3. Question No. 3—Prime MinisterRICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Acting Prime MinisterQuestion No. 3—Prime Minister3. RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH (Green) to the Acting Prime Minister: Does she stand by all her Government's policies and statements?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI (Acting Prime Minister): Yes including the significant efforts of the Ministry of Social Development and a range of other Government agencies that have contributed to the labour market results released today. In particular I want to highlight the fact that more young people are engaged in employment education and training with a fall in the NEET rate from 11.1 percent to 10.3 percent. This reflects our focus on getting young people ready for work through such programmes as Apprenticeship Boost Mana in Mahi and He Poutama Rangatahi.Ricardo Menéndez March: Does the Minister accept that many overstayers have lived in New Zealand for years and have deep roots in their communities yet are at risk of exploitation and living in fear of being raided at their homes without the rights afforded to residents?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I do accept that that happens sometimes. The recent event that occurred in South Auckland was unacceptable. Our Minister of Immigration has acted. We will all be watching this space because we do not accept that this should continue.Ricardo Menéndez March: Is she concerned there's an estimated 1000 people with an overstayer status who are under the age of 18 including some born in New Zealand living in households at risk of exploitation and isolated from public services?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Of course that is a concern. There is some thinking going on and some work being undertaken by the Minister of Immigration and we need to watch that space and see what comes of that.Teanau Tuiono: Does she agree with Princess Mele Siu'ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili from Tonga who at the Dawn Raids apology urged the Government to consider an amnesty for overstayers?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: We took that away. We took her comments seriously. As we have said before and the Minister has said regularisation as an idea or a potential policy down the track is not off the table. However the Minister has made it clear that there is still work going on with respect to looking at that and he is still receiving advice.Teanau Tuiono: So does she agree with her own Labour colleagues who recommended that the Government consider a regularisation initiative for undocumented migrants as part of a report on a research piece on Tuvaluan overstayers and if so will she support an amnesty for overstayers given recent revelations?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I supported that research project and I support that work. And I certainly support the work that the Minister of Immigration is doing to explore this option. It's just not completed. But as I said it's certainly not off the table. There is still work under way and he is still receiving advice.Teanau Tuiono: Does she think it's OK that overstayers who have worked to build public housing to help fix the housing crisis were raided and subsequently deported; and if not would it not be better for these workers to be able to work legally in Aotearoa with decent wages and protections?Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: I support the work that is under way by the Minister of Immigration with respect to looking at the possibility of regularisation. And the reasons I support that I guess were inferred in some ways in the member's question. There are lots of reasons why we should explore this as a possibility but the work is not complete.