Prime Minister needs to “get real” on social housing crisis – PSA
The Prime Minister must stop talking about tax cuts while his government’s policies have led to New Zealanders sleeping in cars and garages, the Public Service Association says.
John Key has shoved the blame onto Work and Income, saying he’d be “amazed” if staffers there would leave people sleeping in their cars.
He admitted there was not enough emergency housing in South Auckland, but then went on to promise a $3 billion tax cut in next year’s budget.
PSA National Secretary Glenn Barclay says Mr Key needs to take a look at his government’s priorities.
“Our members in South Auckland are as horrified as anyone about the situation there.
“But this situation is due to the deliberate choices made by Mr Key and his ministers.
“They have carved up Housing New Zealand’s work and placed responsibility for assessments on the Ministry of Social Development.
“They have moved more and more services online, making it more difficult to talk to a real person and get the compassion and understanding our members want to offer them.
“Our members want to help, but this government’s policies are getting in the way.”
Glenn Barclay says Mr Key and his ministers have lost touch with what’s going on in our most deprived communities.
“Mr Key is promising tax cuts while people live in their cars.
“He needs to get real – and help our members help vulnerable Kiwis.”
Key, his cabinet and transnational backers/ mentors, know exactly what’s happening and are so pleased with the results that more tax cuts for them are more likely than not. A GST rise may also be on the cards as per last time.
Keeping the dumb Kiwi depressed, confused and feeling hopeless is a strategic move.
Nact et al can smirk and watch Kiwis squabble among themselves as they are confused, divided, argue about small irrelevant detail and other smoke screens while systematic pillage for the 0.01% is rife.
The new colonialism of foreign capital and power politic is crushing our social structure leaving so many desperate, poor and not coping let alone pulling together against the fascism.
I’d be genuinely surprised if there were any real malice on the part of WINZ staffers towards beneficiaries. I know they cop a lot of flak for their perceived insensitivity and inflexibility toward those in need, but they’re constrained by the neo-liberal policies of this appalling government. National are essentially playing a shell game with people’s lives, massaging statistics and passing the buck in order to make themselves appear less like the callous, incompetent, self-serving pack of arseholes they so obviously are. The case workers at WINZ are simply the glossy facade concealing the putrefaction within.