Media Release
DPB Campaign Broadens
Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Lindsay Mitchell has been campaigning against the DPB since 2001. Her articles and letters have been published widely and she has appeared on radio and TV.

"Today I have decided to broaden my campaign beyond the DPB. There is a need for critical analysis of government policy across the welfare spectrum. The political opposition are not fulfilling that need and groups outside of parliament are largely advocates for the expansion of welfare."

"Because New Zealand has experienced a sustained period of low unemployment the problem of welfare dependence has gone on the back-burner. This mustn't be allowed to happen while there are still almost 300,000 working-age New Zealanders relying on income support to stay afloat."

"The welfare bill for working-age beneficiaries is projected to rise 37 percent by 2010. Put into context, spending on Education will rise by 20 and Health 23 percent over the same period."

"Making our economy more robust and competitive relies on becoming more productive. We have a huge pool of people whose potential is being wasted, in many cases, along with that of the children they are raising."

"The new Minister for Social Development is floundering, which is hardly surprising given the size of his portfolio. He can't be expected to understand the nature of the welfare problem overnight. But neither can he expect not to be challenged. "

"New Zealand has one of the most generous and extensive welfare systems in the developed world. In these rapidly globalising times we cannot afford to keep doing what we have for the past thirty years. This is a matter of urgency and I intend to redouble my efforts to make the wider public aware of this."

Lindsay Mitchell
Welfare Commentator

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www.lindsaymitchell.blogspot.com

ENDS

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