More Concern on Submission time limits

Along with just about every other organisation who made a submission to the select committee regarding the proposed legislation (Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill), Beneficiary Advisory Service (BAS) objected to the time given for people to make submissions, says Rebecca Occleston, Speaker for BAS. We too are concerned that many groups do not have the resources to get submissions in in such a short amount of time – this concern is justified given, as Green Party MP Jan Logie said in her press release yesterday, “There were no submissions from Māori or Pacifica organisations, this is unacceptable on such an important issue.”

BAS was able to make a Submission and urged the Select Committee to reject the bill. We would note that the bill is not based on the sound empirical research and analysis that should accompany legislation of this kind. Rather, it is based on the deeply flawed, if predictable, ideological polemic of the Welfare Working Group.

Also that, contrary to its Title, the bill does nothing to create jobs or training opportunities for those who are able to work and does nothing to support young people to independence. Rather, it is designed to reinforce the culture of blame and stigmatisation of the poor that this Government has fostered as a cynical political and labour market tool.

In addition, it does nothing to address the increasing issues of poverty in this country; it does not conform to the spirit and purpose of the Social Security Act, and it ignores all forms of participation and work other than paid work.

So we find it extremely disappointing that such an incredibly short period (about 11 working days) was given for people, including low-funded groups, to make submissions on this bill. Groups like ours work with people who will be affected by these changes and it is sad (and inappropriate) that some of these groups did not have time to send a submission.

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