How should I respond to Chris Trotter’s cynical summary of why it is pointless to rail against Labour’s lack of gumption in addressing the distressing wealth and income divisions that result in damaging and entrenched poverty?
Every day the news just get gets worse. Reports are coming out thick and fast about families at the end of their tether with no food and needing urgent help in this lockdown.
Many of us were brought up on the myth of egalitarianism and the superiority of New Zealand’s treatment of women….
We acknowledge the good work of government keeping us safe in the pandemic, BUT we are facing a pandemic of poverty that has been intensified by COVID.
The long overdue review of Working for Families has been signalled as part of the Government welfare overhaul work programme.
So today is International womens day. Before we celebrate, spare a thought for the mothers stuck under the lowest of all povery lines.
The deficiencies of WFF are apparent in this recession as families who become poor enough to qualify for welfare benefit also suffer a significant cut in WFF for their children.
Economists are warning that Inequality and housing affordability are only going to get worse as interest rates drop further. Let’s hope that this new government to not be like stunned possums standing in the glare of impending chaos.
Now we know. It is official. No more pretence of working on the fundamental WEAG reforms to core benefits. No plans to address the rising child poverty rates projected by Treasury under the current COVID recession. Just more rhetoric around how paid work solves everything and some minor policies that should have been done 3 years ago.
Do you want more family distress and even deeper child poverty? Vote ACT.