16 February 2011

Today Green politicians asked the government about policies for the poorest children in New Zealand. Spokesperson Susan St John says "With the visit of the Prime Minster it is very appropriate to ask, why are we so different to Australia? They do not pay child tax credits based on whether the parents are 'deserving' by being in paid work"

CPAG says more than 250,000 children in the poorest families in New Zealand do not have the benefit of a substantial part of Working for Families.

At least $60 for the children disappears from the family budget when jobs are lost or a benefit is accessed. This is totally unacceptable for families that too often must go further into debt to survive and feed their children. Since 2007 this policy has saved the government over 2 Billion dollars - taken from the families at the margins of society. They are then blamed by John Key as "making poor choices"

The government has no answers to the Greens perfectly legitimate questions and is hiding behind a legal fig leaf in the house

"If New Zealand is going to catch- up with Australia in achieving more positive child outcomes we should follow their lead on the design of their tax credits for children" says St John

ENDS

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