22 February 2011

Welfare Working Group’s Report Unrealistic

The Welfare Working Group has recommended a fundamental change in welfare provision with the aim of getting people into work and off benefits. The recommendations appear unrealistic in New Zealand’s present economic and social climate says DPA, the national pan disability organisation and collective voice of disabled people.

“It is accepted that disabled people want to work to improve their standard of living, and live an everyday life like everybody else. Disabled people need quality support systems and adequate financial income to make this happen,” says Ross Brereton, Chief Executive.

However New Zealand’s economic and social climate will have to change markedly for this intention to become reality. Compared to non-disabled people, currently disabled people are nearly twice as likely to leave school without a secondary school qualification, and are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed. Disabled people continue to face significant issues of wide-spread discrimination in the New Zealand labour market as constantly reported by the Human Rights Commission.

Under Article 27 Work and Employment of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons of Disabilities, ratified by New Zealand in 2008, governments are obliged to “…Prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability with regard to all matters concerning all forms of employment, including conditions of recruitment, hiring and employment, continuance of employment, career advancement and safe and healthy working conditions…”. These rights and government obligations to fulfil them are still little known by the New Zealand public.

Ross Brereton states, “The focus of our government must be on creating new jobs and on investment to reduce the barriers to employment, experienced by disabled people.”

He went on to say “The recommended approach by the Welfare Working Group of tightening eligibility to Invalids’ and Sickness Benefits and increasing work capacity assessments through independent reviews will only increase the anxiety and vulnerability already felt by disabled people. The whole culture of Work and Income and the ability of its staff to understand the complexities of living with a disability within the current system require major improvement.”

DPA supports the WWG recommended principle of treating beneficiaries with dignity and respect.

DPA intends consulting with disabled people and disability organisations to gauge their response to the WWG’s report and to develop a co-ordinated reply to government. DPA also plans to meet with relevant Ministers concerning this report.

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