Greens outline benefit plans

WELLINGTON - The Green Party will look into restoring the family benefit and wants to abolish benefit stand-down periods and youth pay rates.

The party's enterprise, employment and income support spokeswoman, Sue Bradford, said the benefit system should be simplified, with a two-tier system of income support.

"There should be one base benefit level across all types of income support, and a second tier of add-ons for each child or specific need, such as a disability," she said.

Under the Greens' welfare policy, differential youth rates would end and the work-for-the-dole scheme scrapped, while the return of a universal child benefit would be investigated.

"It is one of the silent tragedies of our time that the only income a mother controlled for herself and her child was allowed to slip away." - NZPA