Give Beneficiaries A Chance
Wednesday 3 Nov 2004
Dr Muriel Newman - Press Releases - Social Welfare
If Labour truly wanted to ease the country's chronic worker shortage, it would not ignore the fact that there are more
than 100,000 able-bodied New Zealanders currently paid to do nothing - when they would prefer to be working, ACT New
Zealand Deputy Leader and Social Welfare Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.
"No one but Labour believes that beneficiaries do not want to work, which is why we currently have a 130,000-strong
workforce waiting for an opportunity to work," Dr Newman said.
"But, under Labour's welfare laws, they will never get the chance. And, so, New Zealand taxpayers will continue to
support more than 83,000 Unemployment Beneficiaries, and 53,860 DPB recipients with school-aged children, who would
rather be supporting themselves.
"All that is required is a little commonsense and the right incentives: time limits, to return welfare to the temporary
assistance it was originally designed to be; 40-hour weeks of work-based training and experience to prepare
beneficiaries to re-enter the workforce; assistance with after-school care and childcare to allow sole parents
flexibility and time to find employment.
"I am calling on this Government to give these people the chance they so dearly want. Only by receiving such help and
incentives will these beneficiaries be able to become the breadwinners for their families. Then they can build a better
future for themselves and their children, free from the welfare trap, and independent of State control," Dr Newman said.
ENDS