NZCCCSS welcomes the direction the Government is signalling through main benefit increases funded in the Wellbeing Budget 2021 announced on Thursday 20 May. “Budget 2021 is a hopeful step in the direction that our sector has long been asking for,” .
Jennifer Curtin, Sarah Hendrica Bickerton, Suzy Morrissey and Udari Herath.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson called this a recovery budget for all New Zealanders . But was it an inclusive budget? Specifically, what did Budget 2021 offer those women who were significantly affected by the job losses resulting from Covid-19?
Finance Minister Grant Robertson and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Budget Day.
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas
The budget priorities included an objective to support into employment those most affected by Covid-19, including women and young people . Yet in the budget speech, Robertson announced no explicit initiatives for women workers.
Indeed, as was the case in 2020, the focus was on physical infrastructure - building hospitals, schools, houses, roads, rail and a refurbished Scott Base. Around 221,000 jobs are projected to result, some of which are linked to this capital investment of NZ$57.3 billion dollars over four years.
It s not nearly enough to actually support people into what we believe is their best lives. One of our most important resources in this country is our people and I think people who are receiving benefits in this country continue to feel like, Well is that what the government thinks people are worth .
Pao Stanley said the Government has presented it as a radical investment, but it was actually buildups . They re saying this is reversing the Mother of all Budgets and this is a radical investment but I think radical would have been livable incomes, radial would have been individualised benefits, radical would have been removing obligations and sanctions from the welfare system. I think this was an opportunity for them to do more and they didn t.