Muller Todd: Support for Children in Hardship Bill — In CommitteeText is incorporated into the Bound VolumeMuller Todd: Support for Children in Hardship Bill — In Committee[Sitting date: 01 December 2015. Volume:710;Page:8407. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.]TODD MULLER (National—Bay of Plenty): I rise to take a short call to talk about Part 2; in particular comments around the amendment of the Education Act. As already discussed this particular part facilitates a matching $25 increase achieved through regulations to the student allowance rates for students with dependent children. We have of course promoted this to ensure that we do not create an incentive to move from study to benefit rates to ensure that the support is provided for those who qualify whilst at study. There is also a consequential amendment—it was discussed in some part by the previous speaker—to provide that the student allowance Consumers Price Index adjustment is applied on 31 March 2016 and that that happens before the adjustment then occurs the $25 increase on the next day.I think that does make sense. It is going to take us a little while as the various official reports have suggested to be able to get this packageright—it is a large one; it is the largest as has been said for many many years—to get the systems in place to enable it. So that 1 April target date I think is the appropriate one. This as already discussed is a relatively small part of this very large and comprehensive support package of over $750 million. The regulatory impact statement itself talks about this particular part being an extra spend of $1.8 million in 2015-16 rising to $6 million in 2017-18. So obviously in the context of the overall package it is not huge but it is important to ensure that when you do something you do it right and make sure that all the appropriate consequential amendments occur. In terms of the overall complexity of the systems change that this particular part enables the regulatory impact statement again suggests that this is moderate—moderate changes to IT systems and processes to enable it.We had some conversation about this particular part in our select committee deliberations—some submissions. Some have been referenced already. I do want to draw the Committee’s attention to a couple of submitters. Law for Change submitted on this particular point and stated that by increasing support for students with children education would become a more feasible choice for parents and in their view greater assistance to enable parents to attain qualifications will help to reduce welfare dependence in the long term.We also had a specific submission on this particular part by the New Zealand Federation of Business and Professional Women which was also supportive of the increase quite explicitly so as it would enable parents with children to continue to participate in the education system. If I could quote specifically from Caritas Aotearoa - New Zealand again in respect of this particular part: “We also welcome the adjustments to be made to student allowances to ensure that children in those families have the same advantage.”Overall in terms of the submitters on this particular point they were all supportive of the increase in the student allowance for students with children and the fact that it was mirroring the increase in main benefit rates. Most of the submitters were of the view that increasing support for students with children will help improve the long-term prospects of that particular family.This is a small part of a comprehensive bill that I have huge pride in being able to stand in support of. It provides significant support for those who are most vulnerable. There is not crowing; this is a Government that focuses on those who are most vulnerable and does it in a comprehensive considered and reflective way. I am sure that it will be appreciated by those who receive it. Thank you.