AUCKLAND ACTION AGAINST POVERTY
Media release 12 September 2012, 2.30pm
'Investment approach' not an investment in NZers well-being
Paula Bennett's new so called 'Investment approach' will not be investing in the well-being of New Zealanders, says
Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson Sarah Thompson.
“The key focus of the investment approach is to remove as many people as possible from the benefit rolls through
whatever means necessary. In reality this will mean that beneficiaries, including parents who already have child care
responsibilities and those living with a disability, being hounded into looking for jobs that just do not exist.
“As the actuarial valuation that Bennett announced shows, the highest amount of social security is being spent, where it
should be, on supporting sole parents who are doing the important work of looking after our society's children, and to
those receiving the invalids benefit who are unable to work because of health or disability.
“What the actuarial cost hides is that the vast majority of people receiving benefits move off welfare and into work
when the job market and their personal health or childcare situations allow.
“If Bennett and co were really interested in decreasing the countries 'actuarial cost' then the Government should be
investing in decent job creation and looking at removing the barriers to work for those with children or who are
differently abled instead of utilising pressure and intimidation to push beneficiaries into work that does not exist.
“Similar approaches in the USA saw welfare rolls decrease but in turn poverty and hardship rose as did the number of
people living on street corners in cardboard boxes – and this is where Bennett's penny-pinching might well lead us.
“Focusing on the actuarial cost is just another measure to frighten tax payers and voters into accepting the much
harsher policies we've seen recently and the even more extreme which we expect to be announced next week.
ENDS