Government making it worse for families – Willie Jackson

For the third year running, families are struggling to makes ends meet due to the decisions Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon have made.

“Christopher Luxon made big promises to fix the cost of living. Instead, all he has done is make things worse,” Labour’s social development spokesperson, Willie Jackson said.

“The State of the Nation report released by the Salvation Army today made it clear – unemployment is worse, housing remains a huge problem, and the cost of living is way too high, leaving more families unable to meet essential needs.

“All this Government appears to do is spin and distract while families continue to live in misery.

“For Māori and Pacific whānau, it’s even worse. Māori unemployment is at 11.2 percent, more than twice the national average and Pacific unemployment at a staggering 12.3 percent.

“The Government’s plan to kick 18 to 19-year-olds off the jobseeker benefit will only make it worse for the one in four Māori and Pacific youth that are already unemployed and unable to find work despite trying.

“This is simply not good enough.

“The reality is the Government has no credible plan, and their policies are making it harder for working people to survive, let alone get ahead.

“The Government needs to get its head out of the sand and explain why they chose to support tobacco companies and property speculators over hard-working Kiwis who are struggling under their decision making,” Willie Jackson said.