CathNews New Zealand

Children are being endangered by the speed of welfare reform – just as children are put at risk by excessive speed on our roads.

In a written submission Caritas says the speed of consideration was unreasonable and unrealistic.  Only 11 working days were provided between the first reading of the Social Security (Youth Support and Work Focus) Amendment Bill on 27 March and the close of submissions on 13 April.  Now hearing dates for the Social Services Select Committee considering the Bill are being condensed to only two days in Wellington this week.

Caritas Director Julianne Hickey says that despite the Bill being introduced shortly after the consultation period on the Government’s Green Paper for Vulnerable Children, there is no coherence or integration of government social policy.  “There is insufficient time to consult and consider how people and communities, particularly the most vulnerable members of our society, may be impacted by this legislation,” she says.

Additional reading

• 82 Submissions Received On Welfare Reform 82 Submissions received on welfare reforms
• Groups seek more time to address social security bill
• Welfare reform - how beneficiaries are affected
• Catholic Archdiocesan Justice Peace and Development Commission safe guard families
• Poverty our greatest growth industry

News category: New Zealand, Top Story.