Media Release
Sue Bradford rejects inconvenient truth about DPB
Monday, August 17, 2009
Green MP Sue Bradford is refusing to accept that the DPB is now responsible for violence towards women.
Quoted in The Epoch Times, 8 August, 2009, Ms Bradford said, "To remove it [DPB] would be one of the most evil things we could do to our women and children." It would mean a return to times when women " were dependent on men often (suffering) humiliation and physical violence."
Bradford was responding to a proposal contained in a report, Maori and Welfare, published by the New Zealand Business Roundtable last month.
Lindsay Mitchell, author of the report, said that Ms Bradford was ignoring aspects of the DPB that actually increased women's vulnerability to violence.
"Giving young women, in particular, a long-term secure income and home, makes them attractive to men who have no desire to raise and support a family themselves. Men who want a roof over their heads, sex on demand and another source of money when their own dries up. Men who want to control women physically and financially."
"This life style was acknowledged by the 1996 Ruka Ruling in which the Court of Appeal agreed that a woman who was living in a de facto relationship featuring violence and a lack of emotional or financial support from the partner, should be entitled to continue receiving state support - usually the DPB."
"Sue Bradford just doesn't want to accept that the DPB is no longer primarily about leaving violent relationships. It is about encouraging and staying in them."
"If, on the other hand, assistance became temporary only, the recipient stops being the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg. Women would make far more cautious choices about partnering and deadbeat men would cease to have their exploitive expectations met."
Reiterating the central message in her paper, Mitchell said every year thousands of uneducated and unskilled teenagers enter the welfare system that then traps them. "So long as the present rules continue, the benefit system is condemning many young mothers and their children to the very lives Sue Bradford likes to think it frees them from."
Monday, August 17, 2009
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Teaching lies
How ironic such an inversion of reason should come out of a school principal.
The state school system relies on redistribution of wealth. The poorest school gets double the funding of the richest school. The 'rich' are robbed to pay the 'poor'.
When that fails to happen (or to a lesser degree at least) the Principal cries out;
That's plain wrong. What kind of lesson does it teach to young minds? No wonder we are experiencing an epidemic of entitlement.
Most New Zealanders, it would appear, are prepared to live with some degree of socialism. But let's at least have it properly understood, and honestly and accurately represented.
The state school system relies on redistribution of wealth. The poorest school gets double the funding of the richest school. The 'rich' are robbed to pay the 'poor'.
When that fails to happen (or to a lesser degree at least) the Principal cries out;
"It seems that we're robbing the poor to pay the rich," said Mr Gall, who is also president of the Secondary Principals Association.
That's plain wrong. What kind of lesson does it teach to young minds? No wonder we are experiencing an epidemic of entitlement.
Most New Zealanders, it would appear, are prepared to live with some degree of socialism. But let's at least have it properly understood, and honestly and accurately represented.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
FIPS
Family Intervention Projects is the latest UK initiative to try and improve the lives of children living in families where crime and violence are not uncommon.
A newspaper report;
THOUSANDS of the worst families in England are to be put in “sin bins” in a bid to change their bad behaviour, Ed Balls announced yesterday.
The Children’s Secretary set out £400million plans to put 20,000 problem families under 24-hour CCTV super-vision in their own homes.
They will be monitored to ensure that children attend school, go to bed on time and eat proper meals.
Private security guards will also be sent round to carry out home checks, while parents will be given help to combat drug and alcohol addiction.
Around 2,000 families have gone through these Family Intervention Projects so far.
I did a little further searching and found some information about the types of families in the programme. No surprises.
69 percent were headed by a lone parent and 61 percent were receiving out-of-work benefits.
Products of the modern welfare state.
The early results from those families that have completed the intervention show some improvement - more so for children - better school attendance, less anti-social behaviour orders received, less trouble with housing authorities, improved health. Interestingly this mirrors the Christchurch EarlyStart programme which is improving outcomes for children but not for adults to the same degree.
And are the families less state-dependent? Barely.
A newspaper report;
THOUSANDS of the worst families in England are to be put in “sin bins” in a bid to change their bad behaviour, Ed Balls announced yesterday.
