Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Ngaro Alfred: Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill — In Committee 
[Sitting date: 18 July 2012. Volume:681;Page:3656. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
ALFRED NGARO (National) 
: 
 It seems that on the other side of the Chamber there is a concern that this Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill will just be like a blunt instrument and used in a way that could again cause concern for a number of our communities. But that quite clearly is not the intent of this Government and never has been. What this Government has focused on in this bill is introducing a new system a system of support obligations and financial assistance for its young people and the bill does these two things: it extends work availability requirements and work preparation obligations for sole parents widows women alone partners and people requiring a main benefit. So in essence it is increasing work expectations because prior to National’s Future Focus changes 79 percent of beneficiaries had no work-test obligations. This figure is now about 64 percent and will reduce to 60 percent with the changes introduced in this bill.  
Currently 12 percent of our working-age population is on the benefit. We know that right across this Chamber we share the common goal of wanting to help support and create opportunities. This bill is National’s attempt—our exercising as a Government—to do this. It is important what we are doing here. National’s investment is based on its approach to the benefit system and it is shifting the focus to what people can do not what they cannot do. One hundred and seventy thousand New Zealanders spent the majority of the past decade on benefits. That is bad for our children bad for our families bad for individuals and bad for our economy as well.  
The things that are important are these. People have asked me what the results are so here are some of the results just to remind those here. There are 10400 fewer New Zealanders on welfare; 2300 more on the DPB took up part-time work so there is work available. There are not a lot of jobs and yes we are trying to stimulate the economy but there is work. A total of 13000 people went off the DPB and into work. Fifty percent of beneficiaries did not require a single hardship grant. We keep hearing: “Where are the jobs?” and again we have to keep on doing this just to remind the other side of the Chamber. There are 11500 jobs on TradeMe and 15000 jobs on SEEK. Work and Income receives 1300 to 1500 vacancies a week from employers. There are jobs available. This bill is focused on one thing—changing the opportunities. It is saying that these work-test obligations in Part 3 of this bill are simply to create better opportunities.  
Finally as I finish this short call one of the concerns I have been hearing from the Greens is about children. Well we care about children—absolutely. There are supplements available such as the accommodation supplement. There is the community services card. That is there. There are a number of supplements. And can I just remind the Greens that in one sense a number of our practitioners on the front line working for Work and Income do have a care and concern for the children to ensure that their needs are met. They will have discretion. No child should actually enter into those situations that the members have talked about. Instead the greatest example that you can give to your children is to be the best that you can be. This is encouraging parents and caregivers to take up those opportunities of training and of employment as well. I commend this part of the bill.