WELLINGTON The Governments transitional relief package for people made redundant shows New Zealands welfare benefits are not adequate, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand states in a submission to a parliamentary select committee. The Catholic social justice agency was commenting on the Governments 2009 Budget Policy Statement.
While supporting redundancy relief in principle during trying economic times, Caritas said welfare assistance has been whittled away over the past 15 years, leaving many Kiwis at risk of inadequate support.
It called for more consideration to be given to those already on benefits.
Caritas also wants proposed tax cuts passed on to all taxpayers, including beneficiaries and superannuitants, which didnt happen in 2008.
New Zealand must also maintain and enhance its commitment to international aid and development, the agency added.
This nations economic and security goals will be harder to achieve if needs in the Pacific and elsewhere are overlooked.
In this period of financial insecurity, Caritas said, decision-makers should remember principles such as consideration of all impacts on the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, as the economy exists to serve the people, and not the people to serve the economy.
New Zealands tradition of caring for the underdog must extend to the poorest in both our own society and the global community.
The measure of how just our society is will be how well we look after our most vulnerable members during this period of economic crisis, Caritas stated.
