AUCKLAND ACTION AGAINST POVERTY

Media Release Thursday 24 May 2012

Budget Entrenches War On The Poor – Protests Friday

“Watching this government handling the economy is like watching a train crash in slow motion,” says Auckland Action Against Poverty spokesperson Sue Bradford

“We know where it’s going to end up, but the mindless juggernaut of National Party economic policy continues to roll on.

“It is clear that this Government’s idea of dealing with the economy is to pass the burden on to those least able to carry it, and that’s what their new ‘investment’ approach to welfare is all about.

“ ‘Investment’ is a cover for a failure of ideas and an excuse for beneficiary bashing.

‘We’ve been told by Bill English for the last two years at least that we’re going to see 170,000 new jobs over the next 4 years.

“He’s dropped the prediction to 154,000 this year. With zero commitment to decent job creation for the unemployed, he is no more likely to be able to deliver on that than he was on the 170,000.

“There is a deep irony in the Government’s new policy of taking complete control of the finances of unemployed young people. In fact, someone else should be taking over the Government’s finances because they’ve proved incapable of building a compassionate, just economy.

“The welfare changes entrenched in this budget are not aimed at helping people, but simply at making life even harder for those who are among the most vulnerable and excluded in our society – and their children.

“We are calling on all those who support our call for ‘Real jobs for the unemployed – not vindictive harassment of beneficiaries’ to join our pickets of Prime Minister John Key tomorrow.

Auckland Action Against Poverty - pickets of John Key - Friday 25 May:

7.00am Waipuna Hotel & Convention Centre, 58 Waipuna Rd, Mt Wellington - John Key makes post budget speech to the regional National Party conference.

11.30am Langham Hotel, 83 Symonds St – John Key speaks to a business forum.

ENDS

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