Beyer Georgina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Beyer Georgina: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:611;Page:8756] 
10.  
GEORGINA BEYER (NZ Labour—Wairarapa) 
 to the  
Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: What recent operational changes have been made to the process for people applying for the unemployment benefit? 
Hon RICK BARKER (Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment) 
: 
 There is a new seminar process being rolled out across the country. This seminar process has two main focuses. It provides clients with information about their full and correct entitlements and obligations prior to a benefit application. The second active focus for the seminar is for the client to identify what steps he or she will take to find work. Work and Income provides the necessary support and training advice identifying opportunities and encourages clients to go out and do it for themselves as there has not been a better time to find a job. 
Georgina Beyer 
: What effect has this had on the number of people registering for the unemployment benefit? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: “Work for You” seminars have been piloted in the Avondale Onehunga and Manukau Work and Income sites since March 2003. Interim analysis suggests that the number of people requiring an unemployment benefit in those sites is 19 percent lower than it would have been without the “Work for You” seminars. The 97822 registered on the unemployment benefit represents a 16-year low in unemployment. This Labour-Progressive Government has the unemployed out looking for jobs that are there—in contrast to what Don Brash and National have. They would have the unemployed looking for a post office. 
Judith Collins 
: What reports has the Minister received about the level of problem gambling experienced by people currently applying for the unemployment sickness and invalids benefits? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: I do not have any specific figures on those who are applying for sickness and invalids benefits. However I make the point which the member has alluded to that we do have a small rise in invalids and sickness beneficiaries but that is more than offset by a decline of 53000 people on the unemployment benefit compared with 1999—a 34 percent reduction. 
Sue Bradford 
: Can the Minister advise under what legal powers people applying for the unemployment benefit have been required for some months already to attend “Work for You” seminars prior to receiving the benefit or have applicants been conned into thinking that that is a legal requirement when it is not? 
Hon RICK BARKER 
: Applicants have been more than happy to attend the seminars and they have received very good advice. I bring to the member’s attention a case that recently came to my attention while I was in Greymouth. Someone was so inspired by attending the seminar and taking personal responsibility for finding a job that he walked 9 miles to Strongman Mine found there was no job there walked somewhere else and came back to Work and Income and said: “I’ve got a job.” I think that is the sort of positive attitude this Government is trying to encourage and that member should support it.