My Truth column for July 13 is now on-line.
Some people on the dole fail drug-tests and subsequently miss out on a job. So they stay on welfare. Is that OK? The current government doesn’t think so. That’s why new
legislation proposes sanctions – a reduction in benefit – when it
happens.
The legislation does not propose drug-testing all beneficiaries as a
condition of eligibility for ongoing support. That’s jungle drum stuff.
There’s another problem with benefits and substance abuse though.
Read more
Other Truth columns here
On the bright side, this policy is going ahead whether the left like it or not, and there is nothing they can do about it for at least another 2 years.....and even then chances are the majority of New Zealanders would revolt if they reversed it. I find that with policies like this, the anti sentiment is largely derived from a small minority who are given far too much voice in the media. But I suspect it is the silent majority that will always have the last laugh.
ReplyDeleteDrugs and benefits are almost synonymous in the eyes of many NZers so this is not a difficult sell for the government; these changes, while not as radical as I would like, are most certainly the best step in the right direction we have had for a very long time.