Give us a Break, Muriel

Libertarianz Spokesman for the Deregulation of Employment, Warwick Malone, concurs with Muriel Newman's statement that 'taxpayers deserve a break,' adding "taxpayers deserve a break from all politicians - including those mealy-mouthed, unprincipled politicians from the ACT Party."

Malone explains that Newman simply fails to understand how big a break taxpayers are in need of. "ACT should be advocating the complete abolition of welfare," he says, "not advocating namby-pamby 'training programmes' and 'work for the dole' nonsense. No-shows, tardiness, and no-hopers at the failing 'work-for-the-dole' programme at Kiwi Fresh are the result of years of bludging. The safety net has become a hammock! Beneficiaries have total confidence that no one inside WINZ or government has the courage to cut them off, no matter how little diligence they show."

He adds: "More programmes promising to cut benefits for not showing up for work hardly constitutes giving taxpayers a break. What would be a break would be getting rid of the welfare net altogether. The only measure that will get people working (if they really want to work) is to give employers a break - abolish the dole, abolish the minimum wage and all other employment regulations, and let taxpayers keep what they have earned. That way employers can offer low-skilled workers a break, and all taxpayers will get a real break - one long overdue," concluded Malone.