DCM Bulletin Get a Real Job

23 February 2011

Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) endorses the response by Welfare Justice to the Welfare Working Group’s final review, presented to the Government yesterday.
 
Stephanie McIntyre, director of DCM says, “There is a desperate desire among our service users to find paid employment, but they cannot find a job.”
 
Despite this, the key recommendation of the Welfare Working Group is to shift focus from receiving benefits to paid employment.
 
The Prime Minister, Paula Bennett (Minister for Social Development), and Paula Rebstock (Welfare Working Group Chair) appear to be completely out of touch with the reality for job-seekers in New Zealand.
 
“We are in disbelief at how unrealistic the review is, despite a  long process of consultation”, says Stephanie.
 
Welfare Justice: the Alternative Welfare Working Group have released a response to the review which DCM agrees with and supports. 
 
“The Welfare Working Group’s recommendations anticipate leaving a quarter of a million people in poverty”, says Mike O’Brien, chair of Welfare Justice, “Government’s welfare recommendations do not address poverty”.
 
The release states, “Despite its extensive consultation with the community sector on the alternative report, Dr O’Brien was disappointed that neither the Minister nor [the] Welfare Working Group chair have yet agreed to meet with the Alternative Group”.
 
“The Minister said last June she wanted a welfare debate – the test of that is her willingness to hear and consider different perspectives on welfare reform”, says Dr O’Brien.
 
The two reports of Welfare Justice: the Alternative Welfare Working Group are available at:  www.welfarejustice.org.nz.  Dr O’Brien is available to speak to the media and can be contacted on: 022 523 0146.
 
You can also view the Welfare Working Group’s reports at: http://ips.ac.nz/WelfareWorkingGroup/Index.html.
 
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