State housing and Jobseeker stats give us a measure of the challenge to be met by the Luxon govt
Two sets of statistics prompted press releases from ministers keen to impress on the public that there is much to be done to remedy the mischief done by the previous government- and they are on a mission to put things right.
One set showed the Hipkins bunch was thrown out of office with 189,798 people reliant on Jobseeker Support – up 19,695 in just the past year.
The other showed 3,906 of New Zealand’s total public housing stock (or 5 per cent) was vacant around election time.
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18 JANUARY 2024
The number of new social houses sitting vacant across New Zealand is completely unacceptable, Housing Minister Chris Bishop says.
Benefit numbers released today paint a grim picture of the previous government’s economic mismanagement, Social Development and Employment Minister, Louise Upston says.
Louise Upston seized on the latest beneficiary numbers to denounce her Labour predecessors:
“The fact there is now 66,759 more people receiving Jobseeker support than in December 2017 speaks to the culture of benefit dependency that is Labour’s legacy.
“Despite widespread workforce shortages, the previous government’s polices saw them leave office with 189,798 people reliant on Jobseeker Support – up 19,695 in just the past year.
“Labour was either unable, or unwilling, to get people off welfare and into work. As a result, we’re already close to MSD’s forecast of Jobseeker Support numbers hitting 198,500 in January 2025.”
Then came a commitment to put things right:
“Our Welfare that Works policy will fix this by using community providers to give young job seekers a job coach, a plan to address their barriers to employment, and a proper needs assessment to help them find suitable work.
“We will introduce a traffic light system that makes it clear to those on Jobseeker Support what their obligations are to prepare for or find work, and what the consequences will be if they refuse.
“The coalition Government has already begun delivering for job seekers by indexing main benefits to inflation from April 1, to keep up with rising costs, and extending the availability of 90-day trials, giving all businesses the confidence to take a chance on new employees.
This government – Upston emphasised – believes people are better off in employment, both financially and socially. For those who can work, it is the best way out of hardship.”
“We will be relentlessly focused on getting unemployed people into suitable work, providing them with greater independence, choice and opportunity to get ahead.”
MSD’s quarterly benefit fact sheets can be found here.
Chris Bishop – in his statement – said he was dismayed to learn that, as of late last year, the total number of vacant social homes in New Zealand was 3,906, or five per cent, of New Zealand’s total public housing stock.
“It’s simply not okay that 786, almost 20 per cent, of the new public homes delivered by Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities between June 2022 and October 2023 were vacant as of 31 October 2023. Of these new homes, 287 were empty for more than four months despite thousands of families waiting for social homes such as these.”
Bishop said he had written to the Board of Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities to make clear his expectation that, with over 25,000 people on the social housing waitlist – almost 20,000 more than when the previous Labour Government took office – social homes are not to be left empty for a day longer than absolutely necessary.
“It is disgraceful that New Zealanders needing a warm, dry home for their family are waiting in motel rooms, in cars and on family members’ couches while hundreds of newly built social housing units sit empty.
“While I understand there may be instances where, for valid reasons, it takes time to fill a new home, the timeframes identified in this response are well beyond what I consider appropriate.
“It is critical that Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities is focused on efficiently placing tenants into social housing across New Zealand and works with much greater urgency to do so.”“
Bishop said he looked forward to receiving the report from the independent review led by Sir Bill English and discussing with Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities what needs to change, and how.
Point of Order is a blog focused on politics and the economy run by veteran newspaper reporters Bob Edlin and Ian Templeton
1 comment:
I agree that the previous government is responsible, but if there no advice from the agencies that there is "an issue and here is how we should solve it", I'm afraid that the CE's should be dispensed with.
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