Dr Nick Smith 
: This is a point of order. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I said: “Leave is sought to table that. Is there any objection?”. I heard no one say anything. 
Judith Collins 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. The Minister made a comment during that point of order when he said that the document was not released under the Official Information Act it was leaked. I ask you to ask the Minister to withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well the Minister should withdraw and apologise because he should not be interjecting during points of order. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave was sought to table that. There was objection taken. 
Judith Collins 
: I am sorry there was objection or was not objection? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: There was objection taken. 
Judith Collins 
: OK. I seek leave to table a press release from the Hon Steve Maharey headed “Cyber Communities Jobs Jolt Programme a Win-win”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is. 
Judith Collins 
: I seek leave to table a press release from the New Zealand Government headed “Jobs Jolt Will Get More New Zealanders into Work”. That press release states that 22000 new jobs are going to be created. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that. Is there any objection? There is.