March 21, 2013
Benefit changes will impact Māori
Mana Vice President John Minto says the Government should create opportunities for people who can't find work rather than demonise them.
He says welfare changes going through parliament won't save money, but they may shore up the Government's support among voters who respond to beneficiary-bashing.
It's political theatre that will have long term adverse effects on some of the country's most vulnerable people.
“Of course it affects Māori disproportionately because there are many Māori out of work. It impacts those communities especially, Pasifika people as well. What we’re doing here is demonising the people who are victims of government policy. We shouldn’t be doing that, we should be providing support and most importantly economic policies that provide employment for everybody,” says John Minto.
The changes include forcing domestic purposes beneficiaries to start looking for work when their youngest child turns one and more restrictions on younger beneficiaries.
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