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AUCKLAND ACTION AGAINST POVERTY
Media Release
Tuesday 18 September 2012, 2PM

MSD Head Office Occupied in Welfare Reform Protest

In a protest against the announcement yesterday of the latest stage in National’s welfare program, AAAP is currently mounting an occupation of MSD’s Head Office in Auckland.

The office is located at Level 2, Building A, 65 Main Highway, Ellerslie.

‘We believe that the Government’s ongoing attacks on beneficiaries are nothing less than a brutal assault on the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of children – and adults – who are dependent on the state for survival,’ says AAAP spokesperson Sarah Thompson.

‘We are occupying MSD today not as an attack on MSD staff who are probably as concerned as we are about the impact of the proposed changes, but to expose and oppose the sheer brutality of National’s actions.

‘Paula Bennett boasts about saving $1.6bn. In fact, these latest changes, when combined with earlier reforms, will mean massive downstream costs to the taxpayer.

‘Auckland Action Against Poverty calls for an immediate programme of Government job creation to help get unemployed people into decent work.

‘Job creation, not intimidation, is the answer to the current so called ‘crisis’ in welfare.

‘Many people will have been saddened by last night’s news item showing how few children in one low decile Auckland school have a decent lunch.

‘Once Bennett’s and Key’s reforms kick in, many more children will be going without food - and a lot else besides.

‘These reforms are all about attracting votes by demonizing and punishing beneficiaries, not about helping anyone to a better life.

ENDS

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