Maharey spend-up can't hide the truth
Wednesday 19 Jan 2005
Dr Muriel Newman - Press Releases - Social Welfare
ACT Deputy Leader and Social Welfare spokesman Dr Muriel Newman today accused Labour of carrying out an election year
stunt to address the shocking growth in the number of adults receiving the sickness benefit.
The MP was responding to Social Development Minister Steve Maharey's announcement today that the Government is to spend
$27 million to get long-term unemployed and sickness beneficiaries into work.
"Under Labour the number of adults supported by the sickness benefit has skyrocketed by over 30 percent in just five
years - from 40,000 to 54,000.
"Worse, the number of New Zealanders who have languished on the sickness benefit for over 10 years has increased 63
percent from 3,322 to 5,415.
"Five years of soft-on-welfare policies by Steve Maharey cannot be swept under the carpet by election year bravado," Dr
Newman said.
ENDS