Losing The War On Family Violence

As the Prime Minister yesterday launched yet another anti-family violence initiative, more babies were being born into non-working homes.

Welfare commentator Lindsay Mitchell notes, "Every year thousands of babies are born on to new or existing benefits. In 2006 5,326 children aged under one year-old were added to a benefit. 51 percent were Maori. Many of these babies will join the ranks of the most at-risk children in New Zealand. "

"Last year Work and Income acknowledged that New Zealand has a very high rate of family violence and that many victims are beneficiaries. Hence service centres are an 'excellent' place to identify victims."

"Instead of acting rationally and questioning to what extent easy access to benefits actually adds to violence by facilitating dysfunctional lifestyles, the best plan of action the government can offer is to develop ever more resources to fight the growing incidence."

"An honest appraisal of what role welfare has played in breaking down committed and independent families would be a far more valuable exercise than anything else proposed to date. "

"There is a clear connection between welfare dependence and family violence. It is a vain hope that the second will diminish while the first is allowed to continue."

ENDS

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