“We’re not there to stop it this time” Laila Harré on DPB cuts for the most vulnerable women

16,000 families, most of which survive below New Zealand’s poverty line, face cuts to their income because the Alliance is no longer there to protect them.

“Two years ago Steve Maharey first proposed cutting the DPB even further for those women who would not or could not name the father of their child.

“The Alliance told him this was below our bottom line. Already this group lose around 10% of their benefit. Further cuts will have a direct impact on the wellbeing of their children and themselves.”

“If this goes ahead it means the government will be mining the earnings of the poorest New Zealanders to get money for other projects.”

“There was no evidence at the time that further cuts would increase the number of fathers who contribute to child support, which has been put forward in defence of this cut. When this was initially proposed it was nothing but a cost-cutting measure. I would like to know what new evidence has been produced in that time to justify these cuts.”

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