Louise Upston

The government is being accused of ignoring evidence, as it orders the increased use of benefit sanctions.

It has directed the Ministry of Social Development to ramp up the use of penalties on… Audio

MSD has officially been instructed to "actively" use all levers available to encourage people off the benefit and into work and that includes sanctions. In a letter outlining her expectations Minister… Video, Audio

Cruel, dehumanising and out of touch. That's one description of National's policy to get more beneficiaries into work. But party leader Christopher Luxon's reckons it's a policy driven by love. If in… Video, Audio

Louise Upston’s been working on a victims rights member’s bill for more than a decade. After a long gestation and a troubled passage this week it suddenly raced to the finish line. Audio

Parliament had a fast-slow-fast week of debating. Phil Smith looks at why the rhythm changes like an oral salsa dance. Audio

We look at the first outing of the conversion therapy ban bill, and whether MPs could need therapy for first reading  confusion. Audio

Louisa Wall and Louise Upston discuss how MPs choose, devise, draft, and champion their own member's bills.  Audio

Nearly 3000 requests for emergency housing were rejected by the government in 2020 - a figure the opposition National Party says represents a genuine crisis.

Social Development Minister Carmel… Audio

Most government ministers do four or more different jobs, so Phil Smith asks Chris Hipkins for advice on juggling, sprinting and wearing multiple hats. Audio

Non-government bills changing laws around mobility device seizures, the wording of verdicts for insane offenders, and waka-jumping MPs have been worked on at Parliament. Audio

The National Party has hit out against the government's shovel-ready scheme, saying the number of new jobs it's created is inadequate. The spend up was announced in July last year, saying it would… Audio

About 50,000 people who've lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic are now on the jobseeker benefit.

Treasury projections show unemployment is expected to peak at 7.7 percent next year before… Audio

The life of a Member's Bill usually involves years of languishing, minutes of fame and a swift and brutal end. But not always. Audio

Select Committees are in estimates season, quizzing ministers on their budget areas; and everything from Defence spending to girls in sport. Audio

The Opposition has sought to drive a wedge between the Greens and their government partners, saying they've once again been forced to swallow a dead rat.

The Government pushed a proposed law through… Audio

With all eyes on next week's Budget, new figures show the bite of Covid-19 on people's jobs - with about 40,000 people going on the dole since lockdown.

The government is putting the finishing… Audio

In the first week of alert level 3 MPs have speedily passed a tax bill, started a performance review of the Government and heard views on prisoner voting. Audio

The skyrocketing demand for hardship grants means Work and Income case managers haven't been able to spend as much time getting people into jobs.

The admission has come from the Ministry of Social… Audio

National says the government is doing a "lousy" job with its much vaunted reforms of the welfare system.

Figures released yesterday show the number of people on the benefit is increasing - up five… Audio