National's Anti-Social Policies Responsible For Crime And Social Breakdown

A rise in crime rates of 4.6 percent, though not good news, should come as no surprise, says the Alliance Party.
Alliance Party co-leader Kay Murray says National's failed, simplistic and cynical policies merely "slam the stable door shut after the horse has bolted" and are designed to appeal to the worst instincts of New Zealanders, not prevent crime.

"Police Minister Judith Collins blames the problem on intergenerational welfare dependency, but if she is serious about wanting to reduce crime rates she should be talking about intergenerational poverty."
Ms Murray says it is incredible that National has the gall to attack "welfare dependency" when unemployment has gone through the roof since it came to office.

"The only alternative to welfare when there is high unemployment is living on the streets."

She says intergenerational poverty is a result of short sighted and selfish free market economic policies of previous decades which are being continued by National today.

"Many of these free market policies encouraged speculation and high risk investments instead of businesses that made useful products and provided real jobs. Free education, affordable housing and primary health care all took a beating while wages for working people were driven down, unemployment reached high levels and benefits were slashed."

This created a level of poverty unheard of in New Zealand and which still exists today.

"Crime thrives in unequal societies, where there is a large gap between the wealthy and the poor. This gap is now wide in New Zealand and National's policies like raising GST and giving tax cuts to the rich only serve make it even wider."

Ms Murray says the real solution to social breakdown and the crime that results is to create an equal and fair society that puts people first.
"This means an active policy of full employment, improved and affordable housing, progressive taxation, better public health care and free education, all policies which the Alliance advocates."

ENDS

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