When asked in the house today whether the cuts to the T.I.A designed to assist beneficiaries to gain skills and employment, targets the lowest value expenditure and if not would he give an example of lower value expenditure – I was given a response which seemed to be an attempt at shifting the blame away from the Minister/s.
English stated that: “The departmental Chief Executives and Ministers BUT PARTICULARLY THE Chief Executies and Departmental Officials, who are familiar with the WASTEFUL ways of the last Govt, decided on what was low priority expenditure”.
Firstly – the National Government can not shift the blame for this back on to the public servants. They are steering the vaka now and these decisions are ultimately their responsibility – not the responsbility of the public servants who dutifully follow their Ministers instructions.
Secondly – it is offensive that the Deputy PM of NZ would imply that the training incentive allowance (that was designed to support sole parents to upskill/ train and to gain employment), was a wasteful initiative. How could anyone deem an incentive, which supports some of societies most vulnerable members to train and gain meaningful employment, to be wasteful?
The National KEY line of ‘ambitious for New Zealand’, seems to be missing a few words at the end – perhaps it should have read ‘ambitious for New Zealand except if you’re struggling and if this is the case - the Nat Govt will put the boot in at least one more time to keep you in your place’. This is exactly what they are doing by cutting the TIA.
You almost seem surprised Carmel… Tories do this, blame… we all know officials don’t make decisions, particularly in the budget, they bid above baseline, not below and when Treasury tells them to cut, they cut depreciation, when that’s not enough, they cut capital investment… Ministers make decisions on what officials will spend time and tax dollars on.
You;re right to hold Ministers to account, keep doing it.
Brilliant Carmel,
You’re right of course and thanks from all who have had their options cut first with T.I.A and now with lowered job prospects from youth initiatives.
The lack of standards on the Blue side is shocking! I keep seeing / hearing appalling behaviour. I saw in House today, Bennett completely blank your qu Carmel, re older DPB opportunities, Bennett launched off into lu lu land as she often does, talking about teen DPB Mums and youth initiatives? ? ? What is the way to get her brain to stay on subject?
he he …don’t say it?
Reality check….It seems Nats DON’T want people off benefit? Then what for these DPB women and their family? No higher learning options for older Mums now who have level 4 + quals already due to financial inability to manage, severly reduced job prospects due to youth initiatives and the worry then of benefit revamp after recession – English eluded to this in House today!
You would think that any Government would want to upskill anyone who is capable so they meet their potential? The more educated a society the better it is for all.
Why is the Government hell bent on hurting further, families who have already suffered and just want options to get off benefit that are financially possible?
Bennett has been there, she tells us all the time but there appears to be no glimmer of empathy or understanding here? What sort of a Minister does this to those she is supposed to help, care about and encourage? When questioned directly, she launches off into lu lu land? Some answers need to be forth coming.
Efforts much appreciated!