4. Question No. 4—FinanceHon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of FinanceQuestion No. 4—Finance4. Hon BARBARA EDMONDS (Labour—Mana) to the Minister of Finance: Kia orana katoatoa Mr Speaker. Does she stand by her statement Our Budget was very deliberate in the funding of core priorities because our priorities are the same priorities as New Zealanders"; if so is she concerned that her priorities are disconnected from everyday New Zealanders?Hon NICOLA WILLIS (Minister of Finance): This is exactly the same primary question as the member asked yesterday so you won't be surprised that the answer is also exactly the same. In answer to the first part of the question yes. In answer to the second part of the question no.Hon Barbara Edmonds: Is it a priority to support Kiwis into work when unemployment is up to 4.6 percent and her only solution is to sanction beneficiaries?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Yes it is a priority to support New Zealanders into work and today's unemployment statistic is yet another reminder of how letting inflation get a grip on the economy was so damaging. That is the legacy that we have inherited. This Government is not only rebuilding our economy we are also taking sensible prudent steps to ensure that New Zealanders in receipt of a benefit are properly incentivised to find work.Hon Barbara Edmonds: How can the 21000 additional people on the benefit find jobs when the employment rate is unchanged and job ads have slumped 32 percent leaving Kiwis no other choice than to look overseas?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: On this side of the House we want to rebuild this economy so that we can see businesses creating more jobs so New Zealanders have better options. The sad fact of the matter is this: we inherited a grossly damaged economy which had sustained out-of-control inflation for three years causing interest rates to rise very very high. That previous Government perpetuated that with its own wasteful spending and now we are cleaning up the mess.Hon Barbara Edmonds: Is it her priority to support front-line social workers who have lost their jobs because of funding cuts to services and programmes like Tākai that have had to shut after 20 years of serving the community?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: Well if the member has a specific question specific to contracts provided by a particular agency I suggest she put those questions to the relevant Minister. I know that if the Minister for social development were to be answering this question she would say that she expects her agency to provide sufficient supports to all New Zealanders in receipt of a benefit to ensure they have the maximum opportunity to find work and get work.Hon Barbara Edmonds: What does she say to nursing students like Ana who have asked "What is the point of me completing this degree when I'm so uncertain whether I will get a job?" and can she assure Ana that she will have a job in the public healthcare system when she graduates this year?Hon NICOLA WILLIS: My message to Ana is this: thank you for taking on the incredibly important job of nursing New Zealanders. Taking the chance to learn those skills and learn that capability is a great one because your skills will be needed in the future for New Zealand. My encouragement to you is not only work hard and make sure you complete that qualification but also be wary of those politicians who like to claim they're on your side and then ruin the economy so that actually there are fewer opportunities in it."