The Children’s Secretary set out £400million plans to put 20,000 problem families under 24-hour CCTV super-vision in their own homes.
They will be monitored to ensure that children attend school, go to bed on time and eat proper meals.
Private security guards will also be sent round to carry out home checks, while parents will be given help to combat drug and alcohol addiction.
Around 2,000 families have gone through these Family Intervention Projects so far.
I did a little further searching and found some information about the types of families in the programme. No surprises.
69 percent were headed by a lone parent and 61 percent were receiving out-of-work benefits.
Products of the modern welfare state.
The early results from those families that have completed the intervention show some improvement - more so for children - better school attendance, less anti-social behaviour orders received, less trouble with housing authorities, improved health. Interestingly this mirrors the Christchurch EarlyStart programme which is improving outcomes for children but not for adults to the same degree.
And are the families less state-dependent? Barely.
Once a perkbuster...
What fun. ACT's leader, Rodney Hide, is back banging the bust-the-perks drum;His Act colleague Sir Roger Douglas used his 90 per cent discount to fly himself and his wife to Britain to visit family, but Mr Hide scoffed at claims from former MPs that it should remain.
"If you're an ex-MP and you've got the perk, of course you'd love it. But it was another time in New Zealand.
"It's hard to believe we ever did that, but that's how things used to operate. There were always perks in doing jobs and now there aren't perks.
"That goes right across New Zealand, and Parliament should be the same," Mr Hide said.
Claims the travel subsidy was part of the employment package at the time and compensation for accepting lower salaries were rubbish, he said.
This is pure, unadulterated, put'em up Hide. It is also damage control. Douglas' attitude towards his perks has detracted badly from ACT's core ethic. Hide's workload is doubled by not just having to work to build support but work to hang on to it.
Meantime another intransigent trough snuffler, Sir Douglas Graham, has some advice for us;
"You better keep paying your taxes".
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Excuse me waiter, is that the calories or the price?
Apparently United States legislators want restaurants to start menu detailing of calorie counts on their meals.
From the USA Today;
And how long will it be before this asinine idea comes to a country near you?
From the USA Today;
This is another pointless and expensive federal proposal that will lead to cookie-cutter menus and will actually retard our incentive to think for ourselves. Do politicians really think that people don't know that a salad has fewer calories than a cheeseburger?
And how long will it be before this asinine idea comes to a country near you?
Questions that have occupied me
Monday, August 10, 2009
Forced donation to telethon
So even if you had decided not to support the weekend's telethon because you prefer to support other causes, because you believe that more handouts only create more dependency, that kind Mr Key decided he would do it for you.
The sickening monotony of it
As sure as unspeyed cats will have kittens another child will be assaulted and killed.
There is nothing new to say about the rate of child death due to intentional injury. I wonder if the referendum papers were on the bench of her home waiting to be filled in?
There is nothing new to say about the rate of child death due to intentional injury. I wonder if the referendum papers were on the bench of her home waiting to be filled in?
Sunday, August 09, 2009
Live blogging from the cat delivery suite
Daisy has gone into labour under the desk. Poor little thing.
Stand by.
2 so far....
Three... mother's doing great.
I think that's it. One tabby, one black and white and one black.
Lovely.
Uh oh. Wrong. After mother appeared to settle down to rest another black one popped out. Running late on time.
No, the second black is actually a dark tabby.
All done.
Friday, August 07, 2009
Words of little worth
Trevor Mallard giving David Garrett advice is like Oprah Winfrey giving guidance to Kirsty Alley.
Another hike in dole numbers
According to National;
As at 31 July, there were 55,272, working aged people (18-64) receiving the unemployment benefit. Overall unemployment benefit numbers are up by 34,726 (169%) since July 2008.
Up from 50,855 at June 30, 2009. That's difficult for National who have been insisting that Labour's claim of 1,000 people a week losing their jobs is an exaggeration.
Of course some of the new unemployed beneficiaries will be people returning from overseas or even dropping out of education.
It would be interesting to know how the other sometimes pseudo-unemployment benefits are bearing up.
