20320 (2026). Hon Kieran McAnulty to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

20320 (2026). Hon Kieran McAnulty to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many current recipients of Temporary Additional Support are receiving the maximum rate payable for their circumstances, expressed both as a number and as a proportion of all TAS recipients, broken down by (a) main benefit type including non-beneficiaries, (b) household composition, (c) Accommodation Supplement area, and (d) whether the recipient also receives the Accommodation Supplement at its maximum rate for their area; and what were the equivalent figures at the end of each of the June quarters from 2021 to 2025?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development is unable to provide the information sought by the Member within a written parliamentary question timeframe as it would take substantial effort and require the Ministry to divert personnel from their core duties. In accordance with Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I consider that the time, and hence the expense, of answering these questions within this timeframe is not in the public interest.