22 Nov 2019

'This needs to happen ASAP' - Marama Davidson on raising benefits

From Checkpoint, 5:39 pm on 22 November 2019

The Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says her party will have failed if it does not get baseline benefits increased this term.

The government is this week pointing to new figures on its $5.5 billion Families Package as proof it is on track to lift up to 74,000 children out of poverty by 2021.

But Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni won't say if or when the government will implement its own welfare advisory group's recommendations - including increasing baselines for benefits.

Overhauling the welfare system was included in the Green Party's confidence and supply agreement with Labour.

Lisa Owen spoke to Marama Davidson about how she thinks that's going, and started by asking out of 10, what mark would she give the government for their performance.