As at 31 July, there were 55,272, working aged people (18-64) receiving the unemployment benefit. Overall unemployment benefit numbers are up by 34,726 (169%) since July 2008.
Up from 50,855 at June 30, 2009. That's difficult for National who have been insisting that Labour's claim of 1,000 people a week losing their jobs is an exaggeration.
Of course some of the new unemployed beneficiaries will be people returning from overseas or even dropping out of education.
It would be interesting to know how the other sometimes pseudo-unemployment benefits are bearing up.
Free speech petition?
A petition, sparked by the actions of Paula Bennett, has been set up as per the following;
It is all about free speech apparently.
I am very much for free speech. What I am not for is free lies, or free half-truths.
If the Minister had released information that did not pertain directly and only to that already released by the protester I would also be up in arms. As it stands there is already enough legislated protection of privacy so I do not feel a need to add my signature.
It is all about free speech apparently.
I am very much for free speech. What I am not for is free lies, or free half-truths.
If the Minister had released information that did not pertain directly and only to that already released by the protester I would also be up in arms. As it stands there is already enough legislated protection of privacy so I do not feel a need to add my signature.
23,400 teenagers did not lose their jobs
According to the NZ Herald;
The latest household labour force survey, published yesterday, confirms young people are bearing the brunt of the downturn, with a net 23,400 teenagers losing their jobs in the past year.
This claim is spurious. But it makes for good copy. Unfortunately thousands of people will read it and believe it.
How does it come about.
First of all the government, through Statistics New Zealand, conducts what they call a Household Labour force Survey every three months. There are 16,000 households on it at any given time but it is a changing group as new participants are rostered on and old rostered off. Each participant spends 2 years in the survey (I have been a participant).The information is gathered and extrapolated across the population.
The tables produced breakdown the employment data gleaned in various ways.
In June 2008 146,900 15-19 year-olds were employed. In June 2009 the number had dropped to 123,500. The difference is 23,400.
At June 2008 the majority of employed teenagers would have been 19. By June 2009 they would no longer be teenagers. They didn't lose their jobs. They stopped being teenagers.
Yes, there are certainly more unemployed teenagers than there were a year ago - 9,800 according to the survey because employers are not taking on young people to the degree that they had been.
Two-thirds of the 18,200 lost jobs in the past year were in retailing and wholesaling, with the next biggest losses in farming, forestry and fishing, transport, storage and communications, and manufacturing.
Now the 'lost jobs' are less than the numbers who apparently 'losing their jobs'.
But wait...
A massive 43,000 people under 50 lost their jobs, but there was a net gain of 24,400 jobs for people aged 50-plus.
Again, 43,000 people under 50 did not lose their jobs. We don't know how many people lost their jobs. If there is a 'net' gain to older age groups there is a strong possibility some of the difference is due to people ageing and holding their jobs.
In June 2008 there were 2,189,000 people employed - in June 2009 there were 2,169,000. Therefore there were 20,000 fewer employed people - based on a household survey. That's all that can be said with absolute certainty.
If Paula Bennett is releasing benefit data today, that will tell us more about how many people 'lost their jobs'. But that information is still not definitive given many people losing jobs are not entitled to a benefit.
The latest household labour force survey, published yesterday, confirms young people are bearing the brunt of the downturn, with a net 23,400 teenagers losing their jobs in the past year.
This claim is spurious. But it makes for good copy. Unfortunately thousands of people will read it and believe it.
How does it come about.
First of all the government, through Statistics New Zealand, conducts what they call a Household Labour force Survey every three months. There are 16,000 households on it at any given time but it is a changing group as new participants are rostered on and old rostered off. Each participant spends 2 years in the survey (I have been a participant).The information is gathered and extrapolated across the population.
The tables produced breakdown the employment data gleaned in various ways.
In June 2008 146,900 15-19 year-olds were employed. In June 2009 the number had dropped to 123,500. The difference is 23,400.
At June 2008 the majority of employed teenagers would have been 19. By June 2009 they would no longer be teenagers. They didn't lose their jobs. They stopped being teenagers.
Yes, there are certainly more unemployed teenagers than there were a year ago - 9,800 according to the survey because employers are not taking on young people to the degree that they had been.
