2. Children's Rights—Benefits Child Support and Youth JusticeMETIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social DevelopmentChildren's Rights—Benefits Child Support and Youth Justice2. METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) to the Minister for Social Development: Ka whakaae a ia ki tā Te Kaweneti o Te Kotahitanga o Ngā Whenua o Te Ao mō Ngā Tika tamaiti e tono rā kia whakatūturu tana Kāwanatanga me noho taungaroa rawa atu ngā pānga pai o te tamaiti i roto i te hinengaro ka whakamanahia ana ngā ture e pā ana ki ngā tamariki?[Does she accept that the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child requires her Government to ensure the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration in the enactment of laws relating to children?]Hon HEKIA PARATA (Acting Minister for Social Development): Ko te whakautu tuatahi ki te mema nāna i pātai mai kāo! Ēngari mō te whai haere i tōna pātai te āhua nei e kōrero kē ana a ia mō tētahi atu kaupapa.[The first response to the member who asked the question is no. But in terms of following up her question it seems like she is referring to some other matter.]I accept that article 3 of the convention states: In all actions concerning children whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions courts of law administrative authorities or legislative bodies the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration." The member however appears to be referring to principle 2 of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child which dates back to 1959 and was the basis of the convention adopted by the United Nations in 1989 and signed up to by New Zealand in 1993. Minister Tolley is currently leading a delegation to Geneva to discuss New Zealand's report under the United Nations Convention—Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was actually quite simple: it was whether she accepts the convention. The issue of Minister Tolley travelling wherever she is is of no relevance to the question that was on notice.Mr SPEAKER: It was a very lengthy question. I am listening very carefully to the answer. I think the Minister is certainly addressing the question. If the member does not like the inclusion of the visit of the Hon Anne Tolley to somewhere that is her problem. I am the sole determinant as to when the answer has gone on for too long or whether I think it is moving into areas that are unnecessary to be an answer to the question. At this stage I am not at that position. The Hon Hekia Parata—does she wish to continue?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I answered the first part of her question in Māori since she had asked it in Māori so I gave a very definitive answer to the first part—Mr SPEAKER: And I have addressed that matter.Hon HEKIA PARATA: —and I went on to elaborate in answer to the second part of the question.Mr SPEAKER: And I have accepted that so there is no need to raise that as a point of order. I was then allowing the Minister if she wanted to add anything further to complete her answer. But I think in view of the time and that we have now had such a substantial break we will move immediately to the supplementary questions.Metiria Turei: How does the fining of sole mothers $28 a week protect the best interests of their children?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Benefit entitlements have long been associated with child support and in those arrangements there are both expectations and sanctions. In the particular case that the member is asking about there are sanctions where both parents are not contributing but there are also exemptions against which an application can be made.Metiria Turei: How has the convention been considered in the Government's decision to keep benefits so low that the poorest parents in New Zealand are now paying over 50 percent of their income in rent alone?Hon HEKIA PARATA: The relevance of Minister Tolley reporting to the United Nations at this time is to report on the significant range of support that this Government has put in for the most vulnerable of whom the large proportion are children. That has included the $790 million increase in hardship support; it has included the establishment of the Ministry for Vulnerable Children Oranga Tamariki; it has included the children's teams; and it has included—for instance in the education area—the targeting of operation grants to those young people who have spent a significant amount of their time in benefit-dependent families.Metiria Turei: How many of the 148000 New Zealand children currently in hardship will be brought out of that hardship because of the $25 a week benefit increase?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I do not have that detail to hand but I can say that it is not one thing or another; it is the mix of investments that the Government is making that are directed at how we help all New Zealanders including those most vulnerable.Metiria Turei: How many of the more than 20000 children and parents currently homeless will be housed as a result of the $25 a week increase?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Again I cannot provide that detail but in respect of the previous question that the member asked I can tell her that over 17000 children are affected by fathers who are not contributing to child support. [Interruption]Metiria Turei: They don't get it; that's right.Mr SPEAKER: Order!Metiria Turei: Is it not a fact Minister that the payments that are made by those fathers in the main do not go to sole parents—the sole mothers—who are potentially fined; they just do not go to those parents if they are on a benefit?Hon HEKIA PARATA: Well there are two avenues by which a father can contribute. One is by meeting their requirement under the benefit dispensation to the sole mother and another is by contributing directly to the mother of their child.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a clear question. She did not answer it.Mr SPEAKER: Can we just have the question again please for the benefit of the Minister.Metiria Turei: Is it not a fact Minister that the payments made by those fathers do not go to the sole parents—mothers—who are responsible for those children?Hon HEKIA PARATA: As I answered the first time there are two ways by which support is received by young people. One is by the father paying his apportioned share to the Ministry of Social Development so that it supports the benefit paid. Another is whereby the parent pays directly.Metiria Turei: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. It was a straight question it was a clear question and it has not been answered.Mr SPEAKER: I accept that it has not been answered to the satisfaction of the member. It has been asked twice now and the answer has not been clear. I will allow the member two additional supplementary questions.Metiria Turei: Will the Minister meet the challenge from the Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft this morning and set clear targets for child poverty reduction to make sure that the Government meets its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child?Hon HEKIA PARATA: I can say that she is already right now reporting on the commitments and the investments and the actual practical arrangements that this Government has made in respect of young people. In terms of whether or not she will choose to respond directly to the invitation that has been made publicly today I cannot pre-empt her decision on that.Metiria Turei: Will the Government meet the challenge set out by the Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft this morning to change the age of criminal justice from 17 to 18?Hon HEKIA PARATA: That was one of the recommendations included in the expert panel. My understanding is that Ministers Adams and Tolley are working on that now and we are yet to receive their recommendation."