9. Question No. 9—Social Development and EmploymentRICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and EmploymentQuestion No. 9—Social Development and Employment9. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she agree it's unfair that young people on the benefit are eligible for almost $44 less every week than people 25 and up?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Minister for Social Development and Employment): Yes. That is why I have asked the Ministry of Social Development for advice on aligning youth rates of benefits with those of other main benefits. This work is on our medium-term welfare overhaul work programme. Ricardo Menéndez March: What is the justification for keeping young people deeper in poverty through lower income support levels?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I believe it goes back to the 1980s when the decision was made to have a differential rate. That has continued over the decade. There are many policies within the welfare system that go back to the 1980s and 1990s that have not been tackled. This is one that I would like to see us address. It is in the mid-term work programme as I said which is one to three years. It's certainly not something that we're going to be able to get on to before the election.Ricardo Menéndez March: What exactly does she need to review in the medium term to realise that it is unfair and we need to bring benefit levels for young people on par with their older peers?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We still need to do the policy work. We still need to receive the advice and make sure that we're looking at all unintended consequences that might come from a policy change. So that work has not started yet. I would like to say though that we have seen a significant increase of benefits for all beneficiaries because of the changes that we have made including the increases. Also we have seen a significant increase in the support for young people on benefit to actually get into employment. Income support is important but support for upskilling and training and support into jobs is important as well. So we've been focused on both and we're seeing very positive results with regards to Mana in Mahi Apprenticeship Boost He Poutama Rangatahi Flexi-wage for our young people and we want to continue to invest there.Ricardo Menéndez March: Does she accept it's a political choice to leave this review for the medium term rather than prioritise it and end age-based discrimination once and for all?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: It is a political choice. There is only so much capacity of any Government agency. There is only so much money with regards to what you can budget for—Hon Member: $15 million.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: —and so you do need to make choices with respect to what you decide to prioritise. It is certainly one of those areas—Hon Member: St James.Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: —that we do want to focus on down the track and that is why I've signalled it. The other side of the House is yelling out $15 million for the St James Theatre. I do want to remind the other side of the House that that will result in economic benefit jobs wellbeing—all of those things. So it's very short-sighted of the other side of the House to think that that doesn't matter in the scheme of things.Ricardo Menéndez March: Does she agree that for people aged under 24 who receive $44 less each week that leaves those people more at risk of homelessness needing to access a hardship grant or getting into debt due to not being able to cover weekly expenses and if so will she prioritise this review so that young people are not disadvantaged by current policy settings?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I've already said that I do agree that it's unfair and it is an area of work that is on the work programme for the mid-term. If I was to move that forward that means other areas that I have prioritised would need to move backwards and I'm not willing to do that. We're not shifting the work programme around here. We need to make sure that we do have a very clear work programme. We've tried to be very public about what that looks like so people know what is coming in the welfare overhaul programme. I agree with the member; it does need to be looked at. I just can't look at it before the election.