10. Social Development Minister—StatementsCARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentSocial Development Minister—Statements10. CARMEL SEPULONI (Labour—Kelston) to the Minister for Social Development: Does she stand by all her statements?Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Social Development): Yes in the context in which they were made.Carmel Sepuloni: Does she stand by her statement that getting off a benefit and into employment or study allows individuals and families to thrive" when nearly 52 percent of homeless people are actually working or studying according to a recent University of Auckland study?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes. This Government does believe that the best way out of poverty for people is to be independent to be able to support their families and of course to be in employment.Carmel Sepuloni: Does she stand by her statement that her electorate is "pumping" given the Bay of Plenty's and Gisborne's increase in homelessness and does this not mean she has failed her own electorate like she has failed New Zealand?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: If you go back to the primary question and my answer I think it behoves the member to actually be correct when she tries to quote me.Carmel Sepuloni: I seek leave to table a speech by the Minister that she gave in the House where she refers to her electorate as "pumping".Mr SPEAKER: That speech will be available I assume to all members if they want it. There is no need to table it.Carmel Sepuloni: Does she stand by her statement that "The greatest resource that this country has is its workforce is its people."; if so what will she be doing to address the issue of Pacific people—a big part of our workforce—being 10 times more at risk of homelessness than any other New Zealander?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes I do stand by that quote. That is an accurate quote. This Government is doing a tremendous amount and I refer to my colleague who leads the Pacific plan. The education qualifications and performance of Pasifika pupils have risen considerably under this Government. The participation and employment of Pasifika people have risen considerably under this Government. We do not say that we have got all the issues nailed. There is still much work to do but this is a Government that is aspirational for all people and particularly Pacific people.Carmel Sepuloni: How can she claim sole parents as her "biggest success" when sole parents and their children are six times more likely to be homeless than couples with children?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I have never claimed that sole parents were my success. It is their success in getting themselves educated and independent from the State and able to support themselves and their family. I think this House should be congratulating every single one of those sole parents who have managed to get off a benefit and into employment and we should be backing them 100 percent.Carmel Sepuloni: I seek leave to table an interview where the Minister is saying that the biggest success they have had is with sole parents.Mr SPEAKER: Order! I just need the source of this interview.Carmel Sepuloni: Newshub.Mr SPEAKER: No. That is available to all members if they want it.Carmel Sepuloni: Is she concerned that her Government's target of a reduction in beneficiaries has led to working families being no better off than when they were on a benefit?Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I entirely refute that assertion. There is no doubt—and the research and the evidence is clear. That is why this Government works to support people off benefits and into employment—because it is better for them economically it is better for their health and it is better for their social connections. What is more it is much better for their children.Carmel Sepuloni: Supplementary question Mr Speaker.Mr SPEAKER: No I understand that Labour has used its full allocation today."