Wednesday, 2 March 2005

Turner: Unicef report shows families must be top priority

A Unicef report showing that 16 percent of New Zealand children live in poverty clearly demonstrates that United Future's pledge to make this year's election about family is the only way to go, the party's deputy leader, Judy Turner, said today.

"That's an appalling indictment of the way this country is run. We should be ashamed that almost one child in five is being brought up in poverty.

"The Government is forever citing favourable OECD economic stats, but I've said before that New Zealanders don't discuss the GDP over the dinner table.

"I hope the Government doesn't run from these figures because these are the ones that really count and by which any government should be judged - we must face them as a nation and start putting families and children first.

"We need to face the fact that this country is failing its children in health, in education and in general welfare.

"United Future is about families and is about making New Zealand a better place to raise healthy, well children in. That is the only legitimate political agenda. Everything else comes a distant second," Mrs Turner said.

ENDS

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