Bennett Paula: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Bennett Paula: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:635;Page:6299] 
12.  
PAULA BENNETT (National) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Are grandparents raising their grandchildren going to be given the same assistance that foster parents receive; if not why not? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 The 2005 Labour manifesto made the commitment that we would “Extend the support provided for grandparents raising grandchildren and other carers on a pension in particular those taking on caring due to family breakdown to provide them with the sort of allowances provided to foster parents”. We remain committed to that policy and work is under way to deliver it. 
Paula Bennett 
: Is it the Government’s intention to asset test grandparents and whanau carers? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: No. 
Gordon Copeland 
: Can the Minister confirm that United Future’s Judy Turner has had sustained involvement in this issue by working with the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust’s Diane Vivian and lobbying the Government to achieve an equitable result for kin caregivers? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: Although I cannot comment on the work that United Future might have done with the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust outside Parliament I can confirm Judy Turner’s longstanding involvement in caregiver issues. In particular I am grateful to that member for her insights into the issues faced by this group and for the contribution she has made to the work that the Ministry of Social Development is doing on the issue. I commend Mrs Turner’s work and I hope that future work relating to the financial assistance of kin caregivers will continue to involve United Future. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Does he acknowledge that learning behavioural and significant health problems are common among the children being raised by their grandparents; if so why are they not eligible for the assistance given to children being raised by unrelated foster parents? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: It is exactly for that reason that we have this policy and are intent on delivering on it. 
Paula Bennett 
: If it is not the Government’s intention to asset test grandparents raising their grandchildren why did Lianne Dalziel the Minister of Women’s Affairs announce at the recent National Council of Women of New Zealand conference that grandparents would be asset tested? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I am aware of that report and I am advised that the Minister did not make the comment that has been attributed to her. 
Barbara Stewart 
: Is the Minister aware of the barriers faced by elderly New Zealanders in finding employment; if so why does the Government consider that grandparents deserve $3000 less annually than foster parents who are less likely to face the same barriers to employment? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: I can assure that member that Work and Income will continue to work effectively with all New Zealanders who seek work. 
Paula Bennett 
: Why would a Minister in this Government make a statement about grandparents being asset tested when foster parents are not when it costs the same amount to raise a 5-year-old whether or not one is related to the child? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: The statement I made was quite clear. I am advised that the Minister did not make the statement that has been attributed to her. 
Paula Bennett 
: Why has this Government made so little progress in assisting grandparent carers and why has the much talked about policy development with United Future still not been completed; or does the Minister think those children would be better off under the care of Child Youth and Family? 
Hon DAVID BENSON-POPE 
: This is an extraordinarily complex issue and it goes right to the root of caring and family responsibilities. There are no simple answers but I must say that I see no similar policy on the National Party books. 
Hon Lianne Dalziel 
: I wish to make a personal explanation in relation to the allegations that have been made. I attended the National Council of Women conference earlier on this year. I was asked a question in respect of the issue of grandparents raising grandchildren. I responded to the question and in my comments made the point that people were eligible for the Working for Families package which was means-tested—which is true. Unfortunately the National Council of Women through a misunderstanding has reported that comment as my saying that work was being done on an asset test. That is incorrect. I have raised the issue with the National Council of Women. 
Paula Bennett 
: I seek the leave of the House to table the November circular of the National Council of Women. 
Madam SPEAKER 
: Leave is sought to table that document. Is there any objection? There is objection.