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Key to launch mistakenly-leaked policy today

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Tue, 01 Nov 2011 7:45a.m.

The policy comes as a response to the government's Welfare Working Group (AAP)

The policy comes as a response to the government's Welfare Working Group (AAP)

The cat's out of the bag for one of National's most important policies, after some details were mistakenly made public a day before its planned release.

A blunder by a National Party staffer saw details of its welfare reform policy emailed to Sky News on Monday.

The policy, to be launched on Tuesday, is reported to involve getting 46,000 beneficiaries off welfare and into some form of work, including getting 11,000 into part-time work, within the next four years.

The cost will be about $130 million to pay for training but the Government expects to save about $1 billion over four years in reduced welfare payments.

The policy comes as a response to the Government's Welfare Working Group, which made sweeping and controversial recommendations to cut beneficiary numbers.

Those included so-called fit notes for sickness beneficiaries, to say what work they can do, rather than what they can't, sending parents on the domestic purposes benefit back to work when their youngest child reaches one year of age, and requiring unemployment benefit recipients to find paid or volunteer work after six months for their payments to continue.

National has previously announced it will introduce payment cards for 16 and 17-year-olds on the independent youth benefit, to buy food and necessities, while their rent and bills will be paid directly by the state.

Prime Minister John Key will unveil the full policy in Hamilton on Tuesday, with further details still to be confirmed.

NZN

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Comments

02 Nov 2011 05:06p.m.

Rae wrote:

Like S, I am on an invalids benefit for health issues that make my life extremely difficult, painful and stops me from working. I too have tried to find some kind of employment that does not have a negative effect on my health. For me, in my situation, what happens when I push myself beyond what I can do, I wind up sicker and sicker. I am very frightened of the future also, for myself and people like me. Its hard for others to understand that those with debilitating health issues WANT to work, WANT the benefits of working, but have to deal with the fact that it is virtually impossible. I took up volunteer work, just a few hours a week and it totally exhausts me. The future is bleak indeed.

01 Nov 2011 03:16p.m.

s wrote:

i'm on invalid benefit w/ a non regularly on-call+voluntary jobs 4 too sick+too much disability pain.i'm afraid to be homeless one day along w/ all other beneficiaries,as the national may want to throw welfare system totally out of the door.we'll b living like those poor americans, 4 example,homeless+rental property market down w/ us able 2 afford 2 rent anymore+that will affect landlords+property managers' income.more people who work closely w/ beneficiaries will lose their jobs,like winz (no beneficiaries mean no need 4 winz existed) staff,property managers,supermarket+retail shops staff 4 not having us able 2 afford 2 shop there,clinics+pharmacies 4 no $ to c doctors or meds,etc.more jobs lose+then more people cannot afford 2 pay rent+get kicked out or their house+more 2 live on the sts.i've been trying to work wherever i can,even w/ more pain after work.just look at what the poor americans live+then we can c what nz'll b like sooner than we thought.yes,there r beneficiaries could work but not working,but there r also some of us cannot work much anymore,i'm still trying but there's not enough 2 support myself w/ benefit.furthermore,if i live on st,i won't b able 2 keep my clean appearance,no shower+no laundry,then i won't b able 2 keep my on call job or even my voluntary job anymore,just like many others who r going 2 lose their job+b homeless.i'm so so scared 2 think of the future.key may think killing beneficiaries+cut tax 4 the rich is a great idea,since he's part of the rich tribe.but he+other rich people will know they'll get affected,if they lose us as their renter,staff+shoppers,their earning will drop considerably.the labour's capital gain tax will also hurt the rich+eventually hurt the poor that's just same as the national's welfare policy.whatever they decide,it'll always affect the poor in the negative way!what can we do 2 prevent that happening?nothing!since we r in the hands of theirs,the rich+powerful ones.

01 Nov 2011 01:47p.m.

billy wrote:

@michele's comment don't forget that business owners themselves are suffering!!! The less they have to pay their workers the more they can employ and longer they can survive as a business! I'm not talking about McDonald's etc I'm talking about the small kiwi businesses going under one after the other. Plus young people do require more training, the business has to pay for that and incorporate that into their funds.

01 Nov 2011 09:02a.m.

michele mansini wrote:

key wants a low wage economy while he already knows that people are finding it hard to survive now. we need higher wages
or it will lead to more people leaving nz. the welfare changes national have will lead to more anxiety and stress with no jobs and the fear of be cut off from welfare by paula bennetts hard nose attitude . tax cuts to the rich and kick the welfare services.