Access by Various artists

Please provide links to back up the statements made in the post. It is good for people to be able to explore the source material, especially when political preferences are asserted.

"Love has consequences”, said a National candidate to a disability forum defending benefit reductions to disabled partners with ongoing high disability-related costs. Lack of love might have consequences at the ballot box for less lovable parties.

So...which party has promised to repeal this?

“Part 4A
“Family care policies
“70APurpose of this Part
“(1)The purpose of this Part is to keep the funding of support services provided by persons to their family members within sustainable limits in order to give effect to the restraint imposed by section 3(2) and to affirm the principle that, in the context of the funding of support services, families generally have primary responsibility for the well-being of their family members.

Or, at the very least, apply the same legislation to those with disabilities enjoying the rights and entitlements afforded by ACC.

Rosemary, they could apply it to all sorts of things if they wanted to. Parliamentarians allowances, for example, with all those "and your spouse" things they slip in.

Why should the taxpayer fund both the family home and the Wellington flat, let alone flights between them, when other people are expected to move if they get a job in a far-away place? That seems like a really unreasonable suggestion to me, but it fits the National "families have to be forced to look after each other" philosophy. But not the "one rule for you" one, and I can guess which takes priority.

Of high importance is changing the culture of Work and Income so it becomes a helpful organisation not a punitive one. Labour and Greens have both promised action on this. Quite a complex issue but leadership from the top (ie the Government itself) would be a good start.

Another important policy that would do much for disabled workers and jobseekers is a German/Scandinavian-style labour market policy. I've already touched on that in my guest post.

Kia ora. Closing this thread now to ensure we meet the provisions of the Electoral Act. May open again after 7pm tomorrow.