Gallagher Martin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Gallagher Martin: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:613;Page:9927] 
6.  
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What recent reports has he received on employment and unemployment? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY (Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 Twenty-six thousand more people were employed in the September quarter according to the household labour force survey. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: What a good Minister! 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: That is right. This is the biggest quarterly increase in employment since the series began in 1985. Overall 176000 more New Zealanders are in paid work since the Labour-led Government took office which is a 10 percent increase in the number of people employed. The ANZ job ad series released today shows a 2 percent rise in October confirming that we are entering summer with a very healthy labour market. I cannot imagine worse news for the National Party. 
Martin Gallagher 
: What progress has been made on reducing the unemployment rate amongst groups that have historically experienced higher levels of unemployment? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: With unemployment at an overall low in 16 years—at 4.4 percent—it is particularly pleasing that unemployment has fallen amongst those groups that have been at higher risk. Unemployment amongst 21 to 24-year-olds has dropped by 6 percent Maori unemployment has dropped to 9.7 percent Pacific unemployment now stands at 6.6 percent and long-term unemployment has dropped by 17 percent. We now have the fifth-lowest unemployment rate in the OECD with our unemployment rate lower than that of our main trading partners. 
Sue Bradford 
: What will the Minister do to ensure that new workers who have benefited from the growth in jobs are not punished by the Reserve Bank pushing up home mortgage interest rates and is he concerned that approximately 151000 New Zealanders are still jobless while a further 104000 part-time workers want more work than they can currently get—in some cases a lot more work? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: What the Reserve Bank Governor does of course is up to the Reserve Bank Governor but there is certainly nothing in the results that were released yesterday that we believe should imply a need for a change in interest rates. Yes we are always concerned when New Zealanders are looking for a job but once again I have to say that along with unemployment going down we need to stress that employment has risen dramatically. We now have more people in employment than ever in the history of this country and if we can carry on in this way we will ensure that anybody who wants a job can get one. 
Paul Adams 
: Is the Minister aware of reports from industries that face serious skill shortages such as those experienced by electricity network companies seeking linesmen and does he acknowledge that these shortages hit consumers by pushing up prices for services such as the case of electricity linesmen where the Commerce Commission has been told that the shortage will push up electricity prices? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes we are aware of shortages of skill and that is why the Government has adopted a wide range of policies to try to address that problem. They range from the Modern Apprenticeships scheme to the target of 150000 people in training by 2007 and large increases in funding but the list is way too long to go through. So yes we do understand that there are skill shortages; yes we know that puts pressure on prices and that is why we are investing so much in skill. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: Has the Minister seen other policy suggestions to assist more people to move from benefits into employment? 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: Yes. Against the backdrop of booming employment and dropping unemployment I have seen suggestions that the unemployed should queue outside post offices wait for a job and be paid up at the end of each day. I have seen suggestions that the unemployment benefit should be axed altogether. I have seen suggestions that work-for-the-dole schemes should be returned instead of people getting a real job with a real wage. The author of all these brilliant ideas is “Dr Mogadon Brash”. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister knows he cannot say that and he will withdraw and apologise for that comment. 
Hon STEVE MAHAREY 
: I withdraw and apologise. 
Rt Hon Winston Peters 
: I seek the leave of the House to table the list of post offices closed by a Labour Minister called Prebble. 
Document not tabled. 
Rodney Hide 
: I seek the leave of the House to table the list of post offices that were opened while Mr Peters was in power. 
Document not tabled.