The budget news is that $131million is going to be spent on beneficiaries, particularly DPB recipients, with the aim of 'removing the barriers to work'.

"Surely the major barrier to work is the absence of jobs," says Lindsay Mitchell, Petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB.

"With business compliance and taxation costs having increased considerably under the current Labour/Alliance government - the latest Business New Zealand study puts the increase at $26,000 for a medium sized business - the new jobs are just not going to materialise."

Mrs Mitchell continues, "According to the 2001 Census unemployment was 8.4%. The 1996 Census showed a 7.7% unemployment rate. The most reliable record of unemployment actually shows an increase."

"It is illogical to keep taxing businesses, the only providers of real jobs, in order to fund welfare programmes that are ostensibly about getting beneficiaries into work. It makes absolutely no sense."

Lindsay Mitchell

Petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB
ph/fx 04 562 7944
e-mail dandl.mitchell@clear.net.nz

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