30 August 2005
Greens' Work & Income policies gives everyone a fair go
The Greens' new Income Support, and Work and Employment policies, launched today in Rotorua, includes retention of the
Special Benefit and restoration of community economic development to Government.
"Everyone in this country deserves a chance at a job and enough money to live on if they can't get one, whether it's
through unemployment, sole parenthood, sickness or disability," Green Party Welfare and Employment Spokesperson Sue
Bradford says.
"It is time we stopped blaming beneficiaries for their situation, and instead worked for a benefit system that is both
simpler and fairer than the current mess of 35-odd different entitlements.
"But as important as simplification is, the Government shouldn't be cutting corners at beneficiaries' expense to achieve
it. For instance, Labour is planning to scrap the Special Benefit as part of the implementation of their Working for
Families package, but the Greens argue it must be retained until general benefit levels are enough to live on or
something better is put in its place.
"We also want to see the Government getting back into community economic development, the last vestiges of which were
lost when the Community Employment Group was disbanded. Having said that, we are not envisaging resurrecting the CEG
itself, which was far from perfect, but we are committed to seeing the community economic development function being met
by Government again. Unlike Jim Anderton's regional development initiatives, which are geared towards kick-starting
larger business ventures, community economic development is about grassroots employment creation that focuses on
environmentally and socially useful work in areas where there is still high unemployment.
"The Green Party's Income Support and Work and Employment policies are fair and progressive. If we are part of the next
Government, the Green Party will do everything we can to improve the situation for unemployed people and beneficiaries
and the community groups that work to support them.
"While Labour is to be congratulated for our current low unemployment rates, there are still hundreds of thousands of
New Zealanders who want a job and can't get one, or can't get the hours they need to support themselves and their
family. We are a long way from the dream of full employment," Ms Bradford says.
Some other key points of the Greens' Income Support and Work and Employment policies:
* A Universal Child Benefit, like the old family benefit, which can be capitalised for a home deposit.
* Make Working for Families non-discriminatory against beneficiaries.
* Throw out Social Security Act 1964 for new law based on simplicity, sufficiency and universality.
* Ensure Work and Income gives beneficiaries their full entitlements.
* Opposes any form of forced 'work for the dole', but facilitate beneficiaries doing voluntary work.
* Commit to a full employment economy, including more pro-active job creation.
* Remove income penalties for DPB recipients who can't or won't name the father of their child.
ENDS