1. Question No. 1—Social Development and EmploymentJAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentORAL QUESTIONSQUESTIONS TO MINISTERSQuestion No. 1—Social Development and Employment1. JAN LOGIE (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she agree with the new Children's Commissioner Frances Eivers that In a country with the resources of Aotearoa every mokopuna no matter their background should grow up in a whānau that has what they need to thrive"?Hon JAN TINETTI (Minister of Internal Affairs): on behalf of the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Yes I do agree with Judge Eivers. This is why this Government has set ambitious child poverty targets which over a 10-year period aim to reduce the rates of measured child poverty by more than half. We have made good progress. Figures released in February showed 45400 fewer children in low-income households were experiencing poverty. Since then the Government has raised main benefits and increased family tax credits. These measures are estimated to lift around 33000 more children out of poverty. We have also made progress on building more homes and put more lunches into schools throughout New Zealand. There is no silver bullet to fixing the long-term challenge that is child poverty but we are committed to addressing it and we are making progress.Jan Logie: Does she stand by her comment in relation to the warrant to arrest sanctions applied to 4000 families last year that she would remove them today if she could and if so why is it taking so long to remove the sanction?Hon JAN TINETTI: The Government is working through the welfare advisory group report but we can't do everything at the same time. We have prioritised lifting incomes and resetting the foundations of the welfare system so that we can begin a much overdue overhaul. However work on removing sanctions is our medium-term work programme and it has begun. We have already removed two sanctions which is making a big difference to benefit recipients with children and further policy work is happening and announcements will be made soon.Jan Logie: Will she commit to removing the up to 13-week stand-down and non-entitlement periods for people who become unemployed for any reason to provide the same unconditional support as people who have left their jobs because they choose not to meet the vaccination mandate?Hon JAN TINETTI: There are always one to two weeks stand-downs when someone first applies for a main benefit. I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that if a person was in a role before the vaccination requirement was introduced the introduction of the vaccination requirement would be considered a significant change in conditions of employment making the employment no longer suitable. This would generally be considered a sufficient reason for voluntary unemployment and therefore a 13-week non-entitlement period would not be imposed. Stand-downs will be reviewed as part of our long-term welfare system overhaul. But if someone does leave their main job for no valid reason or limited valid reason then that is where a 13-week stand-down will apply.Jan Logie: Does she think it's fair that 30000 low-income families are being asked to pay back $20 million in Working for Families credits not because they did anything wrong but because of systems failures that have left them facing repayment obligations for money they no longer have on hand?Hon JAN TINETTI: I don't have that figure in front of me at this particular point in time. But if the member would like to put that in writing I'm sure that the Minister will be able to answer that—for the figure.Jan Logie: How do her responses address the concerns of the former Children's Commissioner Becroft who said in relation to welfare reform "successive governments have resisted transformation instituting only incremental change. Sadly that has ended up serving the protection of the system rather than the needs of children and young people—especially mokopuna Māori."?Hon JAN TINETTI: We actually agree that the welfare system is complex and we are committed to addressing its complexity. Currently there is work happening to update the welfare system but it will take some time as it is an incredibly big job. Alongside this the Government is undertaking a review of Working for Families. We'll release more information on this in due course."