Dole deal not fair on widows and solo mums - Bradford
27 February 2001

Green MP Sue Bradford is condemning a Government plan not to pay the Domestic Purposes or Widow's Benefit to New Zealanders returning home after becoming eligible for the benefits while in Australia.

Ms Bradford said she was not reassured by the Government's response in Parliament today that people in that situation would receive emergency benefits.

"That is grossly unfair," she said. "There is no excuse for treating some beneficiaries as second-class citizens, just because they happen to be living in Australia when they broke up with their partner, or when their partner died."

"I can't see any justification for excluding these people from benefits they need to support their kids and/or themselves at home."

Ms Bradford said the Greens supported the broad thrust of the agreement because they believed the money spent on benefits in Australia could be better spent on helping beneficiaries in New Zealand.

"However we will continue to push the Government to find a more equitable way to treat the people who find themselves excluded from the DPB or the Widow's Benefit because they were living outside the country when things went wrong."

Sue Bradford MP: (04) 470 6720 or 025 243 4239 Gina Dempster, press secretary: (04) 470 6723 or 021 1265 289

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