Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
Turei Metiria: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers Questions to Members 
[Volume:670;Page:16809] 
2. 
METIRIA TUREI (Co-Leader—Green) 
 to the  
Minister for Social Development and Employment 
: Does the Government’s commitment to closing the gap with Australia include reducing child poverty? 
Hon SIMON POWER (Acting Minister for Social Development and Employment):  
The Government is certainly committed to lifting— 
Hon Darren Hughes 
: She’s out of the country. There must be an Acting Minister. 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: Actually that is a good point. I am the Acting Minister. She is out of the country. I say thanks to Mr Hughes. That was his most useful contribution this year. The Government is certainly committed to lifting after-tax wages and employment which will have a positive impact on rates of poverty. [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I want to hear the question. 
Metiria Turei 
: Is the Minister aware that Australia does more to reduce child poverty than New Zealand does including having a universal family tax credit better paid parental leave and a higher minimum wage? 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: I am not sure that the first part of the member’s statement is correct. The advice I have received is that Australia does not publish income poverty levels reflecting as I understand it a longstanding debate in Australia as to how to measure poverty. 
Metiria Turei 
: Why does the Minister’s Government penalise children whose parents lose their jobs by cutting off their Working for Families support when in Australia the equivalent family tax credits are available to those families in or out of work? 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: I would not agree with the first part of that question. 
Metiria Turei 
: Is the Minister bothered at all that the Human Rights Review Tribunal has said that the in-work tax credit is discriminatory causing significant disadvantage to those children concerned? 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: I am aware of the statement but I understand that this very matter is currently before the courts. Therefore under Standing Orders 111 and 371(4) it would be inappropriate for me to comment. I understand that the matter is set down to be heard by the courts in early September. 
Metiria Turei 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question asked whether the Minister was bothered. The Minister was not asked to comment on the case but simply on the facts. Is the Minister bothered about this or not? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Both members will desist. 
Hon Trevor Mallard 
: If you insist? 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I said “desist”. The member asked whether the Minister is bothered about an issue like that and the Minister has responded by saying that the matter is before the court and he does not feel it is appropriate for him therefore to comment on it at all. That then is the end of the matter as far as this House is concerned. The Minister must be the sole judge of the public interest in that regard. 
Hon Sir Roger Douglas 
: Could the Minister explain to the House why child poverty is higher in New Zealand no matter what measure is used than it is in Singapore despite the fact that the New Zealand Government spends over 40 percent of GDP compared with Singapore’s 17 percent? 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: Broadly I can. The Government believes that the best way out of poverty is paid employment. Presently there are 222000 New Zealand children who are dependent on beneficiaries and that is precisely why we set up the Welfare Working Group to look at those very issues. 
Metiria Turei 
: Would the Minister not be embarrassed to be driving around the country in a $200000 brand-new BMW when one in five New Zealand children lives in poverty? 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: Well there are many uncomfortable situations that members of Parliament find themselves in every day and I have to say that whether I am able to carry out my duties as a Minister in a vehicle purchased by the last Government is not material to how I do my job. 
Hon Annette King 
: Is she prepared to set targets and a timetable for the elimination of child poverty in New Zealand; if not why not? 
Hon SIMON POWER 
: I am sure the Minister is doing everything she can to ensure that any deadline or any target is met to ensure we lift as many children out of poverty as possible.