The Government's welfare changes break the National Party's 2008 election promises, the Green Party said today. “In
their election policy, National promised to ‘Allow beneficiaries to earn up to $100 a week before their benefit is
affected,’” Green Party Co-Leader Metiria Turei said. More>>
ALSO:Labour - More misery doled out to Maori Party by NationalAnne Else - Mining the land and undermining the childrenBeneficiary Advisory Service - Unscrupulous Welfare ReformACT - The Need For Real Welfare ReformPublic Address out-Link - Up Front: Who's Dreaming Now?TV3 Video - Maori Party split over welfare reform voteScoop Full Coverage - Changes To Benefit Entitlements
Kudos to Finlayson in his role as Attorney-General though, for his forthright Bill of Rights evaluation of the
government welfare bashing policy. As Mai Chen said on RNZ this morning, why exempt a class of beneficiaries who – by
definition – are no longer looking after children from work testing, while demanding it of DPB recipients who are still looking after children? More>>
ALSO:Greens - Welfare Bill is pure beneficiary bashingAnglican Social Justice Commission - Will a kick in the pants work?National Council of Women - Welfare Reforms Scream DiscriminationMaritime Union of NZ - National responsible for mass unemployment
A comprehensive package of reforms unveiled today by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett, aims to break the cycle
of welfare dependency.
The Future Focus package delivers on National’s pre-election promises by rebalancing expectations and obligations.
“I strongly believe people are better off in work; it’s better for them individually, for their children and their
families,” says Ms Bennett.
345,000 New Zealanders currently receive a benefit, costing taxpayers $4.8 billion a year. Future Focus aims to support
only those in genuine need. There is an expectation that those who can work, do. More>>
ALSO:Rory MacKinnon - Key, Bennett pitch benefit cut-offsNZ Govt - Prime Minister’s speech notes on benefit reformLabour - Attorney-General slams Bennett’s welfare reformsLabour - Welfare changes miss the mark for IslandersGreens - Beneficiaries get no love or respect from PaulaUnited Future - Children must not become ‘collateral damage’Wellington People's Centre - Mean-spirited welfare reform will hurt all KiwisNZ Alliance Party - Put the children first, Ms BennettLindsay Mitchell - Welfare Reforms a Re-HashKiwi Party - Welfare reform the right thing.ComVoices - ‘Unrelenting focus on work" punishes vulnerableNZ Council of Trade Unions - Beneficiary beat-up no cure for unemploymentAuckland Chamber of Commerce - Flexibility of job seekers and employers keyNational Collective of Independent Women's Refuges - Crack-Down on Welfare May Put Families in DangerSalvation Army - Sanctions not the way to balance welfare booksCouncil of Christian Social Services - Benefit Reforms Must Focus on Jobs and ChildrenEvery Child Counts - MPs hit the nail on the headLibertarianz Party - At Least Do the Job Properly PaulaNo Right Turn Out-Link - Discriminatory, unjustified, sadisticTV3 Video - Bennett: DPB discrimination 'fair and reasonable' - Welfare reform: Employers expect flood of job-seekers - Invalid sisters fear welfare crackdown - Welfare shake up a 'nightmare' for children - Backlash against 'mean-spirited' welfare changes - What jobs are there for beneficiaries? - Key: National's benefit shake up a 'kick in the pants' - Nearly half DPB beneficiaries affected by changes - Govt to announce welfare reforms
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