Yesterday, at the Save the Children AGM , Steve Maharey said the government is committed to making life better for all New Zealand's children and to ending child poverty. "When will Mr Maharey acknowledge the role of parents in making their children's lives better?" asks Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB.

"If parents made the decision to stay together for the sake of their children, they would avoid poverty. If prospective parents made the decision to start a family when they could afford to, they would avoid poverty. If prospective parents used one or more of the many forms of birth control available, they would avoid poverty."

"So, does the government encourage these behaviours?" asks an exasperated Mitchell. "No. It removes the adverse consequences of unwanted pregnancies and failed relationships by paying unconditional and indefinite financial entitlements to single parents, as a right! Then, they wring their hands and claim these parents and their children are living in poverty."

"And Mr Maharey has the nerve to promise he and Labour will end child poverty, all the while intending to pass legislation which will remove work testing from the DPB, ensuring that it is easier to stay on long term," adds Mitchell.

"This government places no value on personal responsibility. It is too politically correct to point out that people's behaviour has got everything to do with the poverty predicament they find themselves in."

Mrs Mitchell concludes, "Commonsense has become a rare commodity indeed."

Lindsay Mitchell
Petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB

ph/fx 04 562 7944
e-mail dandl.mitchell@clear.net.nz

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