5. Question No. 5—Social DevelopmentHon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentQuestion No. 5—Social Development5. Hon LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) to the Minister for Social Development: Does she believe all her recent announcements are fair and non-discriminatory?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development): Mr Speaker talofa lava. I believe the decisions this Government has made will support New Zealanders to get back on their feet after the impacts of COVID. These announcements include the COVID-19 income relief payment which will support families who have experienced a job loss due to COVID-19; the wage subsidy which has supported 1.6 million New Zealanders; and the $150 million we are putting into expanding the Ministry of Social Development's employment services. Alongside this our Government has committed to an overhaul of the welfare system to ensure it is fair and non-discriminatory. That's why on 1 April we indexed main benefits to increases in wages increased benefits lifted abatement threshold and removed the discriminatory sanction that penalised sole parents. Max Rashbrooke editor of Inequality: A New Zealand Crisis summed up his piece by saying the COVID-19 payments far from being an insult to the already unemployed are not just a sensible way to cushion the blow of a colossal economic shock: they could be a step on the way towards a welfare system that genuinely and generously helps us collectively insure against the social risks that are far too large for any one individual to manage." Hon Louise Upston: Has she received specific legal advice around whether the COVID-19 income relief payment unfairly discriminates between individuals? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: To my knowledge there is no discrimination. However drawing distinctions in order to decide who can receive taxpayer-funded income support is an important and legitimate policy decision for any Government. We supported the job loss cover that was put in place following the Canterbury earthquakes under the previous Government. We also supported the ReStart package that was put in place following the global financial crisis. Unprecedented events call for unprecedented actions and it's important that we act urgently to ensure that families are looked after during this time. Hon Louise Upston: Does someone who lost their job on 29 February have lower living costs than someone who lost their job on 1 March and if not why will they receive less money? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: It's important to note that on 1 April indexation of main benefits came into effect. That was probably one of the most significant moves that we've seen with respect to the welfare system. It will also mean that they will be better off. If we look at a sole parent for instance they would have received an additional $10.56 from indexation an additional $25 on 1 April from the increase in benefits and also if they had had a sanction applied under section 192 an additional $34 on average. We are responding to the recommendation in the Welfare Expert Advisory Group's report to overhaul the welfare system. Alongside that we are putting measures in place to respond to this unprecedented event. Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern: Can the member confirm that the income support measures that were announced yesterday were modelled on the very changes that the last Government made in the wake of the devastating Christchurch earthquakes—a policy which it now seems that parts of the Opposition no longer support? SPEAKER: Order! Order! The member may answer the first part of the question. Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Yes I can. As I said there has been a precedent of this in the past when we have faced other situations which of course could be deemed a crisis. This one though I do need to say is obviously on a much larger scale. We're not talking about one particular region—although we obviously recognise the significance of the Canterbury earthquakes—and so I think that this is the responsible action to take. I stand by it as does our Government. Hon Louise Upston: Does she accept that when the Government rightly closed New Zealand's borders to China on 2 February many tourism workers lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and if so why are they being discriminated against and not able to access the COVID-19 income relief payment? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: 1 March till 30 October is when this will be open for those that may have lost jobs because of the impacts of COVID-19. As I said also I am relieved that this Government has taken action quickly keeping in mind that our first response I think with regard to COVID was to increase benefits and double the winter energy payment. Is there more to do with respect to the welfare overhaul? Absolutely and this Government's committed to doing more. Hon Louise Upston: Does she think it's kind that someone with a permanent disability on the supported living payment will now receive less financial support from the Government than a job-ready worker with a $20000 redundancy package and a partner earning $2000 a week? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Can I just say that I find that quite rich given that even when the Opposition members were in Government and they did lift benefits they only lifted benefits for those that had children. They had no regard for those that had a disability or a health condition. When we lifted benefits on 1 April they were for all benefit recipients. We took into consideration that actually 136000 of those on benefit did have a health condition or disability and we ensured that that benefit increase went to them as well."