A couple of weeks ago Auckland Action Against Poverty alongside now 70 other organisations called on Jacinda Ardern, Carmel Sepuloni and Grant Robertson to lift benefits and low incomes to liveable levels before Christmas. Today there are organised pickets happening in Tāmaki Makaurau and Pōneke for #LiveableIncomes in response to the Labour government’s refusal to do so.
“We want the Labour government to know that we’re staunch in our belief about this kaupapa, and will continue to keep fighting for it” said Auckland Action Against Poverty coordinator Brooke Stanley Pao.
We are tired of hearing how they believe they’re making a material difference in the lives of families with the initiatives they’ve implemented because we’ve been saying it’s still not enough. The need here in New Zealand is so great at the moment, and has been for some time due to successive governments neglecting welfare reform. Anything short of bold transformational policies isn’t going to cut it.
We need liveable incomes as well as a commitment and acquiring of state housing to help alleviate the hardship people are facing in our communities. It’s not good enough to believe you’re doing enough when the organisations on the frontline are saying otherwise. At this point it’s a whole bunch of gaslighting and virtue signalling, and we’re over it.
Andrew Little in reply to a question on health replied it was the previous government who were at fault . He seems to forget they were the previous government and the same applies to looking after those on benefits .
With covid Jacinda said they would listen to the experts and act accordingly why is she ignoring the 70 NGOs who deal with those in poverty in this cohntry
Well done AAAP, direct action and community organisation are definitely required to pressure the NZ Labour Caucus to move on MSD/WINZ.
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