Two-thirds of the 18,200 lost jobs in the past year were in retailing and wholesaling, with the next biggest losses in farming, forestry and fishing, transport, storage and communications, and manufacturing.
Now the 'lost jobs' are less than the numbers who apparently 'losing their jobs'.
But wait...
A massive 43,000 people under 50 lost their jobs, but there was a net gain of 24,400 jobs for people aged 50-plus.
Again, 43,000 people under 50 did not lose their jobs. We don't know how many people lost their jobs. If there is a 'net' gain to older age groups there is a strong possibility some of the difference is due to people ageing and holding their jobs.
In June 2008 there were 2,189,000 people employed - in June 2009 there were 2,169,000. Therefore there were 20,000 fewer employed people - based on a household survey. That's all that can be said with absolute certainty.
If Paula Bennett is releasing benefit data today, that will tell us more about how many people 'lost their jobs'. But that information is still not definitive given many people losing jobs are not entitled to a benefit.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
We don't know how lucky we are - at the moment
As the saying goes, there is always someone worse off than yourself. The same can be said of countries.
Look at Ireland. Same population as NZ with current (June 2009) unemployment at 11.9 percent. Last year is was 5.9 percent. Doubled in 12 months. Gulp. Only Turkey and Spain have higher unemployment rates. This table shows unemployment benefit claimants.
(The 'live register' also includes part-timers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to claim a jobseekers allowance.)
Look at Ireland. Same population as NZ with current (June 2009) unemployment at 11.9 percent. Last year is was 5.9 percent. Doubled in 12 months. Gulp. Only Turkey and Spain have higher unemployment rates. This table shows unemployment benefit claimants.
(The 'live register' also includes part-timers, seasonal and casual workers entitled to claim a jobseekers allowance.)
Unemployment statistics - who is the recession affecting?
A quick round up;
Unemployment rate up from 5 percent in March 2009 to 6 percent in June 09
Male rate 5.1 to 5.7
Female rate 4.8 to 6.3
15-19 year-old rate 19.1 to 22.9
20-24 no change
25-29 4.9 to 5.6
30-34 4.9 to 4.6
35-39 4.4 to 4.1
40-44 3.6 to 3
45-49 3.9 to 3.7
50-54 2.5 to 3.4
60-64 3.3 to 2.5
65+ 1.2 to 1.3
European 3.9 to 4
Maori only 10.7 to 12.6
Pacific only 13.6 to 12.8
Asian only 6.7 to 7.8
Highest regional jump Taranaki 2.7 to 4.2
Regions;
Northland 8.3
Auckland 6.6
Waikato 6.8
Bay of Plenty 5.8
Gisborne/Hawkes Bay 7.3
Taranaki 4.2
Manawatu-Wanganui 4.5
Wellington 5.5
nelson/Marlborough/West coast 3.1
Canterbury 4.8
Otago 5.3
Southland 3.4
Industries which had drops in employment;
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry
Other Services
Highest household type with all unemployed;
One parent with dependent children only 46.1
The full-time workforce dropped over the year from 1,691,000 to 1,665,000
The part-time workforce grew over the year from 496,000 to 502,000
NZ is now 9th in the OECD which is the same ranking as June 2008
Unemployment rate up from 5 percent in March 2009 to 6 percent in June 09
Male rate 5.1 to 5.7
Female rate 4.8 to 6.3
15-19 year-old rate 19.1 to 22.9
20-24 no change
25-29 4.9 to 5.6
30-34 4.9 to 4.6
35-39 4.4 to 4.1
40-44 3.6 to 3
45-49 3.9 to 3.7
50-54 2.5 to 3.4
60-64 3.3 to 2.5
65+ 1.2 to 1.3
European 3.9 to 4
Maori only 10.7 to 12.6
Pacific only 13.6 to 12.8
Asian only 6.7 to 7.8
Highest regional jump Taranaki 2.7 to 4.2
Regions;
Northland 8.3
Auckland 6.6
Waikato 6.8
Bay of Plenty 5.8
Gisborne/Hawkes Bay 7.3
Taranaki 4.2
Manawatu-Wanganui 4.5
Wellington 5.5
nelson/Marlborough/West coast 3.1
Canterbury 4.8
Otago 5.3
Southland 3.4
Industries which had drops in employment;
Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry
Other Services
Highest household type with all unemployed;
One parent with dependent children only 46.1
The full-time workforce dropped over the year from 1,691,000 to 1,665,000
The part-time workforce grew over the year from 496,000 to 502,000
NZ is now 9th in the OECD which is the same ranking as June 2008
Abandonment of "constitutional responsibility"
At last. A clear explanation of the unclear.
