Reducing expenditure by 1 Billion will hurt the vulnerable

Reducing expenditure by $1 billion per year for the next two years will limit the Government’s ability to make much-needed social investment in areas such as housing and family poverty, says Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand in a written submission to Parliament’s Finance and Expenditure Select Committee.

Caritas Director Julianne Hickey says the agency supports the Government’s stated intention in Budget 2015 to help families living in poverty, but says this needs to be prioritised over future tax cuts.

“The poorest New Zealanders did not benefit from the last tax cuts. The present day needs of vulnerable children and their families must be the priority for economic policy,” Mrs Hickey says.

The Caritas submission also calls on the Committee to use the Budget 2015 process to deal with the economic impact of inequality that has increased in New Zealand over the past 30 years. Read more

 

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