Don’t Waste the Opportunity

Young Labour welcomes the Government's apparent desire to tackle the problem of youth unemployment but remains to be convinced by the details.

The Youth Opportunities programme set out on Sunday was originally sold as a 'plan to wipe out youth unemployment' but in reality it only scratches the surface. Key seems to have realised this quite quickly - he was back-peddling even faster than over his cycleway proposals yesterday, saying that the Government did not think it could stop youth unemployment rising.

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Bullying and Beneficiary Bashing

 Young Labour strongly condemns the government’s shameful intimidation of its critics.

“When a Minister breaks the law, side steps her departmental officials and decides to bring the weight of her ministry down on the heads of two women who, by the Minister’s own admission, have done nothing wrong – something rotten this way comes.” Young Labour Vice President, Caitlin Merriman said this morning.

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Bennett loses the ‘Lost Generation’

Paula Bennett, Minister for Social Development, Employment and Youth Affairs, stood up in the House yesterday and demonstrated just how little she cares for the plight of thousands of unemployed young New Zealanders.

When questioned by Jacinda Ardern, Labour Spokesperson for Youth Affairs, on her plans to help the 32,000 unemployed 15-19 year olds, Bennett claimed there were only 15,000 unemployed in that age bracket and sarcastically suggested Ardern was plucking figures out of mid air.

"Earlier this week, the Minister dropped her responsibility for disability issues, showing she is struggling to cope. Her ignorance yesterday shows she is just not up to the job." said Young Labour President, Patrick Leyland, this morning.

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Nats Drop Glass Ceiling On Women’s Heads

"The Minister of Women's Affairs released a 'clear goal for New Zealand women' - 'Women having real choices and using their strengths to maximise social and economic success' yet she stood idly by as the specialist unit to achieve pay equity was disestablished in Bill's slash and burn bonfire budget." Young Labour's Women's Representative Nicole Skews said today.

"The government have tried to sweep this issue aside and deny there is a problem, or even that people cared. This is why Young Labour has joined over 25 other community organisations, women's groups and unions to rally outside Parliament today and demand action on pay equity."

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