Thursday, 19 May 2005

Turner: UF scores on $27.7m on getting beneficiaries back to work

United Future deputy leader Judy Turner today said she was delighted that $27.7 million would be put into getting sickness and invalid beneficiaries back to work, on the back of a strong United Future campaign to target their rising numbers.

“We pushed hard for this significant move to address a growing problem and it will make a difference, but we still want more focus from the Government on this issue,” Mrs Turner said.

“Although we are right behind programmes that treat these beneficiaries and get them back into work, we are still concerned that programmes like PATHS (Providing Access To Physical Health Solutions), aimed at beneficiaries with physical ailments, will not reach its potential if beneficiaries do not take up the help that’s on offer,” she said.

Mrs Turner said that although a medical certificate is normally required to get and remain on these benefits, there was no requirement for the beneficiaries to seek treatment for their conditions.

“The Government can do better here and would do well to follow United Future’s lead on a more pro-active approach to getting these beneficiaries back into the workforce,” she said.

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