October 20, 2014
No sense in poverty shift
A social policy researcher says moving money from poor families with older children to those with younger children doesn't make sense.
Charles Waldegrave says if the Government is serious about tackling child poverty it should look at the success of Working For Families in-work tax credits in slowing done increased inequality.
Instead Prime Minister John Key is indicating he has seen reports making the case that too much money is going to older kids and not enough to younger ones.
Mr Waldegrave says Otago University nutrition studies indicate older children cost significantly more to feed than younger ones.
" You know it’s very hard to argue one way or the other. There are pluses and minuses on both sides and it is a very dangerous thing to do, to talk about taking money off a group of people, who we know and who the government accepts are actually below the poverty line, to take money off them. To give to some other group. It just doesn't make sense " he says.
Charles Waldegrave says John Key seems to be indicating a real willingness to take action on child poverty.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHARLES WALDEGRAVE CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjMyNzc=
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