12 Nov 2013

The Panel with Michele A'Court and Jeremy Elwood (Part 1)

From Afternoons, 4:07 pm on 12 November 2013

Topics - It may be struggling financially - but that hasn't stopped Auckland Transport from splashing out over 40-thousand dollars on a party for 1700 staff and their families at "the Cloud" on Auckland's waterfront. The entertainment included X Factor NZ winner Jackie Thomas, a juggling group and ethnic dancers, and four food trucks served food and soft drinks at a combined cost of about $20 a head. More than 5000 people are collecting benefits because drug and alcohol addiction is preventing them from working. Figures released by the Ministry of Social Development show that, as of the end of June, 5349 people were collecting either a sickness-related or invalids benefit, citing consequences of drug and alcohol addiction as their reason for being unable to work.