Jim Evans, emeritus professor of law at Auckland University, on the National-supported Bradford law.
He concludes;
Jim Evans, emeritus professor of law at Auckland University, on the National-supported Bradford law.
He concludes;
This is not clear legislation. In creating this law, Parliament abandoned its constitutional responsibility to say with clarity just which conduct is criminal.
The section results from a political fudge. Whatever other views one takes about the topic of smacking, that much at least ought to be kept clear.
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Thicker than sheep
There are times when my fellow citizens fill me with despair, such is their blind faith in regulation.
The Herald is running a poll;
Should you need a licence to own a dog?
FFS NO. What difference would it make to those who 'own' dangerous animals?
If they don't register them why would they bother with a licence?
The only effect would be to penalise the many animal lovers who take better care of their pets than some people take of their children.
Oh...the result.
82 percent say YES.
AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH.
Update; The poll has mercifully reversed. The 'baas' now form a minority. That is encouraging.
The Herald is running a poll;
Should you need a licence to own a dog?
FFS NO. What difference would it make to those who 'own' dangerous animals?
If they don't register them why would they bother with a licence?
The only effect would be to penalise the many animal lovers who take better care of their pets than some people take of their children.
Oh...the result.
82 percent say YES.
AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH.
Update; The poll has mercifully reversed. The 'baas' now form a minority. That is encouraging.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
More misinformation from MSM
Yesterday the DomPost published misinformation about benefit entitlement. Now the NZ Herald is getting it wrong as well.
The main unemployment benefit is not available under 18. The only benefit payable below that age, the independent youth benefit (IYB), was paid to only 1750 teenagers at the end of June.
As I said yesterday, the unemployment benefit is available but only under certain, unusual circumstances. For most intents and purposes it isn't available.
But to say that the Independent Youth Benefit is the only benefit payable below 18 is nonsense. Sickness, invalid, training, emergency and DPB (Emergency Maintenance Allowance) are all available. So too is the student allowance. Remember yesterday's table?
Should 16 and 17 year-olds qualify for welfare? The approach to parental responsibility is mixed. For instance child support is paid until a dependent reaches 18 ( and in some cases 19). Then when it comes to eligibility for a student allowance parental income is means tested until the age of 24.
National needs to bite the bullet on this one and stop dithering. Sixteen and seventeen year-olds should be the responsibility of their parents. As it is, they attract decent family tax credits of up to around $100.
The main unemployment benefit is not available under 18. The only benefit payable below that age, the independent youth benefit (IYB), was paid to only 1750 teenagers at the end of June.
As I said yesterday, the unemployment benefit is available but only under certain, unusual circumstances. For most intents and purposes it isn't available.
But to say that the Independent Youth Benefit is the only benefit payable below 18 is nonsense. Sickness, invalid, training, emergency and DPB (Emergency Maintenance Allowance) are all available. So too is the student allowance. Remember yesterday's table?
Should 16 and 17 year-olds qualify for welfare? The approach to parental responsibility is mixed. For instance child support is paid until a dependent reaches 18 ( and in some cases 19). Then when it comes to eligibility for a student allowance parental income is means tested until the age of 24.
National needs to bite the bullet on this one and stop dithering. Sixteen and seventeen year-olds should be the responsibility of their parents. As it is, they attract decent family tax credits of up to around $100.
Monday, August 03, 2009
Dole for 16-18 year-olds to be scrapped?
This morning's DomPost front page shouts, Dole to be scrapped for 16-18 year-olds.
Before the release of details I offer some comments.
The signal is good. For those who need to be receiving it.
