The cost of the Greens 'Christmas Bonus' for all beneficiaries has today been put at a staggering $250 million.
ACT Finance Spokesman Rodney Hide said new Green MP Sue Bradford's announcement that the quid pro quo for her supporting
Labour and Alliance should be a Christmas bonus of an extra week's benefit for all beneficiaries was outrageous and
grossly unfair.
"What Ms Bradford doesn't understand is that that money has to come out of the pockets of hardworking New Zealanders
many of whom are struggling to look after their own families this Christmas.
"Each and every working person would have to knock $150 of their hard-earned money out of their budget this Christmas to
pay for it.
"Ms Bradford's 'bonus' plan is a frightening example of the hammering working New Zealand families are going to take
under this new government.
"Sue Bradford has never pretended to represent working New Zealanders. The difficulty for this Government and the
country is that she is now in a position to wring dollars out of everyone's back pocket.
"Helen Clark and Jim Anderton made a great play about the speed with which they drew up their Coalition Agreement. They
should have waited until the final results were in. With the arrival of the Greens in Parliament that speed may now come
back to haunt them," said Rodney Hide.
ENDS