April 4, 2005

DPB Expenditure Hits All-Time High

The Ministry of Social Development has just released it's 2003/2004 Statistical Report which shows that expenditure on the DPB is higher than ever before.

"The annual expenditure for 2003/04 has risen to $1.777 billion," said Lindsay Mitchell, petitioner for a Parliamentary review of the DPB.

"To put this into perspective, in 2003 we spent less on Law and Order at $1.734 billion and less on Defence at $1.199 billion."

"It is clear where the government's priorities lie - not with looking after the domestic or national security of New Zealanders."

"Given so many of our criminals come out of fatherless families perhaps the government should be considering spending a lot less on encouraging sole parenting and a lot more on controlling crime."

ENDS