Green Party will lift families out of poverty

 

The families package, announced today at the Party’s AGM, will increase all benefits by 20 percent, boost Working For Families and raise the minimum wage. It will lift the incomes of more than 500,000 low and middle income Kiwi families. It also removes all financial penalties and excessive sanctions that beneficiaries currently face.

Tax reform will ensure everyone who earns less than $150,000 a year is better off, by reducing the bottom tax rate to 9 percent and putting in place a new top tax rate of 40 percent on income over $150,000.

“These are the most significant changes to our welfare system in a generation,” said Green Party Co-leader Metiria Turei.

“Our plan will lift people out of poverty and guarantee a basic, liveable income for anyone working or on a benefit.

“These changes will make a huge difference to the 190,000 thousand Kiwi kids whose families rely on a benefit to get by, and to all working families struggling to make ends meet.

“We will end the punitive culture at MSD, which punishes people through benefit sanctions, abatements and investigations. Rather than providing people with ‘incentives’, it traps them in a cycle of poverty and puts children’s wellbeing at risk.

“We believe that poverty should never be used as a weapon, especially when children are involved.

“Our plan to mend the safety net will ensure that all families in New Zealand can afford to put food on the table, keep a roof over their head and pay their power bill.

“Working For Families has been slowly undermined after nine years of National, and our plan will help low income families, by increasing the value of Working For Families and lowering the bottom tax rate.

“Our social safety net should provide effective support for people who need it, while they need it. The Green Party in government will make this a priority,” said Mrs Turei.

Outcomes of the welfare, Working for Families, and tax reform package include:

  • A sole parent on a benefit, with two school-age children, and no paid employment: $179.62 better off every week.
  • A sole parent receiving the Student Allowance, with two children, and part time work on just above minimum wage: $176.15 better off every week. 
  • A single person receiving Jobseeker support: $42.20 better off every week.
  • A two parent family, with one working parent on the median income, with three children: $104.42 better off every week.
  • Two parents, both receiving Jobseeker support, with three children: $207.46 better off every week.
  • A two parent family, both earning the median income of 48,000, with three children: $130.19 better off every week.
  • Two parents, one in paid work earning $70,000 a year, with two children: $87.85 better off every week.

Latest Economic Development Announcements

Story

PREFU shows efforts to keep us all healthy, now we need to revenue raise

PREFU has given a good insight into what was required to ensure New Zealanders were largely supported to continue work and remain healthy during CO...
Read More

Sustainable business

In the wake of COVID-19, we must empower small businesses in Aotearoa to flourish, create new jobs, and support their local communities. The Green ...
Read More

Sustainable jobs

A sustainable economy means good working conditions and fair distribution of the benefits of our natural resources. As we respond to the disruption...
Read More

High tech economy

A strong manufacturing and technology sector will create jobs in low-emissions industries and ensure we can sell Aotearoa’s skills to the world. Th...
Read More

Story

Green Party welcomes first Wellbeing Budget

“The Green Party is proud to welcome New Zealand’s first Wellbeing Budget to deliver change for New Zealanders,” Green Party Co-leader James Shaw s...
Read More

Story

Wellbeing: We need to change how we see our economy

“The Wellbeing Budget is a first step in changing the way we look at the economy and our place in it”, said Green Party Co-leader Marama Davidson. ...
Read More

Latest Social Development Announcements

Story

Louise Upston cherry-picks data to punch down on the poor

The Government has very conveniently cherry-picked data from the latest MSD projections to justify its cruel agenda and punch-down policy when it c...
Read More

Story

Soaring benefit sanctions push more into poverty

Sanctions on beneficiaries have sky-rocketed since the Coalition Government came to power, pushing more families into poverty.
Read More

Story

Govt more interested in punishing beneficiaries than ending poverty

The expansion of compulsory money management and introduction of mandatory community service for beneficiaries reheats failed policies that have no...
Read More

Story

Govt setting poverty trap with punitive policies

Rising unemployment confirmed by the latest labour market figures, along with the Government’s job cuts and punitive policies for beneficiaries, wi...
Read More

Story

Government quietly waters down child poverty targets

The Government’s move to dilute child poverty targets is a reminder that it is actively choosing to preserve hardship for thousands of households. 
Read More

Story

MSD figures show Govt determined to punish beneficiaries

The 53.7 percent rise in benefit sanctions over the last year is more proof of this Government’s disdain for our communities most in need of support. 
Read More