Finance Minister Bill English’s suggestion that poor families in New Zealand are better off than those in other developed countries shows how disconnected he is from the reality in his own country, the Green Party said today. “Bill English’s comments show he’s in denial about what we’re actually seeing in our communities, which is food banks with empty shelves and more people begging on the streets,” Green Party social development spokesperson Jan Logie said. “When people are working hard and...

The Green Party is calling on ACC Minister Nikki Kaye to remove the obligation for sexual violence survivors to be diagnosed with a mental illness before being allowed additional ACC-funded counselling. Green Party MP Jan Logie and survivor advocate Louise Nicholas today launched a new campaign and petition to demand that survivors don’t need a mental illness diagnosis in order to have their sensitive claims proceed. “Being the victim of sexual violence is not a mental illness,” Ms Logie said....

More funding for sexual violence services is a much needed boost for a sector that has struggled with underfunding and a lack of commitment from successive governments, the Green Party said today. The Government’s announcement of funding for sexual violence services follows a Select Committee inquiry initiated by Green MP Jan Logie, which had recommended improving support for the sector. “More funding for sexual violence services is an important first step that will come as an enormous relief for those...

About half of all beneficiary families with children will be disappointed to learn today they will not get the full $25 benefit increase that the National Government has led them to believe they will, the Green Party says. The Government’s $25 a week benefit increase for parents is due to kick in today, along with a new obligation for parents of 3 year olds to seek work. “Despite all its grandstanding about the historic benefit increase, the Government has designed it...

The Government’s decision to accept all recommendations from a Select Committee inquiry initiated by Green Party MP Jan Logie is a huge win for sexual violence survivors and those working to help them, the Green Party says. The Government has today released its response to the recommendations of the Social Services Select Committee, following an inquiry into sexual violence services sparked by Green Party women’s spokesperson Jan Logie. The Government has accepted or broadly accepted all 32 of the committee’s...

The Government needs to correct how it pays Working for Families and the accommodation supplement to stop the value of them decreasing, the Green Party said today. The Government has been criticised today for deliberately running down the value of Working for Families and the accommodation supplement to the point that Kiwi families receiving the payments are falling into further hardship. These supports were introduced to help families sustain themselves and make sure they could afford rent and the basics....

The Green Party is calling on Prime Minister John Key to bring the women’s portfolio back into Cabinet. While portfolios like racing remain with Ministers inside Cabinet, the women’s portfolio has been locked out since John Key removed it from Cabinet in 2011. “To mark International Women’s Day today, John Key could signal a commitment to reverse the decline for women that’s occurred under his Government by elevating the women’s portfolio to a Cabinet-level position,” Green Party women’s spokesperson Jan Logie...

The Green Party is calling on the Government to adopt Jan Logie’s Domestic Violence-Victims' Protection Bill following calls to change employment law to protect people from family violence. Submissions received as part of a Government review of family violence laws have recommended changing employment law to create paid employment leave for people in a family violence situation. “Providing protections for victims of abuse so they can stay in work is critical to reducing the effects of violence, and my Domestic...

The report into the treatment of a diplomat found guilty of indecent assault highlights a failure of Government Ministers to show political leadership over sexual violence, the Green Party said today.

The Green Party is calling for the immediate release of the Government report into the treatment of a Malaysian diplomat convicted of indecent assault now that the diplomat has been found guilty and sentenced.