John Key out of touch on child poverty

John Key is so out of touch with the working poor in New Zealand he underestimated the number of children in poverty by more than 70,000, Labour Leader David Cunliffe says.

“During last night’s leader’s debate, John Key said 11 per cent of children in poverty are in working families. However, figures from the Ministry of Social Development show that figure is 38 per cent.

“The National Party Leader has convinced himself that it is mainly beneficiaries who are living in poverty.

“Sadly the reality is that under his Government a new generation of working poor has emerged.

“Labour isn’t afraid to acknowledge or tackle child poverty.

“A Labour Government will lift the minimum wage by $2 an hour in our first year. This will make the world of difference to low income families.

“Our $60 a week Best Start payment will help those parents with new babies and for the most needy families will continue until their child’s third birthday.

“NZ Power will bring the cost of power bills down by about $300 a year.

“As Prime Minister tackling child poverty will be my top priority. The working poor will be better off under a Labour Government,” David Cunliffe says.

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