Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Ardern Jacinda: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Sitting date: 30 August 2012. Volume:683;Page:4983. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
2. 
JACINDA ARDERN (Labour) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development 
: Does she stand by all of her answers to oral questions on Tuesday? 
Hon TONY RYALL (Minister of Health) 
 on behalf of the Minister for Social Development: Within context yes. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: If her answer to child poverty is work what policies has her Government introduced to address the fact that 40 percent of children in poverty are in the homes of the working poor? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: This Government has worked very hard to make sure that we have an economy that can weather the winds of the international financial crisis. We have worked very hard to protect those who are working hard to get ahead and of course the Government has cut tax rates so that the vast majority of workers pay no more than 17.5 percent in tax. We also have a range of support available for them from Working for Families to in-work tax credits. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: If low interest rates have benefited families who are struggling as she has claimed does she accept that 70 percent of families living in poverty are in rental accommodation? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I think the member is probably confusing an answer to a different question. Of course lower interest rates are benefiting the many families who have mortgages but at the same time for those people who are in hardship this Government unlike many other Governments around the world has worked to protect these families as best we can. We have legislated CPI increases for benefit levels lowered tax rates and protected Working for Families. I would ask the member only to watch the television news every night to see what countries under financial pressure are actually doing and it is a lot lot less than this Government. 
Darien Fenton 
: Does she agree that every worker should have the income necessary to provide them and their families with the basic necessities of life so they can participate as active citizens in society; if so will she be supporting the Living Wage campaign? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: Of course the Minister wants to make sure that families are in the best position that they can be. But I would say in respect of the second part of the question that member was in Government for 9 years and refused a $15 minimum wage. 
Darien Fenton 
: Has she asked her parliamentary cleaner what it is like to live on a minimum wage work long hours and struggle to support her family; if so what did she learn about the reality of poverty? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: I think New Zealanders know that this Minister herself has come from a very hard experience as a young mother bringing up her own child and I think she understands those difficulties that families have. That is why this Government more than any other in the Western World has worked to protect those in the most vulnerable positions. When you look at what is happening in Europe where benefits and pensions are being frozen and cut this is a Government that has been determined to protect those people from the sharp edges of the recession. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: What does she believe is a living wage for a family of four with one parent in full-time work? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: In respect of that specific question I think the Minister would reply that she believes that New Zealanders should get as much support as they can and work as hard as they can to do that. We have a system that provides support for those people who need it. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. That was quite a specific question. If the Minister was unwilling to venture an answer— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Order! No the member asked for an opinion if I recollect correctly from memory: what does the Minister think is a living wage? When a member asks a Minister for an opinion like that there is no specific answer— 
Jacinda Ardern 
: He could have tried a bit harder. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I accept what the member is saying that maybe he could have tried a bit harder but that is absolutely in the hands of the Minister. 
Jacinda Ardern 
: If as she has claimed the cause of poverty is not enough people in work the cause of unemployment is the global financial crisis and the answer to everything is welfare reform will her response always be a circular vortex of excuses? 
Hon TONY RYALL 
: The Minister’s answers will always be based on the fact that this is a Government that is determined to have a strong growing economy. It is only with a strong growing economy that we can support the jobs and the opportunities that New Zealanders want. This is a country that has gone from having a debt of $8 billion 3½ years ago to $72 billion in the next 2½ years. We have borrowed extensively to protect the most vulnerable from the sharp edges of the recession and have also used the taxes of working New Zealanders to do that.