Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Beneficiary Numbers On The Rise Again Under National


Asenati Lole-Taylor MP
Spokesperson for Social Policy/Welfare
18 January 2013

Beneficiary Numbers On The Rise Again Under National

New Zealand First says beneficiary numbers are on the rise again despite desperate attempts by Social Development Minister Paula Bennett to say otherwise.

Official figures released this week show 339,095 people received a benefit, up from 320,942 in the previous quarter – an increase of nearly 19,000.

Welfare spokesperson Asenati Lole-Taylor says of major concern is the extra 3000 people who received the unemployment benefit in the last quarter.

“That will come as no surprise to the thousands of people who are unemployed, under-employed, or looking for work but ineligible for the dole.

“When all those looking for work are added together then it makes a complete mockery of the official unemployment rate of 7.3 per cent.”

Mrs Lole-Taylor says National’s record of creating jobs since it first took office in 2008 is appalling.

“The number of people on the unemployment benefit in December 2008 when National first came to power was only 30,508. Over their four years in office that figure has increased by almost 23,000.

“Minister Bennett can try and spin it anyway she likes. But to a rational thinker these figures illustrate a Government lacking in ideas and vision when it comes to jobs and our economy,” says Mrs Lole-Taylor.

nzfirst.org.nz | twitter.com/winstonpeters | facebook.com/winstonpeters

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.