Judith Collins MP
National Party Welfare Spokeswoman
16 October 2008
Labour adopts National’s benefits policy
National’s Welfare spokeswoman Judith Collins says the benefits announcement by Helen Clark today is too little, too
late.
“After nine long years of ignoring the amount a beneficiary can earn before their benefit is abated, Helen Clark decided
to act three weeks before an election. This is cynical, not to mention uncosted.
“National has costed its policy, and announced it in August. Labour’s playing copy-cat catch-up.
“Sadly, Labour is also planning to make beneficiaries wait until April 2010 before altering the threshold.
“I can’t help but feel this is merely lip service from Labour. They have failed to recognise that, along with providing
incentives for beneficiaries to enter the workforce, it is essential that beneficiaries are also provided with
certainty.
“National will give them that certainty. We will also legislate to ensure that benefit payments are increased in line
with inflation.
“Labour’s announcement today is more uncosted policy on the never-never. “
Ends