Did the Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks have it easy compared with an unemployed person trying to find work?
Based on the odds - beating 19 teams, compared with many dozens of applicants for jobs - they did, Alliance Party co-leader Kay Murray told about 50 people at a Dunedin North welfare and health election campaign meeting yesterday.
Ms Murray criticised the "assault" on beneficiaries unveiled this week by National, which promised to encourage welfare recipients back to work.
Rather than being unmotivated, beneficiaries were "desperate" for work, said Ms Murray, who had direct experience of dealing with more than 50 candidates for disability sector jobs in Dunedin.
Dunedin North National candidate and list MP Michael Woodhouse said other parties' promises to gather more money from taxation for social services ignored the fact 17% of taxpayers generated 97% of the tax take, and that about 44% of New Zealand households paid no net tax.
He was pleased the Government maintained strong spending on health and social services despite the recession. Answers to social problems should come from community cohesion and people knowing their neighbours, not just the Government, he said.
National showed its support for young families by reinstating Plunket Line, he said.
Labour Dunedin North candidate Dr David Clark stressed the "rapidly growing" gap between rich and poor, exacerbated by tax changes in recent years.
Cuts to early childhood education funding was hurting families, he said.
The health and disability sector was being underfunded, and the effects were flowing through to district health boards.
Financial pressures led the Southern District Health Board to cut home help for the elderly, while its mental health service was stretched, Dr Clark said.
Also at the meeting: Green Party, Alex Kruise; Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Abe Grey; United Future, Pete George; Democrats for Social Credit, Jeremy Noble; Mana Party, Andrew Tait.
