Hon CARMEL SEPULONI: Ensuring that the welfare system is fit for purpose, which includes supporting people during adverse events by addressing financial hardship and supporting people into work, or upskilling and training, is top of my agenda as Minister for Social Development. It's important to note that the additional measures I've mentioned also build on this Government's investments in previous years to enhance income adequacy and support people into work through the indexation of main benefits, the lift in abatement rate thresholds, and increasing work-focused case management. All of these measures combined mean that in an adverse event such as the outbreak of COVID-19, the welfare system is better placed to support New Zealanders that might need our help.