I was looking forward to being interviewed today by the TV Programme Tagata Pasifika  on the issue of Pacific Unemployment (the issue being the increase in Pacific unemployment despite the overall decrease in unemployment in our country – I’ve put the relevant stats at the bottom of this blog).  So I have to say I was disappointed to receive a phone call late yesterday afternoon letting me know that they would only be interviewing Paula. 

Anyway – the story goes like this.  Two days ago, Tagata Pasifika ring to say Paula Bennett has confirmed and that the interview is all go.  Then yesterday I get a call saying that she won’t do a head to head interview with me.  Tagata Pasifika apologised to me and say that its their fault as they didn’t explicitly outline to her that she would be going head to head with me  (I don’t actually think they are at fault for anything).  I say to them that I don’t understand what the problem is because she still knew a day in advance and they tell me that Paula Bennetts Office say that one day is not enough time for her to prepare (they again apologise saying that they should have given her more notice).  Therefore – Paula will only do the interview if she is on by herself (no me = no Labour view and no Pacific MP perspective). 

Ummmmm….hello – isn’t Paula Bennett a Cabinet Minister.  I’m a new opposition backbencher for goodness sakes.  How much time does she need to prepare?

I relayed this story last night to a group of tertiary students in Waitakere (given we were discussing the high levels of unemployment) and one of them said something very profound…”what kind of Westie doesn’t want to front up to a fight”.  The whole class cracked up laughing…I didn’t even need to say a word after that.

General unemployment v Pacific Island Unemployment

March 2010: 6% general; 14.4% Pacific

December 2009: 7.1% general; 14.3% Pacific

December 2008: 4.6% general; 7.8% Pacific

Decemgber 2007: 3.4% general; 5.7% Pacific

December 1999: 6.3% general; 12.2% Pacific

Youth Unemployment by ethnicity (March 2010 HLFS)

Pacific

• 15 – 19 years: 34.5%
• 20 – 24 years: 24.2%

European

• 15 - 19 years: 23.2%
• 20 – 24 years: 6.6%

Maori

• 15 – 19 years: 39.3%
• 20 – 24 years: 22.1%

The Dom Post reports this morning that National is looking at cancelling unemployment benefits after a year and forcing applicants to re-apply.  This is in the wake of a story of notorious South Island family who look like they have been ripping off the system for years.

Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to the softening up phase of National’s welfare policy. Every New Zealander should be pi**ed off with the likes of the Harris family.  If they have been ripping off the system in the way that has been described in the media then they are undermining our social assistance system, and effectively taking money from those who need it most. They have obviously intimidated Work and Income staff and some serious action is required.

But is their behaviour, and that of a small number of others, reason enough to slash and burn through the whole system?  National want you to think so, and will drip these stories out there to soften the public up for cuts and tired old policies like work testing DPB parents and work for the dole.  The reality is that the Harris’ of this world are a small minority and thousands of people legitimately need state support, only access it when they need it, and move off it in a reasonable timeframe. 

Further, the headline announcement in this story- that people on the unemployment benefit will have to re-apply each year-is a deliberately misleading description of how the unemployment benefit operates.  It is not a situation where you sign up and that is it for all of time.  Nowadays people receiving the unemployment benefit are constantly followed up by Work and Income as to their progress with getting work.  They are required to attend courses and training.  The notion of re-applying is empty sloganeering, will achieve nothing and will really just be a bureaucratic burden.

By all means lets look at how we can help move people from welfare to work where that is possible. Lets crack down on those who abuse the system and let’s have more training and budget advice for those who need it. But sadly for National that is not really what this is about. It is quite simply about stirring up people against beneficiaries, and softening up the voting public for their welfare agenda.