Anti Poverty group to Picket National Party Campaign Launch

Auckland Action Against Poverty is organising a picket timed to coincide with the National Party's election campaign launch: 12.30 Sunday 30 October outside Sky City, 90 Federal St, Auckland.

'National is campaigning on a programme of austerity and we all know what that means for those on low incomes,' says Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson Sue Bradford

'Those least able to defend themselves will be made to pay for the massive tax hand-outs to the rich, and for other poor economic policy choices this Government has made.

'We want to send a message loud and clear that not all New Zealanders accept that beneficiaries should be scapegoated as a way for the National Party to win votes during this election.

'If it hadn't been for the political silence National imposed on itself during the Rugby World Cup, I suspect we would have heard more about their plans for welfare policy by now.

'So it is with some apprehension that we await the next pronouncement resulting from the work of the Ministerial Working Group on Welfare Reform, established way back in May.

'Auckland Action Against Poverty calls on all those who want to stop proposed welfare changes - like further attacks on DPB, sickness and invalids' beneficiaries - to join us at Sunday's picket.

'We want to let National know that if they plan to continue their war on the poor via the recommendations of February's Rebstock Report and the Ministerial Working Group, our organisation - and others - are going to keep fighting back.

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