The Justice and Peace Commission for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland says that Thursday’s Budget offers welcome relief to vulnerable families.
They have welcomed in particular the 2016 increases in family benefit rates and Working for Families payments for low income families.
They also are pleased that money has been set aside for planting new forests.
Read the full text of the Reponse
Other issues the Commission would like to government to address:
Poverty
- Continued commitment to relieving poverty by addressing more of the structural causes of poverty
- Implementation of the balance of the recommendations of the Expert Advisory Group on Solutions to Child Poverty
- Some form of wealth redistribution to address inequality.
- A long-term plan for a more inclusive society rather than short term economic gains
Social Housing
- The acute need for more social housing, especially in Auckland
- Some provision for warrants of fitness for private rental housing
Environment
- Climate change with a focus on the upcoming UN Conference in Paris
- More incentives for energy savings
- Further use of renewables
- Alternative agricultural production
- Provision made to mitigate the unavoidable effects of climate change in New Zealand and in the Pacific, including planning for resettlement of climate refugees
Refugees
- An increase New Zealand’s current low refugee quota
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