8. Question No. 8—Social Development and EmploymentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 8—Social Development and Employment8. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she agree with the Prime Minister that it does matter to us as a Labour Government that we have people in the dignity of work"; if so why are over 50000 more people receiving the jobseeker support as at June 2022 quarter compared to the September 2017 quarter?Hon WILLIE JACKSON (Minister for Broadcasting and Media) on behalf of the Minister for Social Development and Employment: As she said yesterday she agrees absolutely with the Prime Minister. What we are seeing is record numbers of people moving off jobseeker and into work. In the year ending June 2022 95583 people on jobseeker exited into work. This is a 62 percent increase on the same period in 2017. This is because of this Government's successful investments in employment programmes—for example today we announced that our effective employment and training programme Mana in Mahi has supported over 5000 participants. Hon Member: Great work. Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Magnificent really—great work from this Government. That is what it looks like when a Government is successful at getting people back into the dignity of work.Hon Louise Upston: Can she explain why when businesses around New Zealand are crying out for workers the number of 18- to 24-year-olds on the jobseeker benefit has increased by 49 percent under her watch?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: On behalf of the Minister exit into work has been at record levels for the past two years. In the year ending June 2022 113427 people have exited into work.Hon Paul Goldsmith: He doesn't believe in accountability.Hon WILLIE JACKSON: That is a 44 percent increase—Mr Goldsmith—from the same time in 2017. Some people they have complex lives. That means they might need extra help. It's not always easy. For example sometimes there's a lack of suitable housing there are transport difficulties they have physical requirements they need some attention they need some support they need some investment—investment they never got for nine years under a National Government. That's why we're breaking down barriers to work by building more houses investing in businesses and supporting people to get a driver's licence. We're reinstating the Training Incentive Allowance so people can upskill and we're working with those people. This is not a punitive Government; it's a Government that works in tandem with the community and I'm proud to work with our Minister in supporting our different communities.Hon Louise Upston: Why when the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has hired an additional 2300 staff under this Government are more people on welfare for longer?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Oh I don't accept that—I don't accept that. We don't accept that position. We're getting more and more people into employment and training—5091 placements through Mana in Mahi since 2018 despite criticism from the other side about Mana in Mahi who thought that the programme was going to collapse and fall over; 3869 young people have been supported into employment education or training through He Poutama Rangatahi. I was lucky enough to have been Minister of Employment during this time and I saw firsthand how targeted programmes helped these people. Our MSD—and our Minister Carmel Sepuloni—has taken up the challenge and is doing brilliant work. Today with our Prime Minister it was a magnificent announcement with regards to Mana in Mahi and I would ask the Opposition to think about that.Hon Louise Upston: Why did her Mana in Mahi press release saying that 75 percent of participants who had been on benefit for two or more consecutive years hadn't gone back on to benefit omit the fact that of the 75 percent only 5 percent had been on benefit for two years or more?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Well you'll have to take that up with the Minister when she comes back. All I know is Mana in Mahi has been an overwhelming success and I have been—actually I'll say today very humbly that I gave Mana in Mahi the name. So I gave that the name and I was very proud to give it the name and great work has continued with the Minister and the Prime Minister. The Opposition would have been calling it working for the dole; we talk about dignity in work. We talk about: there is mana in mahi. Even if you're cleaning the kitchen at the local marae that's all part of dignity and looking after people—something that that Opposition forgot for nine years.Hon Louise Upston: Should people on the jobseeker benefit who decline formal job offers face sanctions?Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Oh we've been very good in the sanctions area. There haven't been a lot of changes in terms of work-related sanctions under this Government. What the change has been has been the change of attitude—that's the change. We are not a punitive Government. This is a kind Government. Our Prime Minister always talks about kindness; not punishing people who have a few problems in their lives. Hon Gerry Brownlee: Bring out the footlights—it's a great show. Hon WILLIE JACKSON: Gerry Brownlee and the rest of the Opposition need to learn about aroha and kindness and talk with our Prime Minister. Shame on you. [Interruption]DEPUTY SPEAKER: Order! We come to question No. 10 in the name of Erica Stanford—oh sorry. Sorry I've jumped ahead."