Alliance Party Media Release

For Immediate Release

Thursday 25 November, 2010

Alliance Party calls Welfare Working Group evil bonding group for right wing cranks

The Alliance Party has today called the Welfare Working Group an evil bonding group for right wing cranks. This is following the release of the group’s report on welfare reform options.

“Today’s report on welfare reform has made predictable reading. What the Welfare Working Group will have done is simply come together as a bonding group for right wing cranks like Paula Rebstock,” says Co-Leader Kay Murray.

Ms Murray condemns the report for merely rehashing old ideas such as work for the dole, benefit time limits and forcing sole parents out to work when their youngest child turns six. “These ideas have been rejected before. Why do we need them now?”

The Alliance predicts the report will launch a new round of beneficiary bashing.

“The facts are that unemployed people are not responsible for losing their jobs, that disabled people cannot easily find jobs and solo parents often move into work when circumstances permit.”

The Alliance holds Ms Webstock and her neoliberal ilk responsible for the plight of beneficiaries.

“The New Right is the driving force behind the economic and social reforms which have done so much damage to New Zealand. These same ideologues are now turning around and blaming the poor for their own plight.” A suitable alternative is to promote economic and social policies aimed at restoring full employment at liveable wages for all New Zealanders. The Alliance is currently the only political party promoting such a policy and will continue to do so, said Ms Murray.

ENDS

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