But I think the headline is wrong. It should read 16-17 year-olds.
But under 18s rarely qualify for the unemployment benefit.
The current rules are a person must be 18 years old or over (or 16-17 if you are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and have one or more children you support).
Hence the numbers look like this;
Granted this was two years ago but I would be very surprised if suddenly far more 16-17 year-olds had married, or were in de facto relationships supporting children.
The benefit 16-17 year-olds normally qualify for when unemployed is the Independent Youth Benefit (1,430 at the end of March 2009 but down from almost 4,000 in 2000). Is this being scrapped?
If so, yet the Emergency Maintenance Allowance for 16-17 year-old single mothers remains, isn't there an incentive being set up for young people to become parents to continue to get assistance?
Call me cynical but when eligibility rules change the first thing some will do is look for the loophole, the way around the hurdle, because one usually exists.
(The NZ Herald makes no mention of the 'dole' being scrapped.)
Before the release of details I offer some comments.
The signal is good. For those who need to be receiving it.
But I think the headline is wrong. It should read 16-17 year-olds.
[Key] also confirmed National would introduce legislation before the end of the year ending the unemployment benefit for school-leavers under 18.
But under 18s rarely qualify for the unemployment benefit.
The current rules are a person must be 18 years old or over (or 16-17 if you are married or in a civil union or in a de facto relationship and have one or more children you support).
Hence the numbers look like this;
Granted this was two years ago but I would be very surprised if suddenly far more 16-17 year-olds had married, or were in de facto relationships supporting children.
The benefit 16-17 year-olds normally qualify for when unemployed is the Independent Youth Benefit (1,430 at the end of March 2009 but down from almost 4,000 in 2000). Is this being scrapped?
If so, yet the Emergency Maintenance Allowance for 16-17 year-old single mothers remains, isn't there an incentive being set up for young people to become parents to continue to get assistance?
Call me cynical but when eligibility rules change the first thing some will do is look for the loophole, the way around the hurdle, because one usually exists.
(The NZ Herald makes no mention of the 'dole' being scrapped.)
Sunday, August 02, 2009
Fancy names for failed ideas
Job Ops and Community Max. Flash new names for government work creation schemes just announced by John Key.
First consideration must be given to the opportunity cost of taking the tax to fund these schemes. Better if the money is left with the private potential employer in the first place. It's pretty illogical to tax the employer and then turnaround and say, if we give it back, could you provide a job?
However the reality is the scheme is going ahead.
I agree with the central idea that if money is going to be chucked at young people, best get a return for it. Best make it an 'investment' in them for all our sakes.
But one has to assume that money is still going to be chucked for no return because no mention has been made of restricting access to the dole, sickness benefit, dpb, ema or independent youth allowance.
No mention of sanctions if young people refuse a placement.
Maybe that is to come but I am not holding my breath. Are you?
Finally there is nothing new under the sun with these sorts of schemes. In the final analysis what they actually achieve is a distortion of the labour market. There are no free lunches and there are no free jobs. Other potential employees unfortunate enough to be older than 24 will be disadvantaged by not attracting a subsidy. They are most likely to be low-skilled Pacific, Maori, and migrants.
First consideration must be given to the opportunity cost of taking the tax to fund these schemes. Better if the money is left with the private potential employer in the first place. It's pretty illogical to tax the employer and then turnaround and say, if we give it back, could you provide a job?
However the reality is the scheme is going ahead.
I agree with the central idea that if money is going to be chucked at young people, best get a return for it. Best make it an 'investment' in them for all our sakes.
But one has to assume that money is still going to be chucked for no return because no mention has been made of restricting access to the dole, sickness benefit, dpb, ema or independent youth allowance.
No mention of sanctions if young people refuse a placement.
Maybe that is to come but I am not holding my breath. Are you?
Finally there is nothing new under the sun with these sorts of schemes. In the final analysis what they actually achieve is a distortion of the labour market. There are no free lunches and there are no free jobs. Other potential employees unfortunate enough to be older than 24 will be disadvantaged by not attracting a subsidy. They are most likely to be low-skilled Pacific, Maori, and migrants.
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