Where Are The 15,000 Jobs?

“Paula Bennett is today proudly telling New Zealand that beneficiary numbers have decreased by 15,000 in the past year. There is no proud declaration that 15,000 jobs have been created in the same period,” says Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson, Alastair Russell.

“We are left to assume these 15,000 people and their children are now better off because they no longer are paid a benefit. Ms Bennett provides no evidence for this assumption.”

“On the unlikely assumption that some have got work and this work is paid at the minimum wage, then these people are getting $570 a week before tax. They then have childcare and other work related costs, like travel. Their financial position has not improved. They remain in a poverty trap,” says Mr Russell.

“Ms Bennett apparently neither knows nor cares what has happened to those who are no longer paid a benefit or are in low-wage employment”

“However you look at this the numbers don't stack up. This government continues to fail people on benefits. It has no constructive way forward. Its approach continues to be harassment dressed up as “work focus” with no work creation or social responsibility”

ENDS

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