Australia news and "Jobseeker to be boosted by $50 per fortnight"

M.R.M. made this Official Information request to Ministry of Social Development

Response to this request is long overdue. By law Ministry of Social Development should have responded by now (details and exceptions). The requester can complain to the Ombudsman.

From: M.R.M.

Dear Ministry of Social Development,

Today's news broadcast that in Australia "Jobseeker to be boosted by $50 per fortnight.

When is the Ministry of Social Development going to do the same for New Zealander's trying to survive on basic grants? Covid-19 has put thousands out of work, and is keeping thousands from working, and it is a fact that the cost of inflation is soaring ... our council's for instance in the Waikato want massive increases again this year. How are people living on benefits supposed to meet these expenses and not lose their homes?

I would like to suggest that the quickest and most affordable way to do this is to reduce the amount of tax deducted from all Ministry of Social Development basic grants.

Yours faithfully,

M.R.M.

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From: OIA_Requests (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

Kia ora M.R.M.

Thank you for your request. This matter will be addressed as correspondence by the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development, as the questions asked are not for information. You can expect a response in due course.

Official and Parliamentary Information team   |  Ministerial and Executive Services
Ministry of Social Development

Our Purpose:
We help New Zealanders to be safe, strong and independent.
Manaaki Tangata, Manaaki Whānau.

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From: Info (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development


Attachment Letter to MRM.pdf
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Tēnā koe MRM

 

Please find a reply on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Ministry of
Social Development attached.

 

We have copied below the weblinks mentioned in the attached letter, so
that you can more easily access the information contained within them:

 

[1]www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/information-releases/welfare-overhaul-update-on-progress-and-long-term-plan.html

 

[2]www.govt.nz/browse/housing-and-property/getting-help-with-housing/getting-a-rates-rebate/

 

[3]https://check.msd.govt.nz/

 

Nā mātou noa, nā

Ministerial and Executive Correspondence

 

 

------------------------------- This email and any attachments may contain
information that is confidential and subject to legal privilege. If you
are not the intended recipient, any use, dissemination, distribution or
duplication of this email and attachments is prohibited. If you have
received this email in error please notify the author immediately and
erase all copies of the email and attachments. The Ministry of Social
Development accepts no responsibility for changes made to this message or
attachments after transmission from the Ministry.
-------------------------------

References

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1. http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our...
2. http://www.govt.nz/browse/housing-and-pr...
3. https://check.msd.govt.nz/

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From: M.R.M.

Dear Info (MSD),

Thank you for your reply.

While you have been generous in providing commentary and other information, as well as links, you have not answered my core question which I am repeating below:

When is the Ministry of Social Development going to do the same (as Australia has done by boosting its Jobseeker by $50 per fortnight) for New Zealander's trying to survive on basic grants?

Yours sincerely,

M.R.M.

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From: Info (MSD)
Ministry of Social Development

Kia ora M.R.M.

 

Thank you for your further email.

 

We have no further comment to add to our letter dated 12 March 2021.

 

Nā mātou noa, nā

Ministerial and Executive Correspondence

Ministry of Social Development

 

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From: M.R.M.

Dear Info (MSD),

Your response to my simple question is rude. A simple answer is what I anticipated receiving.

Can you please tell me whether or not the MSD is planning to boost the Jobseeker support payment by $50 or a similar lesser figure per fortnight at any time in the foreseeable future? A "yes" or "no" answer is what I'm looking for here.

Yours sincerely,

M.R.M.

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M.R.M. left an annotation ()

Beneficiaries in NZ are being denied the right to be able to meet their basic needs. Just recently the Labour Government announced that middle income earners will be getting a financial boost. NOTHING though, as usual, for the beneficiaries.

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