PRESS RELEASE
9 May 2012

Play time is over says Craig

Colin Craig, Leader of the Conservative Party says the state must stop being Mum and Dad to New Zealanders.

“The only way we are going to get back from where we are now is for people to take personal responsibility. I realise the thought of personal responsibility makes some people shudder, but it’s the only way forward if we are going to reduce welfare dependency,” says Colin Craig, Leader of the Conservative Party.

"The Government have opened the welfare debate, so let’s start by asking ourselves what principles New Zealanders believe in, and what are the principles that will help New Zealand succeed?"

"One of the Conservative Party’s seven founding principles is personal responsibility, and we believe it has to be at the centre of any debate around welfare reform."

"Tinkering around the edges and extending the existing contraception programme won’t make any real long term difference,” says Craig. We have to be brave enough to change direction.”

“People need to start picking up the tab for their own choices, otherwise we are never going to turn this thing around.”

“If we’re going to have a debate about welfare reform, we have to be honest with ourselves about where we’re at, and what is going on. We’ve got to be prepared to acknowledge the facts.”

“Too many people have become accustomed to living off the generosity of hardworking New Zealanders. The state has become to them a Mum and Dad, giving them pocket money to go and play. Play time is over, it’s time to get back to work.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media