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Election '05: MPs -minus Nats and NZ First- front up to child poverty forum
14 June 2005
Child Poverty Action Group held an MPs forum as part of its Annual General Meeting in Auckland last week, to put the spotlight on child poverty policy solutions this election year.
A lively gathering greeted MPs Hon Steve Maharey, Minister of Social Development (Labour), Sue Bradford (Greens), Muriel Newman (ACT) and Judy Turner (United Future), along with candidates Bronwyn Yates (Maori Party), Vivienne Shepherd (Progressives), and Mere Mangu (Independent, Tai Tokerau).
There was no representative present from either the National Party or New Zealand First. Can we assume from this no-show that child poverty, which peaked at 34% of all children when the `centre right' were last in government a decade ago, is not even an issue for these parties?
Speakers addressed the theme "How to make your vote count against child poverty," and responded to questions from CPAG and the audience. Questions for the politicians included the following, looking to the future from the perspective of five children living in low income households unable to afford all the necessities of life:
- My dad has a low paid job: he earns only $9.50 per hour. I am worried about an economic slump when my dad might become unemployed. If he does lose his job, will your party offer provide a reliable safety net for me so that I won't have to live in worse poverty?
- My family are struggling to pay the rent, and we have moved three times in the last year. Will my chances of being able to live in state rental housing improve if your party becomes the government?
- In February I got sick with a chest infection, and my mum and Dad took me to the nearest doctor on a Saturday -it cost them $45. So when I got sick again in April mum and dad couldn't afford to take me to the doctor, so then I got really sick with pneumonia, and had to go to hospital. Will your party provide free primary health care for me whether I get sick in the day or night or the weekend?
- My first teeth are full of holes, and I would like to have healthy teeth when I am a grown up. Will your party provide me with free dental care when I need it at my school?
- If I get an illness like meningitis and become permanently disabled, the stress of it all could result in my parents splitting up. My mum wouldn't be able to go to work, because she would have to look after me. How would we manage financially? She would be on a benefit I suppose. Does your party plan to make benefits pay enough for Mum to meet my basic needs?
