Wyatt Creech Opposition Health Spokesperson

Govt. creates more gaps in social areas

The Government is creating more gaps than it's closing with today's Budget, Opposition Health spokesperson Wyatt Creech said today.

"The Closing the Gaps package is a big disappointment.

"It takes a scattergun approach - spraying money around in a muddled way for initiatives for Maori and Pacific Islanders.

"There is nothing for other low income New Zealanders who have similar gaps that need to be bridged. They will be asking themselves why they missed out.

"There is also very little innovative in Labour's closing the gaps initiatives. They either build on National's programmes like increasing the number of Pacific Island and Maori teachers or throw money into bureaucracy.

"But the biggest gap created by Labour is a credibility gap. Before the election Labour promised big things for the Child Youth and Family Service, the Commissioner for Children, Family Start and Social Workers in Schools. What they have delivered is 22 social workers.

"New Zealanders thought they would get more and something different on the social front from a Labour-Alliance Government.

"The Government has over-promised and under-delivered for New Zealanders. It is one big disappointment."

Ends

© Scoop Media