The Government is being grossly unfair to low income workers in not allowing them to use community services cards, National's Health spokesman Roger Sowry said today. "It sends a message to low income working New Zealanders that you are better off to give up your job and go on a benefit, then you'll get a community services card but if you work you won't.

"If you are working on a low income, have sick children and are struggling you will wonder why someone who is on the same income as you gets free health care but you can't.

"National will seek to reverse this anomaly in a Members Bill this year.

"When National was in Government we adjusted benefits with the consumer price index at the same time as we adjusted eligibilities for the card. This Government made the adjustments a couple of weeks apart, inconveniencing beneficiaries and forcing a rushed decision in Cabinet yesterday to review the cards.

"Whenever this Government finds itself in a sticky situation it announces a review. A review is not going to help the 48,000 low income families who are missing out in the mean time," Mr Sowry said.

Ends

© Scoop Media