United Future Fails First Test

Tuesday 10 Sep 2002 Dr Muriel Newman Press Releases -- Social Welfare

The parliamentary vote for landmark legislation to remove work-testing for parents on the domestic purposes benefit reveals how parties will be split this term, ACT Social Services and Employment Spokesman Dr Muriel Newman said today.

"Only National and ACT showed any real support for the family by opposing the Social Security (Working Towards Employment) Amendment Bill. ACT led the fight against this legislation which will trap more sole parents in state dependency, putting their children at risk and increasing costs to the taxpayer.

"Predictably, Labour and the Greens stayed true to their anti-family agenda and supported the Bill all the way.

"New Zealand First show they have completely forgotten their history by abstaining on the vote in spite of the fact that they were the party that promoted work testing when it was first introduced.

"Jim Anderton and his friend were revealed as being truly irrelevant - they didn't even vote.

"And in its first test in the House, United Future failed. Mr Dunne and his `sensible' party supported a bill that will do more to destroy the family than any other legislation in modern times," Dr Newman said.

For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at act@parliament.govt.nz.

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