David
SHEARER
Labour Leader
28 August 2012 MEDIA STATEMENT
John Key in denial over Kiwis in hardship
The number of Kiwi children living in poverty has grown significantly under John Key’s watch but rather than
acknowledging the problem, the Prime Minister would rather play the fool in Parliament, says Labour Leader David
Shearer.
“John Key’s flippant response to this crisis is disappointing. He refuses to accept the findings of several reports
showing the gap between the rich and poor is the widest it has ever been, that inequality is rising and the number of
children living in hardship is up to 21%.
“John Key just shrugs his shoulders and says, oh well, ‘things are bouncing around’ for these children and their
families. Apparently it’s all the fault of the global financial crisis and that’s why he hasn’t been able to deliver the
so-called brighter future he’s been promising Kiwis for years.
“That excuse and his mocking attitude won’t wash with the many New Zealanders who are working harder than ever but
failing to get ahead.
“Hard-working parents can’t support their family on the paltry $13.50 an hour they’re earning. But John Key’s not
rushing to help them out, saying only that they’ll ‘eventually’ get a pay rise.
“Children are going to school without breakfast or lunch because their parents can’t afford to feed them but John Key’s
more interested in spending millions of dollars on drug-testing people.
“More than 50,000 New Zealanders are leaving for Australia looking for better paying jobs every year but Bill English
says we shouldn’t be crying over them at the airport.
“This Government doesn’t have solutions for these problems. It just has excuses,” said David Shearer.
ENDS